Brod Croatia

I walk across this square every day.

The town named Brod located in the region of Slavonia and lying on the river Sava had originally the wooden fortification for defence against protruding enemies, which was called Vukovac. Nowadays it has large, rather solid fortress built of stone on all redoubts, by toil and sweat of border-soldiers after region of Slavonia was freed from Turkish oppression. (Chronicle of the Franciscan Monastery in Brod on Sava , 1706-1787)

Not one of the empires which ruled this country has recognised the importance of Sava river for realisation of their traffic and cultural mission, like the Romans did. The roman clever eye has promptly seen what the river meant as the intermediary between Danube , the Adriatic and the Alps, and as the starting point for countries lying on the right banks of the river. Its many tributaries open comfortable way into interior of the country. Therefore the Romans made Sava river at yonder times the strategic line for the lands of Norick, Panonia, Dalmatia and Moesia . Sava was not to be in its flow the torrential river, while the Romans tamed it artificially, wherever they considered it for appropriate, by regulating its tributaries and draining of the flooded areas, as witnessed today in the toponims like "Jarcina" (Large ditch) between Petrovac and Progar in the region of Srijem. Navigation of Sava is not unpleasant, because the landscape is not so monotonous as when sailing on the middle Danube . Sava valley is surrounded on both sides by the hillsides and mountains, approaching and withdrawing the river intermittently.. (Franjo Racki, Vienac, 1886-1887)

The word Brod primarily denoted ford on the river where it could be crossed by wading. Afterwards is designated any device with which rivers and streams could be crossed. The first of these two meanings served later for denomination of human settlements which developed near such places. (Pavao Tijan, 1908)

My flat is near here

In the world of Fairy tales of Ivane Brlic-Mažuranic (April)

Manifestation U svijetu bajki Ivane Brlic-Mažuranic (In the world of Fairy tales of Ivane Brlic- Mažuranic) continues the tradition of meetings that are happening from 1970 in memory of the great Croatian writer that presented the most beautiful stories to the children of the whole world, thus entering into their childhood and hearts. Although she was not born in Slavonski Brod, she spent most of her life in it, loving it and writing in it the best of her works. Being a member of noble family Brlic from Brod, she always remained present here. Brod and Ivana have a special relationship filled with mutual love and lasting while there are children whose childhood she is enriching, and while there is a town that keeps her values.