TOWERS AND FORTRESSES - SLAVONSKI BROD

The postage stamps have been issued in the 20-stamp sheets. The Croatian Post issued First Day Cover (FDC) too. SLAVONSKI BROD From the day it started its life, Slavonski Brod was important for its strategic position, inspecting one of the old crossings over the river Sava. The most recent archaeological research has found fortifications dating from ancient times. But the strata of from the older eras are but mere archaeological heritage, for most part still unresearched, taking into consideration the multiple destruction of the fortified settlement in the course of centuries. It was only in recent times, after the final liberation from the Turks in 1691, that a more integral perception of the fortifications surrounding the settlement could be reached. From ancient times on, the settlement Brod was, even at the time of the Turkish invasions, placed in a strategically significant position, checking on the border passage to Turkey and connecting the main trading routes. It was only after the final liberation from the Turks in 1691 that the new, more serious fortification of the town had started, based on the project drawn up by Kaisersfeld, the master builder who was at the same time employed in fortifying Osijek. Next to the old medieval-Turkish citadel, extended defensive walls and a regular fortress with bastions were built on the left bank of the river. On the islet in the river Sava two towers were built, and on the other bank of the Sava another fortress with towers was built. The settlement itself was rectangular in shape and had a fortress with bastions. The next period important in the fortification of Brod started in 1715 when Austria began the building of the new huge Imperial and Royal Slavonian borderland fortress Brod on the river Sava. The project of the master builder Willer was accepted, envisaging a square fortification with three large rectangular forts capped with a protruding point, with spacious spiked bastions that could be reached by ramps, and in between there were powder-chambers. In terms of ground-plan this meant the fortress was star-shaped. Along the fortress other buildings were erected: barracks for the accommodation of 4000 soldiers and 150 cannons, and all other necessary buildings. Willer’s original project underwent a number of changes in the course of the building owing to practical reasons. Most of the remarks and suggestions were raised by the builder N.Doxat Demoret who stayed in Brod from 1726 to 1731. The building was completely finished around the year 1784, when there was a large ramp built that encompassed three sides of the inner space of the fortress. Even at the time of the construction, starting from the year 1735, the fortress housed the headquarters of the harbour master’s office, and since 1747, here was the seat of the regiment. The town of Brod developed outside the premises of the fortress. There were minor adaptations and additions built in the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, but unfortunately this did not stop the gradual falling to ruin and the cave-in of the fortress. For example, J.Fohman planted trees along the sides at the beginning of the 19th century. Later, roads and contemporary buildings were built above the smoothed down remains of outer fortress elements. Currently, there is extensive restoration going on with the goal of restoring this unique Baroque edifice that by its form and functionality represents a monumental example of the 18th century fortification architecture in Croatia.