Požega | |
|---|---|
| Grad Požega City of Požega | |
 Church of Holy Ghost | |
 Flag | |
 Interactive map of Požega | |
| Country |  Croatia |
| Region | Slavonia (Požega Valley) |
| County |  Požega-Slavonia |
| Founded | 12th century |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Borislav Miličević (HDZ) |
| Area | |
• City | 133.8 km2 (51.7 sq mi) |
| • Urban | 24.6 km2 (9.5 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 311 m (1,020 ft) |
| Population (2021)[2] | |
• City | 22,294 |
| • Density | 166.6/km2 (431.5/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 16,867 |
| • Urban density | 686/km2 (1,780/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | HR-34 000 |
| Area code | +385 34 |
| Vehicle registration | PŽ |
| Website | pozega |
Požega (pronounced[pôʒeɡa]) is a city in westernSlavonia, easternCroatia, with a total population of 22,364 (census 2021).[2] It is the administrative center of thePožega-Slavonia County.[3]
Between 1921 and 1991, the town was known asSlavonska Požega.[4] InGerman, the town is known asPoschegg, inHungarian asPozsega, inTurkish asPojega, and inLatin asIncerum (-i, n.) andPossega. There is a town in Serbia with same name (see:Požega, Serbia)."Požega" is supposed to be related to the Croatian word "požar", meaning "forest fire". "Incerum" is supposed to come from Proto-Indo-European words *h1eyn (valley) and *kjer (heart), so that it means "the heart of the valley".[5][unreliable source?]
Požega (elevation: 152 m (499 ft)) is located in the south-western part of the Valley of Požega, or Požega basin, in Croatian:Požeška kotlina. This fertile valley has been important since the antiquity - itsRoman name wasVallis Aurea, meaning "golden valley".
The valley is formed by the Slavonian mountains ofPožeška Gora,Psunj,Papuk,Krndija andDilj.
Twostate roads runconcurrently through the city: theD38Pakrac — Požega —Pleternica —Đakovo and theD51Nova Gradiška — Požega —Našice, as well as arailroad:Nova Kapela/Batrina —Pleternica — Požega —Velika.
Since records began in 1949, the highest temperature recorded at the local weather station was 40.0 °C (104.0 °F), on 6 August 2012.[6] The coldest temperature was −27.6 °C (−17.7 °F), on 16 January 1963.[7]
The total population of the city administrative area is 22,364 according 2021 census. Population decreased 14.79 per cent from 26,248 in 2011, when constituentsettlements had this population:[8]
By ethnicity, the population is 93.24%Croats, 4.66%Serbs, 0.56% undeclared, 0.38%Albanians, 0.15%Czechs, and others.[9]
| population | 5191 | 6139 | 6310 | 7871 | 9437 | 11020 | 12054 | 12393 | 13715 | 15450 | 19508 | 24939 | 26708 | 28157 | 28201 | 26248 | 22294 |
| 1857 | 1869 | 1880 | 1890 | 1900 | 1910 | 1921 | 1931 | 1948 | 1953 | 1961 | 1971 | 1981 | 1991 | 2001 | 2011 | 2021 |
Directly elected minority councils and representatives are tasked with consulting tasks for the local or regional authorities in which they are advocating for minority rights and interests, integration into public life and participation in the management of local affairs.[10] At the2023 Croatian national minorities councils and representatives electionsSerbs of Croatia fulfilled legal requirements to elect 15 members minority council of the Town of Požega.[11]
The first mention of the city of Požega is found in theGesta Hungarorum, by an anonymous notary ofBéla III (1172–1196) where he mentions the conquest of three forts inSlavonia - as the area between riversDanube andSutla was then called:Zagreb, Vlco (Vukovar) and Posega. The fortress of Požega, an elongated hexagonal fortification located on a hill in the present-day city center, was probably built during the 11th century, although the first documents that clearly mention Požega county date from 1210, while the city of Požega was documented for the first time in a charter ofAndrew II on January 11, 1227.[13]
Požega was originally the residential estate of the Croatian-Hungarian queen and was exempt from the authority of the viceroy and the county. Although no such charter survives, the privileges that citizens enjoyed fully corresponded to a free royal city.[13]
The fortress doesn't exist anymore, and the irregularly-shaped central city square is Romanic in nature. Only fragments of walls remain to remind that there once stood a fortress. The remaining monuments from that age are the Church of St. Lawrence (first mentioned in 1303), and the Church of theHoly Spirit (built in 1235).[13]
By the late 14th century, the city started to decline economically due to insecurity from Ottoman raids. In the 15th century, city walls were built, replacing a moat that existed before. This proved an insufficient defense as the Turks seized Požega in 1537.[14]
During the 150-year-long Ottoman rule, Požega was seat of aSanjak of Požega and given certain prominence. After a considerable economic decline, in 1537, at the time of the Ottoman conquest, Požega reportedly had 110 houses and 15 businesses. However, by 1579, there were 160 craftsmen in Požega as a result of improved security and an increase in population.
The death ofHasan Predojević the Požega SanjakBey in theBattle of Sisak in 1593, marked the first Ottoman defeat in Europe, and after years of steady decline, Ottoman rule grew weaker until Požega was finally liberated on 12 March 1688 by citizens led by friar Luka Ibrišimović. This day is now celebrated as the day of the city. However, Ottomans retook Požega in 1690 and held it for a year.[13]
After the liberation in 1691, Požega came underHabsburg rule, and in 1745, Požega county was restored and the city thus returned to the authority of Croatian viceroy. Požega underwent a period of vigorous development: In 1699, a grammar school opened - only the fifth in Croatia.[13] In 1727,Jesuits built a theatre, and in 1740, the city's first pharmacy. Today the city theater (Požega City Theater) is located on Square of the Holy Trinity (Trg Svetog Trojstva). There used to be also a philosophical college for Franciscan novices - the first such institution in Slavonia since the Ottoman rule. Finally, the Academia Posegana opened in 1760, placing Požega, along with Zagreb, among the first Croatian centres of highest education.
In 1765, EmpressMaria Theresa granted Požega a royal free city charter and supported the construction of the present-dayCathedral of St.Teresa of Ávila.[15]
In 1847, Požega was the first city in Croatia to introduce the Croatian language in official use, and the achievements of its notable citizens earned it the nickname of "Slavonian Athens".[13]
In the late 19th century and early 20th century, Požega was the seat of thePožega County of theKingdom of Croatia-Slavonia.
From 1941 to 1945, Požega was part of theIndependent State of Croatia. During this periodwar crimes were committed against theSerb andJewish population, allegedly under former police chiefMilivoj Ašner.[16] TheDVD Zvečevo of Požega was founded in 1942.[17]
On October 29, 1991, during theCroatian War of Independence, 26 predominantly Serb villages in Požega weretargeted by Croatian forces. It is estimated that 44 Serbs were killed, thousands displaced and over 1,000 buildings and homes destroyed in the operation.[18]
Požega County was abolished along with other Croatian counties in 1923, and was restored in 1993, following the independence of Croatia. Furthermore, in the footsteps of its tradition as an educational center as well as a church center, Požega became adiocesan see in 1997, and a graduate-degree college was opened in 1998.
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Chief occupations include farming, viticulture, livestock breeding, metal-processing (foundry, machines and tractors, householdappliances), foodstuffs (chocolate, sweets and drinks), textiles (ready-made), wood and timber, building material (bricks, roof tiles) and printing industries.
The city has an 800-year-old cultural and historical heritage. Its carefully cherished traditions underlie the tourist development of Požega.
The central town square with a number of nice buildings (the church of theHoly Spirit, theFranciscan monastery, the Town House, etc.) and aplague column is one of the most beautiful squares in Croatia.
Požega hosts a number of traditional cultural events and performances.Grgurevo or St. Gregory's Day is a traditional show of canons and mortars, exhibited on the central square (12 March). The event includes the mortar fire in Požegavineyards, which symbolizes the chasing of theOttomans from the region and commemorates the victory over the Turks on Sokolovac Hill in 1688. TheCroatian Minute Movie Cup — an international festival featuring one-minute-longmovies — and the national dog show are held in May The events in June are St. John's Bonfire (21 June),Kulenijada — a special event dedicated to presentation and tasting of the very bestkulen (Slavonianpaprika-flavoured sausages), served with quality local wines.
The events in September areFišijada (fishing and preparing of Slavonian-style fish specialities) and the important music festival Golden Strings of Slavonia (first weekend in September). This event is a contest offolk music performers and singers but also includes other events (grape harvest,beauty contest, the most "swaggering" peasant girl, national costumes show, etc.).Organ music evenings are organized on the occasion of the town's day and in commemoration of its patroness, St. Teresa of Avila (15 October). There is a quiz contest each April,"Spring Open Vallis Aurea" (SOVA), organized by theQuiz lover's club. SOVA arouse from Pub quiz, a popular event that is usually organized on Fridays bi-weekly, and become probably the largest independent quiz contest in the country.
There are three primary schools and seven secondary schools in Požega.[19][20]
The Gymnasium in Požega was founded in 1699 and it is one of Croatia's oldest educational institutions. From 1761 to 1776 it was part of the high schools listed under the name of Academia Posegana, and had two faculties – the Faculty of Philosophy and the Faculty of Theology.[21]
Today the Gymnasium is an independent high school which carries out general and natural sciences-mathematics syllabus and curriculum.
Internationally, the most important sporting event in Požega is the annual internationaljudo tournament held in October, organized by the local Judokan judo club.[22]
Among other significant sporting events in Požega, in May there is amotocross race as a part of the Croatian championship, in June there is car race held on Glavica race track, and in September there is abasketball tournament.
The sports hall Grabrik, theOrljava river and the surrounding hills are the major sports and recreational areas of Požega.Angling opportunities are provided on the Orljava and Veličanka rivers, and there is also small gamehunting in the lowlands and high game in the nearby hills. Traditional Slavonian specialities and wines are offered throughout the region.
The local chapter of theHPS isHPD "Sokolovac", which had 106 members in 1936 under the Julije Strepački presidency.[23] Membership fell to 97 in 1937,[24]: 248 and to 96 in 1938 under the Antun Mihelčić presidency.[25]: 225
On 17 May 2013 the first ever professional boxing event was held in Grabrik sports hall withMark de Mori fighting Adnan Buharalija for the WBU Heavyweight World title. de Mori, whose wife Milijana Vojnovic is from Pozega, won the bout in the 5th round when Buharalija retired in his corner. The event was promoted by Pozegans Nail Mahmutović and Tomislav Jakobovic.
TheNK Slavonija Požega is the major football club who play in the third tier of the Croatian football pyramid.
Požega istwinned with:
Subdivisions ofPožega-Slavonia County | ||
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