Original scientific paper
URBAN DEVELOPMENT OF MEDIEVAL VUKOVAR
Zlatko Karač
; HR -10000 Zagreb, Arhitektonski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Abstract
The striking agglomeration of medieval Vukovar began to develop at the end of the 8th century on the rich substratum of prehistoric and Roman settlements. The urban nucJeus of the first early-medieval settlement (about 800-1220) was probably located near the old-Croatian necropolis es (Lijeva and Kriva bara, Novi Vukovar). The later medieval town (1220-1526) had three parts: the royal fortification (mentioned in 1231), the settlement of royal servants on the high plateau around today's grammar school, and the large suburb of merchants and craftsmen in the valley along the main road and harbour (a free royal city since 1231).
The settlement's rectified outline on the oldest maps of Vukovar (17th century) show that this was probably one of the largest towns of medieval Slavonia, covering a total of 20-25 hectares of urbanized area, with 350 houses. In those days there were about 30 smaller suburban settlements on the area of today's town (the most important were Varoš, Vodo kalj and Herijevac), for which the author proposes possible locations.
Although no architectural remains of medieval Vukovar have been preserved, the author uses documents to indicate the basic characteristics of the Romanesque-Gothic fortification, the parish churches of St George and St Lambert and sacral buildings in the immediate surrounding area of the town. Wooden houses are mentioned as well as a mill on the Vuka.
The medieval urban core was preserved during Turkish rule (1526-1687) when life in the town stopped and there were very few changes. It was not until the great destruction of Vukovar in the days of Turkish defeat (1687) that all the elements of medieval architectural continuity were lost as the new baroque city developed.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
93885
URI
Publication date:
19.12.1995.
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