Virovitica () is a Croatian city near the Hungarian border. It is situated near the Drava river and belongs to the historic region of Slavonia. Virovitica has a population of 14,688, with 21,291 people in the municipality (census 2011). It is also the capital of Virovitica-Podravina County.
Name Virovitica has also historically been known by the names Wirowititz/Virovititz and Wirowitiza (German), Viroviticza, Verewitiza, Verowitiza, Verowtiza, Verőce (Hungarian) and Varaviza (Italian), Viroviticza or Verucia (Latin).
Climate Between 1994 and 2010, the highest temperature recorded at the local Bikana station was , on 18 August 2003. The coldest temperature was , on 31 December 1996.
At the Virovitica station, recording since 1951, the highest temperature recorded was , on 27 June 1965. The coldest temperature was , on 23 January 1963.
History The town is first mentioned in 1234 as magna villa Wereuche. It was part of the Ottoman Empire between 1552 and 1684, with the role of a city fortress in the Sanjak of Pojega (1552–1601). Later it was part of the Sanjak of Rahoviçe in the Kanije Eyalet (1601–1684) until the Habsburg conquest in 1684.
In the late 19th century and early 20th century, Virovitica was a district capital in the Virovitica County of the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia.
By June 1991 tensions between ethnic Serbs and Croats broke out into full-scale war, which lasted until 1995. An unknown number of deaths, forced disappearances, and atrocities were committed against Croatian Serb civilians within Virovitica.
Demographics The following settlements comprise the administrative area of the city of Virovitica: Čemernica, population 645 Golo Brdo, population 303 Jasenaš, population 53 Korija, population 648 Milanovac, population 1,515 Podgorje, population 737 Rezovac, population 1,146 Rezovačke Krčevine, population 295 Sveti Đurađ, population 474 Virovitica, population 13,486
Politics Minority councils Directly elected minority councils and representatives are tasked with consulting tasks for the local or regional authorities in which they are advocating for minority rights and interests, integration into public life and participation in the management of local affairs. At the 2023 Croatian national minorities councils and representatives elections, the Serbs of Croatia fulfilled legal requirements to elect 15 members minority councils of the Town of Virovitica, but only 12 representatives ended up being elected to the body.
Culture The patron saint of Virovitica is St. Rocco (), celebrated every August 16.
Đorđe Balašević wrote a song titled Virovitica, praising his time spent in the city.
Sports The local chapter of the HPS is HPD "Papuk", which had 72 members in 1936 under the Lovro Bakotić presidency. At the time, it had ski, music and photography sections. Membership rose to 76 in 1937, but fell to 71 in 1938.
It is also known for the yearly karting tournament hosted by the official HAKS. The tournament is also on the official list of karting tournaments for the karting season.
Location The town lies on the intersection of the state roads D2 and D5 and also has a bus station.
The towns has one train station and one halt - it lies on R202 railway corridor.
Notable people Željka Antunović (born 1955), politician Ivan Dečak (born 1979), singer Stanija Dobrojević (born 1985) Serbian television personality Damir Doma, fashion designer Miroslav Feldman (1899–1976), poet and writer Andrija Hebrang (1899–1949?), politician Tomislav Maretić (1854–1938), linguist Ksenija Marinković (born 1966), actress Zrinko Ogresta (born 1958), film director Renata Pokupić (born 1972), opera singer Petar Preradović (1818–1872), poet and general Vlado Singer (1908–1943), politician Konstantin Čupković, Serbian professional volleyball player Dijana Vukomanović, Serbian political scientist and politician Ivan Šibl, Yugoslav military officer Edita Schubert (1947–2001), Croatian artist
Twin towns – sister cities
Virovitica is twinned with: Barcs, Hungary Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina Traunreut, Germany Vyškov, Czech Republic
Gallery
References
External links
Virovitica City