Tvrđa is the most interesting area in Osijek. It has a long history. Tvrđa is the old town of Osijek. After the end of the Ottoman occupation in 1687, the Habsburg started to build a tower.
Osijek has been important strategic place during the war against the Ottomans. The construction of the citadel began in 1712. Once complete, it was the largest and most advanced Habsburg fortress on the border of the Ottoman Empire.
The first drama for this fortress happened between 1923 and 1926. Most of the wall was destroyed to permit the electric tramways crossing the old town. There were many other unfortunate instances that happened after that. In the end of the second world war, the inhabitants of Osijek took the bricks of the fortress to rebuild their houses which had been destroyed during the war. Because of that, the fortress cannot be listed as UNESCO's cultural heritage site . During the Croatian War of Independence, many buildings have been damaged by bullets.
Now, we can see a lot of traces of the war in Tvrđa. The electric tramway does not cross the fortress anymore. There are not many people who live in Tvrđa. Many buildings are empty. Nevertheless, one part of the wall, one tower and one gate are still visible.
