| Slavonski Brod | |||
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  Slavonski Brod
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| Coordinates: 45°10′N 18°01′E / 45.167°N 18.017°E | |||
| Country | Croatia | ||
| County | Brod-Posavina | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Dr. Mirko Duspara (CPR) | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 50.27 km2 (19.4 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2007) | |||
| - Total | 61,823 | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
Slavonski Brod is a city in Croatia, with a population of 61,823 in 2001. The city was known as Marsonia in the Roman Empire, and as Brod na Savi 1244–1934. Located in the region of Slavonia, it is the centre of Brodsko-Posavska county, and a river port on the Sava river. It is 197 km southeast of Zagreb and at an elevation of 96 m. Although 'brod' is the word 'ship' in modern Croatian, the city's name bears witness to an older meaning - 'water crossing'.
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Geography
The city developed at the strategically important crossing over the Sava river towards Brod in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is an important intersection of the Posavina part of the highway and a railway junction, since it is located on the highway linking Zagreb–Lipovac–Belgrade (E70, A3) and the Zagreb–Vinkovci–Belgrade railway. The ship port 'Brod' on the Sava river is under construction.
There is also new modern highway under construction, on the Pan-European Corridor Vc, which will connect Northern Europe and Hungary with Croatia (region of Slavonia), Bosnia and Herzegovina and again Croatia (coastal region of Dalmatia). Alignment of this highway is some 16 km far away from the center of the town. With completion of this route, the area of the town Slavonski Brod will become one of the major highway intersections in this part of the Europe connecting directions west-east and north-south.
History
From 1941 to 1945 the city was part of the Independent State of Croatia. The town was heavily bombed by the Allies in 1944 and 1945. The bombing resulted in damage to 80% of the buildings in Slavonski Brod.[1] The bombing resulted in 897 civilian deaths, 244 military deaths, 208 wounded civilians, and 28 military wounded in Slavonski Brod and Bosanski Brod.[2] In the communist Yugoslav era, these victims were manipulated, with only 11 people being declared as dying from aerial bombing in the 1964 census.[2]
In 1990, democratic reforms legalized the forming of political parties, other than the League of Communists of Croatia. In Slavonski Brod, the first parties formed were the Croatian Democratic Union and the Croatian Democratic Party.[3]
Economy
The city's economy is based on farming, viticulture, fruit growing, metal-processing, timber and (furniture wood, parquetry), textiles (ready-made), leather, foodstuffs (brewery), building material (lime), and printing industries.
Slavonski Brod is also home to some of the most important metal companies in Southeastern Europe, the Djuro Djakovic consortium, consisting of a number of factories producing very diverse products, mainly for export. The consortium is capable of producing: locomotives, tramways, wagons, bridges, industrial plants, nuclear reactors, car parts, heavily armed vehicles, armoured fighting vehicles, including main battle tanks and mine warfare vehicles, agricultural machinery, etc.
Service industries are becoming rapidly important, especially tourism. The city has an important cultural heritage, including a fortress and a Franciscan monastery with a rich library.
Cultural heritage
The Brod Fortress from the Baroque period, was constructed during the Austro-Hungarian Empire to serve as a stronghold against the Ottoman Empire, which was situated on the other bank of the Sava river. It is in the Vauban style, named after one of the best European experts in the building of fortifications in 17th and 18th centuries. It is one of Europe's best preserved fortresses, and also one of the biggest on the former Austro-Hungarian Military Frontier. In a way, it is the continental obverse of Diocletian's Palace in Split, by its monumentality.
The city's Franciscan monastery dates from the 18th century, and is also Baroque in style, with exceptional architecture, especially of the church yard, and monastery church interior, with its beautiful altar and paintings. In 1720, a faculty of philosophy was opened here.
The most important annual cultural event in the town is the children's festival 'In the World of the Fairy Tales of Writer Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić', in April and May. The Brod Circle Dance, an annual show of original folklore, is held in mid-June, while the Festival of Patriotic Folk Songs takes place in May. The artistic 'Sava' colony\[1] cherishes the tradition of watercolour painting.
One of the attractions of Slavonski Brod is a beautiful central town square, one of the two or three biggest in all of Croatia, Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić square, named after a popular children's writer, whose house is on the square. This square is also home to numerous cultural events and has a perfect view of the beautiful Sava river. The square is also dotted with galleries, book stores, cafes, night clubs, shops etc., which make it perfect place for entertainment. Close to the square, another attraction is the romantic promenade next to the Sava river - 'Kej' as it is called by citizens of town.
Slavonski Brod is home to monuments to bishop Josip Stadler and Croatia's first president Franjo Tuđman.[4][5]
Education
Slavonski Brod has very developed educational institutions in pre-school, primary, secondary and high education.
The city also hosts the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Osijek University, and the Primary School Teacher Training College. Some other faculties are expected to be opened soon. In October 2006 and associate-degree college has been founded, consisting of:
- Faculty of Mechanical engineering- Department of production engineering
- Faculty of Economics- Department of Management
- Agriculutural-Plant product studies- Department of Horticulture
Surroundings
In the immediate surroundings of the town there are interesting hunting grounds (Migalovci), fishponds (Jelas Polje), and a lake (Petnja). There are pleasant orchards and vineyards, Dilj mountain (or 'Dilj Gora'), and swimming opportunities.
Famous people from Slavonski Brod
Slavonski Brod is the birthplace of several well-known poets, writers and celebrities:
- Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić
- Branko Radičević
- Dragutin Tadijanović
- Mia Čorak Slavenska
- Matija Mesić
- Vjekoslav Klaić
- Filip Erceg
- Krunoslav Kern
- Zdravko Ćosić
- Predrag Goll
- Josip Majić [2]
- Vilim Buk [3]
- Matija Antun Relković
- Mario Mandžukić
- Mario Vrančić
- Đuro Đaković
See also
- The Brod Fortress
- Petnja Lake
References
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This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2009) |
- ^ Ne može se utvrditi koliko su Hrvata ubili saveznici, Nacional
- ^ a b Saveznička bombardiranja Slavonskog i Bosanskog Broda i okolnih mjesta tijekom Drugog svjetskog rata
- ^ Demokratske promjene u općini Slavonski Brod (1990.)
- ^ Memorial to Josip Stadler unveiled
- ^ Monument to Franjo Tuđman in the centre of Slavonski Brod unveiled
External links
- Slavonski Brod online, city portal
- Slavonski Brod, city web directory
- Slavonski Brod, city government
- Slavonski Brod Photo Guide
- Roman Military Diploma from Slavonski Brod
- SlavonskiBrod.Info - new site in English
- Festung Brod (Fortress Brod)
- Slavonski-Brod @ Net
- Cravatten Statt
- Pictures of Slavonski Brod
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