One of Croatia's major cities and industrial centres, Sisak is located in Central Croatia, just southeast of the capital Zagreb, at the confluence of the Kupa and Sava rivers. The county of Sisak-Moslavina, of which Sisak is the regional capital, spreads across 4,416 km², and supports a total population of 251,000 over 6 cities and 13 municipalities. The area's industry constitutes roughly a quarter of Croatia's total industrial capacity and is well known for its oil, natural gas, chemical, and metallurgical industries (the University of Zagreb's Faculty of Metallurgy is located in Sisak).

Settlement in Sisak began as early as the 4th century B.C. with the Celts, who dubbed their new home "Segestica". Under Roman rule, the town became a military, trading, crafts, and administrative centre with a major mint (Roman coins minted in "Siscia" can be found in museums around the world--I've seen some personally at the Royal Ontario Museum). Finally, the Croats arrived in Sisak (and modern-day Croatia) at the end of the 6th century from what is today southern Poland and western Ukraine (known then as "White Croatia").

Sisak quickly grew into an important market town and river port on the way from the Danube and the Sava regions to the Adriatic Sea. In the 16th century it became a strategic military stronghold on the very edge of Western Christianity, where the Turks suffered a major defeat in 1593--the first such defeat suffered by the Ottoman Empire during its push into Central Europe.

If you ever find yourself in Sisak, the city centre is definitely charming, but don't miss the fortress from the battle mentioned above! It's a bit further out of town on the Kupa's north shore.

The city's official website (in Croatian):
http://www.sisak.hr/

A really nice photo gallery:
http://vesna.esmartdesign.com/grad/page_01.htm