Dakovo State Stud Farm

The stud at Dakovo has been breeding horses since 1506, which makes it one of the oldest continuously working studs anywhere in Europe, run for centuries by the bishops of Bosnia and Srijem whose seat was here. It breeds Lipizzaners - the grey baroque horses of the Habsburg court school - along with other lines, and keeps stallions in the town stables with mares and young stock at the Ivandvor pasture farm outside. Visits take in the stables, the harness collection and, at set times, riding demonstrations. Dakovo's other landmark, the enormous red brick cathedral built by Bishop Strossmayer in the 1880s, stands a few streets away.

What you actually see

• A stud working since 1506 - among Europe's oldest continuous operations.
• Lipizzaners bred and kept - stallions in town, mares at Ivandvor.
• Harness and carriage collections - alongside the stables.
• Strossmayer's brick cathedral - a few streets away in the town.

When to go

April to October; demonstrations run at set times. Half a day.

Honest expectations

Shows and demonstrations run to a schedule and need checking or booking. The stables are a working operation, not a display. Foals are grey-dark and only whiten with age, which surprises visitors expecting white horses.

Nearby

Dakovo cathedral is in the town; Osijek is north-east.