Basic analysis of the urban and architectural development of Vukovar; Compendium of research to date

Abstract

This presentation of Vukovar's urban development begins with a definition of the basic factors that influenced the origin and development of a settlement on the site of today's town (position, natural environment, human elements). Further morphological analysis singles out three structurally different town entities that had been developed under different historic circumstances (Old and New Vukovar, Borovo naselje). Preliminary periodization divided the town's development into ten basic periods. A group of about thirty prehistoric settlements on the relatively small town area is proposed as potentially the most interesting stratum for future research. People have lived in the area of Vukovar for 7000 years, from the early Neo/ithic, with possible interruptions in stationary settlement only during Roman rule and at the time of the migration of peoples (1st-8th century). Periods are chronologically bounded by important historical and political events (e.g. the time of Turkish occupation, 1526-1687), and on the level ofmicroperiodization bythe localappearance of architectural styles and by years when greater changes were made in the town (classicist renewal of the town after the great plague epidemic in 1796 and the fire in 1822). The Turkswithdrewfrom thetownin 1687 leaving it in ruins. After that it was rebui/t, so the oldest architectural monuments, still standing, belong to the baroque period (the oldest building in Vukovar is from 1722). Vukovar was thus a town in which the baroque spirit prevailed before this war. In number of buildings and their beauty, this was the most important style of historic Vukovar. Outstanding among newer parts of the town is the very fine industrial suburb of Bata-ville in Borovo.