Topusko
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Topusko is a spa town in Sisak-Moslavina County, Croatia. It is located at around . The population of Topusko is 798, with a total of 3,219 people in the municipality (census 2001). There were 2045 croats (63,53%) ,954 Serbs (29,64), and 65 Bosnjaks (2.02). It is located very close to the Croatia-Bosnia and Herzegovina border.
[edit] History
The first traces of humans in the Topusko area were found around 2,500 B.C. Numerous idols, fragments of ceramic dishes were found. Through the millenia, the Illyrians, the Celts, and most of all, the Romans testified to their existence and their fascination with this area of impulsive vivacity, and they made a large colony called Ad Fines.
Topusko flourishes again in 1192 as a thermal resort in the time of Andrija II, who in the time of his reign built a magnificent chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Pohod in a Gothic style. It's dilapidating front is being kept with all its monumentality in the park "Opatovina". This Cistercian portal today has the status of the unique symbol of Topusko.
The excavation of pre-historical artifacts shows that Topusko and its surroundings were inhabited in the Neolithic (8-5 ct. BC). The line of the monuments built in the honour of the Illyrian divinities Vidas and Thiana (Thana), points to the presence of the Illyrians (tribes the Japods and the Kolapijans, 3,000 years BC). In the area of Topusko we can also find traces of some other peoples, for example the Celts, the Goths, the French, the Hungarians etc.
The real development of Topusko begins after the arrival of the Romans. The most crucial event in the history of Topusko would be the building of the Roman road Via Eksecirtualis, which in turn sparked the creation of the Roman colony Ad Fines, which ulimatly turned into modern day Topusko. The remnants of the luxurious architecture, the devices for heating the houses with hot water, the painted walls of the houses, the discovered altars dedicated to the Roman and domestic divinities, the grave-monuments, tools, ornaments, money (which was thrown into the thermal springs) are very valuable artifacts that tell us about the persistence of the colony through the whole antiquity. King Andrija II goes to the holy war to Jerusalem at the beginning of the 13th century, and makes a vow that in case he comes back he will build a monastery and an abbey in Topusko, in token of gratitude. In 1233 he finishes the chapel and monastery and gives them to the Cistercians. This is their first monastery in Croatia, and the edifice itself is the first one built in Gothic style in the area south from France. A threehundred-year dominant role of the Cistercians begins to weaken in wars with the Turks, who break towards Vienna through these areas. Under the leadership of the Bosnian pasha Makoc beg, the Turkish troops destroy the abbey in 1558. Only the front of that monumental edifice is saved.
In the year 1784 Topusko and the abbey belong to the Croatian Military Border and remains under its conduct for about a hundred years. The real development of Topusko we can follow in a well-documented manner begins only after the arrival of colonel Ivan Nestor. Colonel Nestor started the development of Topusko, but the turning point was the arrival of the king and tzar Joseph I in 1818, and the repeated donation of money for the construction. Therefore Ivan Nestor is with good reason considered to be "the real father of Topusko".
The next stronger phase in the development followed the arrival of ban Josip Jelacic (later the count and the governor of Croatia). At that time also the capital objects are built and Topusko stands out from the common bathing resort and becomes a fashionable bathing-place.
Topusko, being a resort, would naturally attract famous people. Through Topusko the rulers were passing, the travel writers travelled, there counts and barons rested, great army leaders and some other unknown heroes healed their wounds. Some of them are mention even today, some are already forgotten, but everyone of them marked the history of this area. These are some:
- 1097 - Hungarian king Koloman
- 1097 - Croatian king Petar Svacic (dies on Gvozd)
- Francis Joseph I with his wife, and many other persons like Michael Kunitsch, Vladimir Nazor, Bogoslav Sulek, Ivan Trnski, fra Grga Martic, Izidor Krsnjavi, Josip Eugen Tomic, Herman Bolle, Ivana Brlic Mazuranic and many others.
[edit] External link
 |
This Croatian geography article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
| edit | Municipalities of Sisak-Moslavina County |  |
|---|---|---|
|
Sisak |
||
