Municipality of Staro Petrovo Selo

Hill country and field landscape

The southern slopes of the Požeška gora uplands lie in the northern part of the municipality. Deciduous forest covers the slopes, which are interspersed with vineyards and orchards. This gives travelers with a particular interest in wooded landscapes and wine-growing concrete reasons to explore this part of the municipality. The terrain changes in the south, where it gradually descends toward the Crnac field. When looking for accommodation within the municipality, this north-south layout can serve as a guide without reducing the landscape to a single defining feature.

Church art and history

The parish church of Saint Anthony of Padua stands in Staro Petrovo Selo. This single-nave Baroque building was constructed and consecrated in 1777. The choir contains three frescoes by Antun Keller, dating from 1819: the Birth of Jesus, the Transfiguration of Jesus, and the Last Supper. The specific sequence of subjects also makes the church interesting to travelers who are curious about religious art and its themes.

Other religious buildings can be found in the named settlements of the municipality: Tisovac has a chapel dedicated to Saint Blaise, while Oštri Vrh has a chapel dedicated to Saint Vitus, which belongs to the parish of Staro Petrovo Selo. The ruins of the Church of Saint Ladislaus were also mentioned near Oštri Vrh in 1730; they lay on a hill among vineyards. Clay finds, along with stone and bronze objects, point to prehistoric settlement in the Oštri Vrh area. The story that the nobleman Tvrda had the Tvrdić estate built near Tisovac in the 13th century is also part of the region’s history.

Wine, food, and local traditions

For Martinje, the “Sveti Vinko” association of winegrowers and fruit growers traditionally holds a folk festival featuring the blessing of the wine: must is declared to be wine. The fourth edition also included tastings of young wine and regional products. This gives the local tradition a clear connection to wine-growing and the harvest season. The “Švarglijada u Hrvata” puts Švargl and traditional Slavonian cured products such as Kulin, Kulinova seka, bacon, and Čvarci in the spotlight. Švargl is presented as a gastronomic specialty of Slavonia; the event was announced at the Hrvatski pučki dom.

The history of the settlements also encompasses economic and craft-related aspects. On May 27, 1941, a company was renamed “Herman Wentenze, mljekara Slavija”; it is considered the first Croatian factory for powdered milk and condensed milk in Staro Petrovo Selo. Štivica has been known especially over the past 50 years for making wooden souvenirs. Alongside the themes of wine and food culture, these offer different points of interest when choosing a holiday apartment: regional cuisine and traditions, art and history, or the municipality’s landscape.

A place to visit and useful information

Jambrovac lies above Tisovac. In good weather, the destination draws many people seeking fresh air and time in nature. It complements the religious and culinary attractions with an opportunity to spend time outdoors, without implying a particular itinerary. Staro Petrovo Selo is also located on the regional road between Nova Gradiška and Slavonski Brod, as well as on the Posavina railway line. There is a gas station in the settlement. When comparing places to stay, travelers can consider these details alongside their preferred landscape and cultural attractions as a way to get their bearings.

Other municipalities at the same administrative level: Municipality of Rešetari, Municipality of Sibinj, Municipality of Brodski Stupnik, Municipality of Velika Kopanica, Municipality of Davor, Municipality of Vrpolje, and Municipality of Nova Kapela.

Go to the regional travel overview: Brod-Posavina.