Sava River Walks In Slavonski Brod

Slavonski Brod is the largest town on the Croatian bank of the Sava river, in the east of the country, directly opposite the Bosnian town of Bosanski Brod, and the river is the reason for its existence: the name Brod means a ford or a ferry crossing. The riverside walkways on the Croatian side are the town's main open space for relaxing and are the easiest way to understand how Slavonski Brod relates to the water. They are not a single marked trail but a series of paths and quays along the embankment, used every day by walkers, joggers and cyclists.

The waterfront is dominated by the Brod Fortress, an enormous eighteenth-century Baroque fortification built on the river bank in the period when the Habsburg monarchy organised the Military Frontier against the Ottoman Empire. Its long brick curtain walls, bastions and gates form a complex that is among the largest of its kind in this part of Europe, and walking beside it gives a sense of the scale of the project. Parts of the fortress house a museum and other public functions, and the walls themselves are a major landmark, especially in the soft light of evening.

The riverside promenade, called the Kej, runs along the Sava with views across the water, which is wide and slow here, brown in colour and fringed with willows and reeds. Fishermen sit along the bank, and local people stroll with children and dogs. Floating platforms and rafts moored along the shore, some of them used as restaurants and cafes, are part of the local river culture, and a visit at sunset, when the sky turns red over the water and the lights of the other bank come on, is the best time to experience it. The atmosphere is peaceful and unhurried, and it appeals to anyone who likes slow, low-key travel.

The paths are flat and well maintained and suitable for all ages and for pushchairs, and there are benches, lighting and signs. They link several parts of the town, so you can use them to travel between the fortress, the town centre and the sports and recreation area at Poloj, which is listed in this guide, and the Brod Posavlje Museum is a short distance away. The town is also known as the home of the author Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić, whose house is open to visitors, and has a lively cafe culture around its main square.

Bring insect repellent in summer, when mosquitoes can be active near the water, and a hat for sun. The walks are free and open at any time. Allow one to two hours for a relaxed circuit. They suit families, couples, runners and visitors who want to see the quieter, riverside side of Slavonia.