For a cultural trip to Brijest, two distinct historical perspectives are available: remembrance of HRT cameraman Žarko Kaić and the development of the local Roman Catholic Parish of the Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist. One is tied to a specific site from the Croatian War of Independence, while the other can be traced through its founding and construction dates. This means your stay can focus on the history of remembrance or on local parish history.

“Posljednji kadar”: Remembrance of Žarko Kaić

The sculpture and the “Posljednji kadar” memorial stand in Brijest at the site where HRT cameraman Žarko Kaić was killed. The memorial commemorates him and other HRT employees who were killed in the Croatian War of Independence. Its significance is both personal and collective: Kaić is remembered as an individual, while the dedication extends the focus to other media professionals.

The memorial was erected in 2019 jointly by the City of Osijek and Hrvatska radiotelevizija. It was designed by architects Bernarda and Davor Silov and art professor Božica Dee Matasić. A QR code at the memorial provides further biographical information. The named creators make the connection between architecture and artistic design visible, while the QR code offers an additional biographical perspective on the people being remembered.

At a commemoration marking the 31st anniversary of Kaić’s death, wreaths were laid and candles were lit at the memorial. The 31st anniversary refers to Kaić’s death; 2019, by contrast, is the year the memorial was erected. The details therefore distinguish the occasion for the commemoration from the date the memorial was created.

The Parish’s Founding and the Church’s Construction

The Roman Catholic Parish of the Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist was founded in 1987. Its parish church was built from 1994 to 1997. The sequence marks two distinct steps: the founding of the parish was followed by the construction of its church building. This offers a different perspective on local history from the memorial: here, the focus is on the development of a religious community and its church building, while there, it is on remembering media professionals killed in the war.

Putting Brijest on the Map

Geographically, Brijest lies five kilometres south of Osijek, at the intersection of the Osijek–Jarmina state road and the road from Osijek to Brijest in the direction of Vinkovci. Its location can be placed in your travel plans using the distance, direction and two named roads. When planning, you can use the names of both roads as reference points on the map and distinguish the place name Brijest specifically from the reference point Osijek.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Brijest, you can use the place name as a distinct search term and match the specific accommodation address to the reason for your trip. Is your focus the memorial site, or are you primarily interested in the development of the local parish? This question makes your choice of destination depend on the topics you want to explore during your stay.

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