city in Croatia, southwest of Zagreb at the confluence of the Korana and Kupa rivers. It has Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic cathedrals and the oldest public library in Croatia. An important railway and road junction, Karlovac has a considerable transit trade in timber, grain, wine, spirits, and honey. In the city are woolen mills, tanneries, and boot and chemical factories. The fortress of Karlovac, built in 1579 to stem the advance of the Turks, was named for the Habsburg archduke Charles, the first commander of the military frontier against the Turks. The Turks made several unsuccessful attempts in the 16th and 17th centuries to capture the fortress. Pop. (2001) 49,082.