In Sisak, every year in the first days of September at the time of the new moon on the promenade of the River Kupa the tourist-historical spectacle Celtic night is held. It is one of the most important and most impressive tourist manifestations in the Sisak-Moslavina county. On the rafts, Sisak legends are played out, and druids and priestesses hand out a magical potion to the audience. With the light of torches and spotlights images from mysterious Sisak legends come out from the night. On the 4th September visitors will see fairies and warriors dancing to the rythm of drums, Celts sailing their rafts on Kupa, tasting the magical druid potion and participating in the mystical rites of conjuring ancient warriors, beauties, bishops and their persecutors, warrior conquerors and defenders of life and freedom. On the rafts in front of visitors, scenes from the lives of Celts and Romans will be played out. This is a night where these rafts, moved only by the river, will show scenes from the history of Sisak and tell a three thousand year old story of wars, rebellion, magnificent moments from the past, successes and battles won and the rises and falls of mighty empires. The people of Sisak, in this one hour show, remember how their city used to look like once. Celtic night was last year proclaimed the best tourist manifestation in continental Croatia.
The Celts came to the Sisak area in the 4th century B.C. and conquered the old Ilyrian tribes with whom they etnically and culturally mixed and later formed the settlement Segestica. Ilyrian – Celtic tribes managed to resist the pressures of the Romans up until 35. B.C., when Octavian conquered and tore apart Segestica with 12.000 soldiers, after a thirty day siege. From the initial military camp, the Roman Siscia soon rose and got the status of a city with extremely strong military, transport and administration functions, developed trading and crafts and a famous mint that was used throughout the Roman empire.
The town Sisak is located in the southeast of Zagreb on the mouths of the Rivers Odra into Kupa and Kupa into Sava. Its geographical location and natural advantages influenced the development of the city, which beside the rich cultural-history offers its visitors many other interesting landmarks in its surroundings.
Downstream from Sisak, along the left bank of Sava, stretches the nature park Lonjsko polje. In most part it is a flood area of the River Sava, with an extremely preserved plant and animal world and picturesque villages located along the river. Lonjsko polje is well known for its indigenous breed of horses and pigs and also one of the biggest hatcheries of fish.
The unique architecture of the wooden houses with many stork nests on them represent an extra attraction, while the village Čigoč has been named the European village of Storks.
Here also is the archeological park Siscia. Protective archeological research resulted in the discovery of the urban complex of the Roman Siscija where visitors can see the city walls with the inner tower, a defensive moat and a part of the late Roman monumental building.
Sisak experienced its glory days in the times of battles with the Turks and the highlight was a magnificent victory of the Christian army over the Turks in 1593. The news of the first big Turkish defeat after hundreds of years of military dominance, spread fast and Sisak became the centre of attention for a short period of time, throught the whole of Europe.
Source: Croatia.hr
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2010,
Celtic night,
Inner Croatia,
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