Ovcara Memorial Center
Vukovarsko-srijemska županija
The Ovcara Memorial Center is located five kilometers southeast of Vukovar, Croatia, on the site of a former farm and agricultural storage hangar that was converted into a detention camp during the Croatian War of Independence in 1991. This site witnessed one of the largest war crimes of the conflict, where over 260 Croatian soldiers and civilians, mainly patients and staff from the Vukovar hospital, were taken, tortured, and ultimately executed. The victims were transported from the hospital to the hangar, which was surrounded and guarded, and subjected to severe mistreatment before being taken to a nearby field and shot. Today, the Memorial Center preserves the memory of these victims and serves as a place of reflection and education about the atrocities committed during the war. It includes the preserved hangar and a monument shaped as a gray obelisk with a dove, symbolizing peace and remembrance. The center is open daily, offering free admission to visitors who wish to honor the victims and learn about this tragic chapter in Croatian history.
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Tip: The Memorial Center is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM with free admission. Visitors are encouraged to plan their visit during daylight hours for a more reflective experience. There are no ticket requirements, but guided tours may be available through the official website or local tourist offices. Given the solemn nature of the site, respectful behavior is advised. Visiting during weekdays may offer a quieter atmosphere.
Interesting facts
- •The Ovcara massacre was the largest single massacre during the Croatian War of Independence, with over 260 victims.
- •Among the victims were wounded patients, hospital staff, and civilians, including women, elderly men, and teenagers.
- •The site was originally an agricultural storage hangar before being turned into a detention camp in 1991.
- •Exhumations of mass graves at Ovcara began in 1996 after the area was reintegrated into Croatian control.
- •A monument shaped as a gray obelisk with a dove was unveiled in 1998 to commemorate the victims.
- •The massacre included victims of various ethnicities, not only Croats but also Serbs, Bosniaks, Hungarians, and foreign volunteers.
- •The former hangar now serves as a memorial center dedicated to preserving the memory of the victims and educating visitors about the war crimes committed there.
History
Ovcara was originally a farm and part of the Vukovar agricultural complex before the Croatian War of Independence.
In September 1991, the farm's agricultural storage hangar was converted into a detention camp by Serbian forces during the siege of Vukovar.
On the night of November 20-21, 1991, over 260 detainees, mostly wounded patients and civilians from the Vukovar hospital, were taken from the hangar and executed in a nearby field, marking the largest single massacre of the war.
The site was under Serbian control until the mid-1990s when exhumations began, revealing mass graves and confirming the extent of the atrocity.
In 1998, a memorial monument was erected at the site to honor the victims and preserve the memory of the crimes committed there.
Place Guide
The Memorial Hangar1991
The original agricultural storage hangar converted into a detention camp in 1991. Visitors can see the preserved structure where detainees were held and tortured before execution.
The Monument Obelisk1998
A gray obelisk with a dove on top, unveiled in 1998 as a symbol of peace and remembrance for the victims of the Ovcara massacre.
Contact
Phone: 032 512 345
