Welcome to Gvozd - Croatia and to the 146th edition of the Forum Song Contest (FSC).
Theme: ‘Croatia: A Land of Beauty’
Winner FSC March 2021
Congratulations! ^^
The Host city for this FSC #146-edition is : Gvozd - Croatia, a town and municipality in the central
part of the nation in Sisak-Moslavina County. Its center is located in Vrginmost, which was renam
ed to Gvozd from 1996–2012. It's statistically classified as a region of relative underdevelopment
compared to the rest of the country (ASSC) This is a support system by the Croatian Government
Certain policies are implemented aimed at achieving balanced regional development in that spes
ific region . The Government act behind this system was enacted in 1996 which brought flexibility
with municipalities & settlements entering or leaving the ASSC depending on their own indicators
Municipalities like Gvozd, & similar ones elsewhere , benefit from this special attention and focus.
Historically, the year 1097 is central in this region’s past. In 1097 the last native Croatian King Pet
ar Svačić was killed here during the Battle of Gvozd Mountain defeated by forces of the King Colo
man I of Hungary , which led to the mountain being renamed Petrova Gora (“Petar's Mountain”). It
was ruled by the Ottoman Empire, 1536 to 1691 as part of Bosnia Eyalet (administrative division).
In the summer of 1941, during World War Two , the villages of then District of Vrginmost suffered
heavy loss of civilian life with several hundred ethnic Serbian men and boys perishing in the Glina
massacre on 3rd August 1941. Majority of the victims of the August massacre in Glina were from
villages such as Blatuša , Podgorje, Crevarska Strana, Slavsko Polje, Brnjavac, Pješčanica & more.
The Ostrožin Rulebook ( Croatian: Ostrožinski pravilnik ) was adopted on 14th December 1941 in
the village of Ostrožin . Predating the Foča Regulations, by more than a month , the Ostrožin Rule
book was the first legal act , which regulated the new national authority in the liberated territories
during the National Liberation War of Yugoslavia , after the nation were conquered by Axis forces.
In 1942, Andrija Artuković (a senior member of the ultranationalist and fascist Ustaše movement)
ordered the killing of the entire population of Vrginmost and its surrounding villages, according to
the charges laid against him , in his deportation hearings in the United States. This is a very tragic
and violent period in this region’s history, that left a lot of scars both mental and physical in many.
During the Croatian War of Independence ( 1991 to 1995 , between Croat forces which had declar
ed independence from Yugoslavia and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army and local Serb
forces ), Vrginmost was a part of the unrecognized breakaway Republic of Serbian Krajina. It was
retaken later by the Croatian army during an operation that's sometimes called “Operation Storm”
In more recent times, there have been some discussions surrounding the name of the place. The
municipality was officially known as Gvozd between 1996 and 23rd October 2012. In 2012, its ori
ginal name of Vrginmost was officially restored , amid political controversy , as center with some
surrounding villages. Many still use Gvozd though to explain their hometown and place of history
‘Croatia: A Land of Beauty’
‘Pozdrav iz Hrvatske’
Croatia is a country at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe on the Adriatic Sea . It is a
Land of Beauty, a country that has much to offer any visitor or ‘guest’ as Croatians will say . Here's
a visit to some of the many beautiful places that are found in Croatia. To all: 'Pozdrav iz Hrvatske!'
Dubrovnik: often known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic”, it was once a rich and powerful state. Today
Today it is almost like a living museum, medieval in character with numerous baroque churches &
curious visitors spilling out onto its pedestrianized marblestreets. It's the most famous tourist city
in the country. The Dalmatian coast: a famous glittering coastline it extends for hundreds of miles
with steep limestone cliffs and a shoreline which is speckled with islands. Famous places here are
Split (the second-largest city in Croatia) , Zadar and also the island of Hvar ( “Queen of Dalmatia” ).
Rovinj: Sitting in the Istrian peninsula, this picturesque town pokes into the AdriaticSea. Tightly knit
houses and churches surround Venetian-baroque centrepiece , the Tower of St. Euphemia. Pula: an
Istrian town scattered with ancient Roman infrastructure it's home to Croatia’s very own Roman am
phitheatre called the Arena! Zagreb: the Capital and largest city of Croatia, it hosts a vibrant city life
all year round. Flat streets, open green parks and a small city centre make it perfect to walk or cycle
Explore many cathedrals, cemeteries and markets and don’t forget to check out the street art scene
Korcula: the sixth-largest island in the Adriatic . Home to rich pine forests, small sandy beaches &
aromatic vineyards . Discover hidden coves along the seafront , and enjoy the famous local white-
wine in one of the many medieval squares. Sibenik: a historic city located in central Dalmatia with
elements of the town approaching 1000 years old. Its current style is one of renaissance. It is said
to be the oldest surviving example of a true Croatian town. Opatija: a pretty resort town in western
Croatia , a coastal resort with class and history . It is filled with opulent villas, designed to cater for
the elites of Europe in the 18th century . Rijeka: principal seaport, & the third-largest city in Croatia.
Osijek: the largest city and the economic and cultural centre of the eastern Croatian region of Slav
onia . The wonderful Plitvice Lakes National Park, is one of the oldest national parks in Southeast
Europe, with miles of unspoiled beauty, cascading waterfalls, rugged hills, and turquoise lakes. On
Mljet island , the most southerly and easterly of the larger Adriatic islands , of the Dalmatia region,
lies the Mljet National Park. It has a unique beauty featuring two connected salty lakes and rich fo
rested landscapes. Krka National Park in Southern Croatia , is beautiful with cascading waterfalls.
Croatian is official first language of the region. Serbian language with its Cyrillic alphabet is the of
ficially recognised second language. In Cyrillic (the Serbian Cyrillic Alphabet), Vrginmost is known
as Вргинмост & Gvozd as Гвозд. The population of the municipality is around 3000 and the mun
icipality consists of 19 settlements (naselje in Croatian) of which Vrginmost/Gvozd is the largest.
Around 70% of the inhabitants of Vrginmost/Gvozd are Croats & about 30% are Serbs , according
to statistics (as of census 2011). The municipality had big population changes in various census
es, possibly because of war and because of frequent border changes of municipalities in Croatia.
In the 2001 census there were 3.779 people in the municipality , with ca 60% Serbs & 40% Croats.
There are many sights in the region for visitors and locals alike. Most famous perhaps is The Mo
nument to the Uprising of the People of Kordun & Banija (usually known as the Petrova Gora Mon
ument , more info below) . There was also the Monument to the Antifascist Uprising & Victims of
Fascism - a bronze , Yugoslavian Partisan sculpture , subsequently removed for political reasons.
The Abez Forest - site of the historical meeting, held on 19th July 1941 at which the leadership of
the Croatian branch of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia decided that the people of the Kordun
and Banija region must rise against the nazi-fascist occupation. Site of the formation of the Parti
san 8th Kordun Division, on 22nd November 1942 in Crevarska Strana , in the Gvozd municipality.
Đedova kosidba - cultural and historical, tourist manifestation held in Gvozd/Vrginmost, nurturing
the folk customs and traditions of Kordun & traditional ways of life. The one-day event, which was
first held in 2010, takes place between May and late June and brings together amateur groups nu
rturing traditional folk dancing & singing, from different regions of Croatia and north-west Bosnia.
Other interesting places to visit in the region: Stari Dud (an Old Mulberry country estate and farm)
Đon Močvar (a sort of botanical reserve), mlin Srnjak (a place by the river/stream that people usu
ally go to in the summer for BBQ) , Eko selo Blatuša (several associations, related to environment
living in a sustainable village which is important as we do enter a time of greater eco-importance)
Of local cultural events, Đedova kosidba is the biggest cultural folklore event of the year in Gvozd.
We must also mention the Suncokret Centre for Community Development (it is an NGO that does
a lot of creative activities in the area). A church worth visiting is the local Catholic Churc , the Hrv
atska katolička 'Crkva Sv. Petra i Pavla' ( the Church of St. Peter and Paul ) in Gvozd, built in 2008.
Even though Gvozd is a small place there are hotels/guesthouses in the region for visitors & other
modern amenities found in small towns & villages . There are also farmhouses , which guests can
rent in the region . Here you get the charm of a small place combined with nearness to nature & it
creates great 'escapism', for people who wish to escape from the hustle and bustle of big city life.
The Host venue for FSC #146 April 2021 is: by the Petrova Gora Mountain Monument ,
a World War II monument built on Veliki Petrovac , the highest peak of Petrova Gora, a mountain
range in central Croatia . The site of this monument, is shared between 3 municipalities : Gvozd,
Topusko and Vojnić. The monument celebrates the uprising and resistance movement of the pe
ople of Kordun and Banija against nazi-fascism and commemorates the victims of nazi-fascism
both civilian victims and fallen resistance fighters . The author of this monument , is a renowned
Croatian sculptor Vojin Bakić. Construction of the monument was completed in 1981. The place
also has a reputation as Croatia's first international Dark Sky Park . It is one of Europe's best star
gazing places as well, since it has low light pollution and thereby makes it easier to see starlight
in detail in the night sky. It is in many ways a place of the past but also the future. It is a place of
hope . Our Croatian hosts are proud to host this April-edition of the Forum Song Contest tonight.
Our lovely Hosts this evening are:
Dušan Bućan and Nives Celzijus
Dušan Bućan was born 1976 in Zagreb, Croatia. He became a member of the Drama Ensemble of
the Croatian National Theater in 2007 . His parents, are from this region , and he is currently living
in Golinja in Gvozd municipality . He is also known for having organized a kind of music festival in
Gvozd , ca 10 years ago . He is proud to co-host this evening’s edition of the Forum Song Contest.
Nives Celzijus (real name Nives Zeljković) was born 1981 in Zagreb, Croatia. She is a Croatian mo
del, singer and writer. She has participated in tv reality shows as a judge and also as a participant.
She recorded a video for her song “ Karanfili ” in Stari Dud in Gvozd and this song took part in FSC
nr #68 in October 2014 . She is proud to co-host this evening’s edition of the Forum Song Contest.
And we are now pleased to announce
The Opening Acts
Exclusive International Guest Appearances
Ava Max (USA)
Linda Bengtzing ft. Velvet (Sweden)
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’Kings & Queens’
’Victorious’