Vukovar water tower
Vukovarski vodotoranj
Vukovar water tower after the Croatian War of Independence.
Vukovar water tower is located in Croatia
Vukovar water tower
Location within Croatia
General information
StatusRestored
TypeWater tower
LocationVukovar, Croatia
Coordinates45°20′38″N 19°00′44″E / 45.3440°N 19.0122°E / 45.3440; 19.0122
Completed1968
Height50.3 m (165 ft)
Dimensions
Other dimensions2,200 m3 (78,000 cu ft) water capacity
Design and construction
Architect(s)Plan d.o.o.
Main contractorHidrotehna Zagreb d.o.o.
Website
https://vukovarskivodotoranj.hr/

The Vukovar water tower (Croatian: Vukovarski vodotoranj) is a water tower in the Croatian city of Vukovar. It is one of the most famous symbols of Vukovar and the suffering of the city in the Battle of Vukovar and the Croatian War of Independence, when the water tower and the city itself were largely destroyed by Yugoslav forces.[1]

History

Vukovar water tower before the war
The water tower after its preservation as a monument

The water tower was designed by the company Plan and built by Hidrotehna Zagreb, in the late 1960s. It was built in a city park, popularly known as Najpar-bašća, in the district of Mitnica.[2]

Until the war, the top of the tower was home to a restaurant with a view over Vukovar, Danube and surrounding vineyards.

During the Battle of Vukovar, the water tower was one of the most frequent targets of artillery. It was hit more than 600 times during the siege.[1][3]

Today, it has been converted into a museum with a restaurant. Traces of the war are still evident. Since 10 March 2021 it has been a Tower Member of the World Federation of Great Towers.[4]

Present

After the reintegration of Vukovar into the Republic of Croatia, reconstruction of the water tower was initiated by Croatian President Franjo Tuđman, but the process was dropped and the tower instead become a memorial area to the pain and suffering that Vukovar endured. It was officially opened on 30 October 2020, with public access becoming available the following day.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 Vladisavljevic, Anja (2020-10-30). "Iconic War-Damaged Tower Reopens in Croatia's Vukovar". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  2. ↑ Paun, Milan (16 July 2010). "Ne potkopavajte Vodotoranj da se ne sruši". Vukovarske novine (in Croatian). Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  3. ↑ "International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, page 2567".
  4. ↑ World Federation of Great Towers
  5. ↑ "Vukovar Water Tower – a symbol of Croatian unity officially opened". Croatia Week. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
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