Vukovar water tower

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 and the country in the Battle of Vukovar and the Croatian War of Independence, when the water tower and the city itself were largely destroyed by the Serbian forces.

Vukovar water tower
Vukovarski vodotoranj
Vukovar water tower after the Croatian War of Independence.
Location within Croatia
General information
StatusHeavily damaged
TypeWater tower
LocationVukovar, Croatia
Coordinates45.3440°N 19.0122°E / 45.3440; 19.0122
Completed1968
Height50.3 m (165 ft)
Technical details
Floor area2200 m3 water
Design and construction
ArchitectPlan d.o.o.
Main contractorHidrotehna Zagreb d.o.o.

History

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.[1]

Until the war, the top of the tower was home to a restaurant with a view over Vukovar, Dunav 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.

Today, it converted into a museum with a restaurant while the traces of the war will remain.

Future

After the reintegration of Vukovar into the Republic of Croatia, reconstruction of the water tower was initiated by Croatian President Franjo Tuđman, but that has since changed. The water tower will not be restored to its original state and will instead become a memorial area to the pain and suffering that Vukovar endured.

Vukovar water tower before the war.

References
  1. Paun, Milan (16 July 2010). "Ne potkopavajte Vodotoranj da se ne sruši". Vukovarske novine (in Croatian). Retrieved 21 January 2012.
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