Scenic Baranja drive: Kneževi Vinogradi loop
If you’re in Osijek, Bilje, or anywhere in Baranja and want to explore the countryside by car, this hour-long loop is my go-to. It’s never crowded, winds through vineyards, fields, and villages, and is as relaxed as a glass of wine on a Sunday afternoon.
~56 km
Distance
~1 hour
Drive time
Good
Surface
Low
Traffic
Road Metrics
Twist factor 🌀
Low to moderate, but high elevation changes.
Season🚦
Any time of year, summer is great.
Vibes 🛣️
Solitude, wide open views, fields, vineyards.
Safety ⚠️
Very safe.
The route is my safe space when I need to simply take a nice and relaxing scenic drive near Osijek My parents have a weekend house in Draž, and I’ve visited Baranja perhaps a thousand times in my life. This route is a loop which starts and ends in Kneževi Vinogradi, one of the larger villages in Baranja, before taking us all across the region in just an hour of driving.
The first thing we’ll see is the Belje Vineyards and the famous viewpoint, which is the most photographed location in Baranja. Getting there is simple, but the roads are not as wide through the vineyards, so have that in mind. I suggest a stop at the viewpoint for a photo or two, and then a short drive will get you to Beli Manastir, Baranja’s largest city and regional capital.
From there, we go north towards the border but turn right towards Duboševica, where we are greeted with several long straights and a couple of sweeping corners before getting to Topolje and later Gajić and Draž. This segment of road often has little to no traffic, and I often use it to just drive a tiny bit faster. 😉
After turning right in Draž, we go towards Podolje and then climb back up through a recently-renovated road towards Kotlina, and back to Kneževi Vinogradi.
The route is more solitary and introspective than an adrenaline-fueled drama, but I would recommend it to anyone looking to kill some time and relax. There are rarely cars on the road, and while it doesn’t offer spectacular sights like some roads in Croatia do, it has a great, laid-back energy that you simply can’t help but enjoy.
Fun facts
Baranja is a Croatian gem and an often overlooked region, but it offers a lot in terms of gastronomy, culture and just places to see. It also borders Serbia and Hungary.
This route is relatively close to one of our other favourites, the Našice to Požega route.
Recommended stops
Vinarija Belje & Vidikovac: You can book a tour of the Belje Vinery. Belje is one of the largest wineries in Croatia, and it is the base for the production of Belje wines.
Draž: Draž has a small beach with a beach bar and a beautiful walkway above the water.
Topolje Church: This unusually positioned church, known for hosting the Tisto Festival and the “Wine and Tambure” event, overlooks the Dunavac.
Route Overview
Road conditions
Weather and wind
The route takes us through vineyards, rolling hills and wide open fields near a large lake, all very nice to look at.
Yes, it’s low in traffic, and the overall surface is great. It’s useful as an intro to what Baranja looks like.
