Nova Gradiška / Croatia

Nova Gradiška is located near the river Sava, a tributary of the Danube, in the eastern Croatian region of Slavonia in the centre of the country. It is the youngest town in Croatia.

Nova Gradiška was founded in 1748 under the name Friedrichsdorf. Even today, late baroque and classicist buildings still characterise the external appearance of the town. The origins of the connection to Herzogenaurach lie in the 1970s, when many people from what was then Yugoslavia sought work in Herzogenaurach companies and stayed in Herzogenaurach. Herzogenaurach became a second home for many Croatians. This gave rise to the desire to expand the previously rather loose relationships to a new level. The first visits by official delegations from Herzogenaurach took place in 1977 and 1978. The twinning of the two cities was officially sealed in 1980.

Intensive partnership ties

Mutual friendly visits - whether official, private or at club level - are increasingly intensifying the partnership ties. Various projects have been developed, particularly with trainees from both vocational schools and companies in Herzogenaurach. Various three- and four-country projects have been completed, in which the vocational schools from Nova Gradiška, Herzogenaurach, Wolfsberg and Wolfsberg's twin town Varpalota in Hungary have also participated. Further projects are being planned.

Friendly relations exist between the specialised clinic in Herzogenaurach and the hospital in Nova Gradiška. Interns and trainees from the twin town were able to take part in various projects and receive further training at the Herzogenaurach Specialist Clinic.
Lebenshilfe Herzogenaurach has made arrangements with Lebenshilfe in Nova Gradiška (Udruga za pomoć osobama s mentalnom retardocijom) and supports various projects. It is also involved in various projects with trainees at the Nova Gradiška vocational school.

The town twinning has existed since 1980, so in 2020 it was in existence for 40 years. Nova Gradiška has a population of around 14,300 and is around 840 kilometres away from Herzogenaurach.