Požega, Croatia
Požega [ pɔʒɛɡa ] ( Ger. Poschegg, Hungarian Pozsega ) is a city in the region of Slavonia in eastern Croatia located with 26 248 inhabitants ( 2011). Since 2008, the city is the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Požega.
Geographical location
The place is located just north-west of Slavonski Brod in Požega - Slavonia in 152 m altitude in Požega kettle which was called in Roman times Vallis Aurea ( Golden Valley ). Through the town flows the Orljava, a tributary of the Sava.
Cityscape
Particularly appealing is the central city square where a number of sights and are considered one of the most beautiful place in Croatia ensembles. Here you will find the Holy Spirit Church, a Franciscan monastery, the town hall, and a plague column in 1749.
Culture
The city is also known for its many festivals and events. In March, the St. Gregory Festival ( Grgurevo ) is celebrated with the launch of mortar and cannon fire, which symbolizes the fight against the Ottomans. In May regularly takes place a short film festival as well as the Croatian national dog show. In June, the summer solstice is celebrated, followed by the so-called Kuleniade, in which numerous local specialties ( Kulenwurst, wines) are offered. Also in the summer there are the nationally known automotive and motorcycle racing on the track of glavica. In October there is a fish feast, also the day of the city and the festival of the patron saint, Saint Teresa of Ávila, and organ concerts are committed.
History
Medieval and Ottoman rule
In Roman times, the area belonged to the province of Pannonia; then coming examination as part of the great migration until the Goths and after them the Lombards from the middle Danube to Italy before settled in the 6th -7th century South Slavic Croats. End of the 9th century, finally fell Hungary in the Pannonian plain and also took possession of Slavonia. Is first mentioned in 1227 and it had Požega early due to its strategic location an important role in Slavonia, which was in border location to establishing itself ends between Hungary and Byzantium South Slavic small kingdoms of the Middle Ages. While the city remained largely unmolested by the passages of the Crusader armies along the Danube, broke troubled times with the appearance of the Ottomans at the end of the Middle Ages, which fought with the Hungarians permanent border fighting. With the defeat of the Hungarians at the Battle of Mohács ( 1526), about 100 km northeast of the city, also Požega fell under the domination of the Turks, even if the population continues remained Catholic and the Diocese was had.
Austrian domination
1688 finally succeeded in the Hapsburgs, the expulsion of the Turks from Hungary; henceforth the 15 km south flowing Požega Save was the limit for further Turkish -dominated Bosnia, while Slavonia was extended by the Austrians into a fortified frontier province, were settled in the armed peasants to defend against the Turks. Požega was at the time of the Kingdom of Hungary county seat of Pozsega. Already in 1699 Požega received the first high school of the province of Slavonia. Many medieval buildings still dominate the city's image. 1763 a university was established, the Academia Possegana which, however, had only until 1774 inventory. In the 18th century, a pharmacy, a post office and a number of commercial and manufacturing establishments are added. In the 19th century Požega gets the nickname " Slavonian Athens"; a variety of cultural associations and institutions arise, many of which have survived to this day. Mention may be made, the library, the choir, the volunteer fire department Požega, a printing company since 1863 and also has its own magazine ( " The Slovenes "). The Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 provided the South Slavic Croats not satisfied, since only the Austrian foreign rule was replaced by the Hungarian.
Yugoslav time
It was not until World War I succeeded in breaking away from the Habsburg Monarchy; Požega was henceforth Yugoslav. It was followed by the time of the Ustasha dictatorship and the introduction of communism under Tito. The divergence case of Yugoslavia 1991 stood Požega intact, even when there is little east of Osijek and the 10 km west located Pakrac came to the sometimes violent clashes with the Serbian minority, which in the county in 1991 about 22.7 % of the population accounted for (2001: 6, 5%). Refugee flows were the result, also remained the tourists who else visited this old cultural center from. Until the reintegration of Eastern Slavonia into Croatia in 1998 the neighboring remained under UN administration since the situation has returned to normal.
Infrastructure
The city's economy is based largely on services, particularly in the tourism sector, so there are in the city, even in the absence of highway and rail connections, hardly larger industrial companies. In the countryside and agriculture still plays an important role.
Sons of the city
Given the cultural importance Požegas it is no wonder that the city has produced a number of famous sons:
- Antun Kanižlić (Baroque poet )
- Vjekoslav Babukić ( grammarian and champion of the South Slavic " Illyrian " movement in the 19th century)
- Miroslav Kraljević Senior ( novelist of romance )
- Josip Eugen Tomic ( writer )
- Janko Jurkovic ( writer )
- Dragutin Lerman ( explorer )
- Miroslav Kraljević Junior ( painter)
- Gustav Pósa, 1825-1900 (Lawyer and painter)
- Antun Branko Aleksandar Pavić, 1802-1853 ( Stadtphysicus and writer )
- Armin Pavić, 1844-1914 ( literary historian )
- Matko Peić ( art historian )
- Predrag Stojaković (Serbian basketball player )
- Ivana Kindl ( Croatian singer )