"Here we keep a treasure dear to the heart"
Thanks to the “World of Graševina” project, the Spahija Cellar has become a social, multimedia, cultural, tourist, and educational center of the city of Pakrac — a true treasure of the World of Graševina. The Spahija Cellar is an impressive building that offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore the rich history of Pakrac and the lives of the people who have shaped this region over the centuries. It stands as a testament to the importance of Pakrac throughout different eras — from the time when the first Croatian mint operated here, through its period as a bustling trading center, to the era of Baron Trenk and the renowned Janković counts with their manorial estates.
The Spahija Cellar preserves the memories of countless human stories and destinies that have defined this area. Beyond its cultural and heritage significance, its uniqueness lies in the innovative concept of a hybrid museum and library — a significant departure from the traditional understanding of these institutions. This is the first example of such an approach in Croatia: by interweaving elements of a museum and a library, it creates new experiences for both the local community and all visitors.
In a spirit of partnership, the museum and library share their roles, making the Spahija Cellar a source of knowledge, learning, and community connection. This space is not only a guardian of the past but also a vibrant center that attracts visitors by combining cultural heritage with a modern approach to education and social life. The Spahija Cellar is an authentic place where visitors can immerse themselves in the rich history and culture of the Pakrac region, experiencing it within its original ambiance.
The integration of the library, museum and gastronomic corner provides a unique educational dimension to the experience, enriching visitors with new knowledge and insights in an engaging way. Every detail of the space has been carefully designed to tell new stories and to create an inspiring environment. The Spahija Cellar attracts a diverse audience — from cultural enthusiasts and wine tourism lovers to local residents and entrepreneurs. It is a place that inspires exploration, the exchange of knowledge and skills, and encourages the preservation of the region’s rich heritage. The blend of tradition and modernity makes it truly special, turning every visit into an unforgettable experience.
The Spahija Cellar serves as a custodian of Pakrac’s heritage and a catalyst for positive change within the local community, inspiring feelings of uniqueness, belonging, connection, pride, and joy. It is a center that brings together people of diverse interests, fosters unity, and positively contributes to raising awareness and nurturing the identity of Pakrac.
HISTORY OF THE CELLAR
Throughout its rich history, the Spahija Cellar has held many layers of significance and served various functions.
Throughout its rich history, the Spahija Cellar has held many layers of significance and served various functions. There has been much discussion about the time of the building’s construction. The earliest interpretation suggests that it dates back to the Middle Ages and may have housed a mint or a monastery of the Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem. Although this theory has largely been abandoned, it has not been entirely dismissed. The prevailing opinion today is that the building was constructed in the 18th century and served as a warehouse for the Pakrac manor.
The first phase of construction was undertaken by Baron Imsen, followed by Count Antun Janković, and finally completed by Izidor Janković. The spatial organization of the building was adapted to the needs of the manor at that time, and thanks to its solid construction, it has been preserved to this day. Architecturally interesting and visually striking, the Spahija Cellar also influenced the spatial organization of the city of Pakrac, where it continues to stand out with its impressive presence.
Good to know
The Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia recognized the cultural and historical value of this building and designated it as a protected cultural heritage site.
Exhibits, Learning and Taste
The world of graševina in Pakrac
It is dedicated to the rich history of the Pakrac-Lipik vineyards and the evolution of winemaking and viticulture in the Pakrac region.
From our field, from our table
This exhibition unit highlights a citizen’s stove, historical artifacts, original cookbooks and showcases traditional recipes from the Pakrac region.
Gastro corner
In the same space as the existing exhibition “From Our Field, From Our Table,” which showcases Slavonian dishes and Pakrac specialties crafted by local producers, a new gastronomic corner will soon open, offering visitors an immersive taste experience.
Pakra Gallery
More than just an exhibition venue, it is a vibrant center where diverse artistic disciplines merge to generate new stories through visual, experimental, and contemporary art.
Multifunctional Hall "Julijana"
A place where cultural institutions, citizen associations, societies, and other users of the Spahija Cellar are actively engaged, serving as a hub for organizing and implementing various programs and activities.
Souvenir shop
SOON!
Our Home
“Our Homeland” at the Spahija Cellar brings Pakrac’s history to life through captivating stories and personal narratives, from its marketplaces and mint to the estates of Baron Trenk and the Janković family. Discover the city’s heritage, crafts, and traditions, and experience the past, present, and future of Pakrac in one unique exhibition.
Pakrac Public Library
The Pakrac City Library is a vibrant cultural hub where people meet, learn, and explore together. Its exhibition, “Secrets of the City Library,” highlights local history and traditions through unique collections, including books, numismatics, and postcards. As part of the Spahija Cellar, the library combines knowledge, heritage, and community in one engaging space.
Pakrac City Library
Pakrac Public Library is a public library founded by the City of Pakrac and a vital institution for the city and its surrounding area. In addition to its regular library services, it contributes to the cultural life of the city through various programs, activities, and events. It is a place for social interaction and community engagement, where programs and activities are organized both independently and in cooperation with local groups.
More than just a library, it is a space where people learn, grow, and explore together. Located on the ground floor of the Spahija Cellar, its main sections include the User Reception, Children’s Department, Adult Department, Study and Reading Room, and Playroom.
“Secrets of the City Library” is integrated into the library zone, enhancing the character of the Spahija Cellar. The library space is interwoven with interpretive islands based on segments of Pakrac’s traditional culture and history. In addition to new book collections, such as the local heritage and wine collections, special interpretive collections stand out, including numismatics, samples, and postcards. All these collections are closely connected to the heritage narratives of the Spahija Cellar and the city of Pakrac.
Pakrac city museum
Thanks to the “World of Graševina” project, the Pakrac City Museum has finally opened its long-awaited permanent exhibition. The museum was founded after the Homeland War, marking the beginning of professional research, collection, preservation, and presentation of local heritage and the city’s native history. As a city with an exceptionally long and complex history, Pakrac deserves this still untold story of its development to be properly interpreted and presented.
The permanent exhibition, which had not yet been established due to limited space in the Small Janković Palace, where the museum has operated since 2005, now provides an opportunity to showcase the city and its fascinating heritage stories in a modern and engaging way.
The history of a place, as in the case of Pakrac, is deeply connected with the people who shape and record it. Communities of the past, present, and future actively transmit and share Pakrac’s heritage through their lives and traditions. Throughout its history, Pakrac has been a key location — a trading post, a mint, the estate of Baron Trenk, home to the famous Janković family, a city of trade fairs and craftsmen, as well as a center of a developed wood industry that supported its growth for decades. The fate of Pakrac is told in the Spahija Cellar through diverse human stories, making this heritage narrative truly unique.
The secret history of the Spahija Cellar
Prehistoric artifacts from the Pakrac region
Roman period in the Pakrac region
Pakrac’s Old Town: Discover History Underground!
The first mint in Croatia and the Slavonian Banovac
Explore historical figures, ancient buildings, human stories and key decisions
Enter the time machine and step down the street of everyday life
Get to know Pakrac in the period when it was an important trade and fair destination
Industrial Pakrac
Pakrac’s National Costumes: Celebrating the Region’s Multicultural Heritage
The people of Pakrac — past, present and future. Meet them!
Send your postcard from Pakrac
more details about the project
Name of the project
The world of Graševina (Spahija Cellar, Museum of Bećarac, branding), KK.06.1.1.13.0004
Brief description of the project
The world of Graševina is a unique project that uses wine identity and cultural heritage in the branding of the entire region, designed to support the tourism sector of Požega-Slavonia County. The backbone of the World of Graševina is made up of three different visitor infrastructures and wine tourism attractions, located in the Pleternica (Museum of Bećarca), Pakrac (Spahijski cellar) and Kutjevac vineyards (House of Graševina).
The "World of Graševina" project as a whole is composed of six main activities that carry different sub-activities. The activities are complex in such a way as to ensure the legitimate development of the project as a whole and to ensure its complete sustainability, management, promotion and visibility of the project through their implementation.
The project in question plans to finance the destinations of the Graševina World, which combines the construction and equipping of the Bećarca Museum Interpretation Center in Pleternica and the Spahian Cellar in Pakrac. In addition to visitor facilities, program and presentation documentation was prepared and created, educations, professional trainings, management infrastructure was established, and the costs of promoting the World of Graševina as a brand were covered.
Total value of the project
8.729.448,53 EUR
EU co-financing
7.364.372,49 EUR
Project implementation period
From September 29, 2017 to June 30, 2024
Applicant and partners
Applicant: City of Pakrac
Partners:
1. City of Pleternica
2. Požega-Slavonia County
3. Pakrac City Museum
4. Pakrac City Library
5. Tourist Board of Požega-Slavonia County
6. Public institution Pleternica
7. Technical assistance in the preparation and implementation of the project
8. Regional Development Coordinator of Požega-Slavonia County
The project is co-financed by the European Fund for Regional Development through the operational program Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014-2020 as part of the call "KK.06.1.1.13 Preparation and implementation of integrated development programs based on the restoration of cultural heritage in the area of Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem"
GENERAL OBJECTIVE
SPECIFIC GOAL
EXPECTED RESULTS
The general goal of the project is the improvement and development of the cultural-historical tourist offer based on the reconstruction and furnishing of the existing cultural heritage of Spahija Cellar and the interior decoration and furnishing of the newly built building of the future Museum of Bećarac, which will improve the tourist potential of the destination by creating new jobs and increasing the income of SMEs, which will contribute to a sustainable socio-economic development at the level of Požega-Slavonia County.
The specific goal of the project is to establish the Spahija Cellar Visitor Center and the Museum of Bećarac Interpretation Center by integrating various programs that promote tangible and intangible cultural heritage and raise local awareness of its value. This will stimulate the development of specialized and authentic services offered by the center, particularly in the fields of winemaking, oenology, and gastronomy, as well as through a variety of educational, scientific, and tourist programs.
Developing a model of sustainable development of cultural tourism in the city of Pakrac and the city of Pleternica through central cultural tourism facilities that will directly influence the increase in the number of visitors, the number of overnight stays and tourist demand; employees of the Interpretation Centers trained by training for communication with target groups and end users in order to ensure the continuity of the increase in the number of visits to the mentioned localities; created strategic and management documentation, study and implementation documentation of branding, and study and implementation documentation for arranging the infrastructure for visitors and the promotion of the World of Graševina.
