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Slavonski Brod

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Slavonski Brod
CountryCroatia
CountyBrod-Posavina
Government
 • MayorDr. Mirko Duspara (CPR)
Area
 • Total50.27 km2 (19.41 sq mi)
Population
 (2007)
 • Total61,823
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)

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'.

Geography

The city developed at the strategically important crossing over the Sava river towards Bosanski 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 international transit route 5C, 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 town. With completion of this route, the area of the town of Slavonski Brod will become one of the major highway intersections in this part of the Europe connecting directions west-east and north-south.

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.

The surrounding areas of the Slavonski Brod are home to splendid vineyards, which produce exceptional vines such as those from the Zdjelarević cellar, which are among the best in all Croatia. These vines are also exported across Europe.

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.[1][2]

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.

2008 information screen incident

On 5 November 2008, computer hackers got into a network that powered a screen in the town centre dispensing tourist information and replaced it with hardcore pornography for several minutes, causing a storm throughout Croatia. A crowd of tourists had gathered around the screen jeering and laughing before city officials could terminate the connection. This incident caused an investigation to hunt for the hackers, and Slavonski Brod council are planning to invest more money into a new security system for their network. [3]

Famous people from Slavonski Brod

Slavonski Brod is the birthplace of several well-known poets, writers and celebrities:

References

  1. ^ Memorial to Josip Stadler unveiled
  2. ^ Monument to Franjo Tuđman in the centre of Slavonski Brod unveiled
  3. ^ Ananova.com (2008-11-05). "Porn shock for tourists". Retrieved 2008-11-07. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)

See also

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