City of Požega lies in a fertile valley, among Slavonian mountains of Psunj, Papuk, Dilj and Požega Hill. Positioned in the south-east of the valley that Romans had called Vallis Aureae, Požega has been the most important centre of central Slavonia for centuries. Its topographic position at the foot of the hills made possible construction of the medieval fortress (noted for the first time in a document of 1227), as well as the settlement around the fort, suburbium, as a very important trade and crafts centre.

Therefore, Požega started out early as an estate centre, and the medieval city became a trade, crafts, administrative, military and church centre for a large area. Požega county is noted for the first time in a document of 1210, and a city church parish in 1232. Development of administrative functions is very important for Požega, and several church orders gave it a special boost in that direction: especially Franciscans, Dominicans, Paulines and Jesuits. Sacral monuments, along with the city centre which was given a special appearance during baroque, provide Požega an appeal of one of the most beautiful cities in the northern Croatia.

Over the centuries, even during the harsh Ottoman rule (1537-1688), Požega was centre of a rich farming area. Furthermore, trade and crafts development was of great importance to the city. This is especially true of the baroque and post-baroque 18th and 19th centuries when the city is greatly influenced by trade and crafts guilds.