CROATIAN TOWNS 1992 - VUKOVAR

In the series of postage stamps entitled "Croatian towns" HPT-Croatian Post and Telecommunications issued a regular postage stamp -Vukovar-. Motif: The Baroque castle of the earles of Eltz (built in 1790.) in Vukovar. Vukovar (pop. 32 640) city and inland port in W. Syrmia at the confluence of Vuka and Danube rivers, inhabited since the Neolithic, boasts several important archeological sites from the older Iron Age and the early Middle Ages when there was a fortress Vukovo. The Roman Catholic parish church in Vukovar appears already in 1251 (in parochia de Walko). The 15-century Vukovar is a possession of princes of Gorjanski and Talovac. After a spell under Turkish rule (1526-1687) Vukovar becomes centre of the Comitat of Syrmia (1745). Its Baroque buildings include the Franciscan monastery, a parish church with an impressive array of altars, paintings, statues and dishes (15th through 19th cts) the castle of the earles of Eltz, the Comitat building, the old Post Office and a main street with its numerous Baroque buildings and picturesque arches. There are several precious archaeological sites in the vicinity: The Celtic and Roman remains in Dalj, Neolithic culture of Vučedol (2150-1850 b. C.), Sotin with its Neolithic and antique excavations. During the heroic defense of Vukovar in autumn ’91 the federal army and the cetnik units destroyed the town completely. In 1997 Vukovar was peacefully reintegrated in the Republic of Croatia. The stamp was printed in sheets of 50 peaces, and HPT issued the envelope of the first date of issue (FDC) and a commemorative sheet of paper.