The first historical settlement in Brod dates from Roman times. After this period the Slavs settled in the area of the city in the 6th century. The name of the town is mentioned for the first time in a book in 1224. The Vukovac fortress was built in the 15th century, and subsequently was damaged by the Turks. The Ottoman Empire controlled the settlement from 1536 until 1691, when it was ceded to the Empire of Austria. Until 1918, Brod remained in the Austrian monarchy.
Alongside its defence role the city saw steady development of crafts and commerce. The education and culture were strongly dominated by the Franciscans. The 20th century was a period of strong economic growth, the 1920s called "the Golden Age of Brod". The city's current name dates from 1934 when it was changed from Brod na Savi.
From 1941 to 1945 the city was part of the Independent State of Croatia. The city was heavily bombed by the Allies in 1944-45. The bombing damaged 80% of the buildings in Slavonski Brod, resulting in 897 civilian and 244 military casualties.
Slavonski Brod, often called simply Brod is a city in eastern Croatia. It is located near the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The city is the centre of Brod-Posavina County and a major river port of the Sava river. At the 2011 census, the population was 59,000. Slavonski Brod is the sixth largest city in Croatia.
Address: Grad Slavonski Brod, Vukovarska 1, HR-35000 Slavonski Brod
The economy of Brod is based on farming, fruit growing, metal-processing, timber (furniture wood), textiles, leather, foodstuffs (brewery), building material, and printing industries.
Slavonski Brod is home to some of the most important metal companies in Southeastern Europe, consisting of a number of factories producing very diverse products, mainly for export. Production capabilities include locomotives, tramways, wagons, bridges, industrial plants, nuclear reactors, car parts, heavily armed vehicles, armoured combat vehicles, including tanks and mine vehicles, agricultural machinery, etc.
In recent years, tourism is becoming very important part of economy of the city. Brod has an important cultural heritage, including a fortress and a Franciscan monastery with very rich library.
The Brod Fortress
Dating from the Baroque period, the Fortress was constructed during the Austro-Hungarian Empire to serve as a stronghold against the Ottoman Empire, which stretched as far as the other bank of the Sava river. The fortress, built in the Vauban style, is one of the best preserved in Europe and one of the biggest on the former Austro-Hungarian Military Frontier.
The Franciscan monastery of Brod dates from the 18th century, and is also executed in Baroque style. It has exceptional architecture, especially of the church yard and interior, with its beautiful altar and paintings. In 1720, a faculty of philosophy was opened in it.
Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić square
The beautiful central town square is named after the popular children's writer Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić, whose house still stands on the squareand is one of the biggest in Croatia. The square is also home to numerous cultural events and has a perfect view of the beautiful Sava river. There are galleries, book stores, cafes, night clubs, and shops, making it a center for entertainment.