Slatina, Croatia

Slatina is a town in Slavonia, Croatia. It is located at the contact of the Drava valley and the foothills of Papuk Mountain in the central part of the region of Podravina, 29 km southeast of Virovitica; elevation 127 m; population 11,416. It was first mentioned in 1297; in the 15th century the Zalathnok citadel was also mentioned as a habitation. Economy is based on farming, livestock breeding, foodstuffs (mills, grain silo), tobacco, metal-processing (agricultural machinery), textiles and building material industries. Slatina is located on the main road (M3) Varazdin Koprivnica Virovitica Osijek and the railroad Koprivnica Virovitica Osijek.

The neo-Gothic parish church of St. Joseph from the beginning of the 20th century was restored as a votive church at the expense of the Croats from Burgenland in Austria. A castle of the Draskovic family from the 19th century.

An important position on the main road and the railroad, valuable cultural (castle, museum) and natural heritage (the municipal park and the unique sequoia tree are protected as horticultural monuments) underlie the development of Slatina as a transit tourist destination. Major annual cultural events include the Days of Milko Kelemen, a music event (in May), and the Slatina Fair, with presentations of craft products and traditional crafts (end of August). In the village of Visnjica near Slatina is the unique stud-farm of Arabian horses.

Slatina and its surroundings have a number of sports grounds (football, basketball, handball, tennis, etc.). Hunting grounds of the Croatian forest management company Hrvatske Sume stretch toward the Drava river. Angling opportunities are provided on the Drava river, the Cadavica and their numerous backwaters.