Kranj

Kranj (, ) is the fourth-largest city in Slovenia and the largest urban center of the traditional region of Upper Carniola (northwestern Slovenia) and the Slovene Alps. It is located approximately northwest of the national capital Ljubljana, acting as the seat of the City Municipality of Kranj.

Geography

The nucleus of the city is a well-preserved medieval old town, built at the confluence of the Kokra and Sava rivers. The city is served by the Kranj railway station on the route from Ljubljana to Munich, Germany (via Jesenice and Villach, Austria) and a highway. Slovenia's national airport, Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport (in Brnik) is also very close to Kranj, considerably more so than to its nominal client, Ljubljana.

In Kranj, the Kokra cuts deeply into the conglomerate, forming a canyon deep. Kosorep, on the northern outskirts of Kranj, is a picturesque site along the river. Parts of the canyon can be reached by a walking trail. Below Kranj, at Drulovka, the Sava forms a deep canyon with conglomerate on both sides. Due to the dam for the Mavčiče Hydroelectric Plant, the river's flow there is very slow.

Climate

Kranj has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification ''Dfb'').

Etymology

Kranj was attested in written sources in the 5th century and 670 as ''Carnium'' (and as ''via Chreinariorum'' in 973, ''actum Kreine'' in 1050–65, ''in loco Chreina'' in 1065–77, and ''Chrainburch'' in 1291). The Slovene name is derived from Slavic ''*Korn’ь'', borrowed from Romance ''Carnium'' in late antiquity. Like the Latin regional name ''Carnia'', it is derived from the Celtic tribe known as the ''Carnī'' (Greek: Κάρνοι). The name of the tribe is probably derived from the Celtic root ''*karno-'' 'peak, hill, pile of stones'. The German name of the town was ''Krainburg''. The name of the historical region of Carniola is a Latin diminutive form of ''Carnia''.

History

Prehistory and antiquity

Archaeological finds show that Kranj was settled in prehistoric times. Discoveries include a bronze ax found in Drulovka, Hallstatt-era graves in the northern part of the town above the bank of the Kokra River, testifying to Illyrian settlement, and a burial site in the southern part of the town above the left bank of the Sava River, indicating a Celtic settlement. The Romans founded the settlement of Carnium at the confluence of the Sava and Kokra. In the 6th century, a major Germanic settlement stood at the same site, and an Ostrogothic cemetery was discovered nearby. The Gothic settlement was continued by the Lombards and existed until AD 580, when it was destroyed by invading Slavs.

Middle Ages

Traces of the old Slavic settlement (a Slavic burial site) date from the 9th and 10th centuries. As the seat of the margraves of Carniola in the 11th century, it was the most important settlement in the territory. The town itself is believed to have developed in the early 13th century; citizens of the town of Kranj appear in a document from 1221, and Kranj was officially referred to as a town in 1256. It was the seat of a court whose jurisdiction extended between that of Radovljica and Kamnik. In 1414 a decision was issued relieving the citizens of the town from paying tolls. In 1422 an ordinance required houses to be built of stone to prevent fires. A parish school was established in Kranj in 1423, and the same year the right was granted to Kranj to elect its own judge. Kranj was laid waste in 1471 in an Ottoman attack. Emperor Frederick III granted Kranj the right to collect tolls in documents from 1488 and 1493, and a 1493 document also granted the town the right to hold fairs twice a year. The town hospice records date back to the 15th century.

Crafts developed in Kranj during the Middle Ages. Mills first developed along the Sava and Kokra rivers, and this was followed by butchers, fur merchants, hide and wood processors, and then weavers of canvas and woolen cloth. Habsburg efforts to maintain Vienna's monopoly on trade with Italy resulted in trade routes bypassing Kranj.

Renaissance

Kranj was affected by peasant revolts in the 16th century; the leaders of the 1515 peasant revolt were beheaded in Kranj, and in 1525, when a new revolt threatened Carniola, hussars commanded by Johann Katzianer occupied the town and caused more damage than the Ottomans had inflicted half a century earlier. In 1668 half of the houses in Kranj were destroyed by a fire, and the entire town burned in 1749. Kranj was affected by plague outbreaks in 1552, 1557, 1625, 1627, and 1657. In the mid-16th century, most of the townspeople converted to Protestantism; the merchants of Kranj opened a Protestant school and Slovenian books by Protestant authors were imported from Germany. The Protestant Reformation in Kranj was led by Gašpar Rokavec, who was succeeded by Jernej Knafel after his death. Knafel was forced to withdraw from Kranj to Brdo Castle during the Counter-Reformation.

Economically, teamster services developed in Kranj in the 16th century, with connections to the rest of Upper Carniola and Carinthia. There were also several blacksmith workshops and two foundries along the Sava River. Sieve-making also developed at this time; horsehair was imported from around Europe and the sieves were exported to France, Belgium, Germany, and Greece. Several breweries and leather works operated in the town. Kranj went into an economic decline in the 17th century, when there was much emigration from the town, leaving many houses empty, and business did not revive again until the second half of the 18th century.

Modern era

Kranj was affected by plague outbreaks in 1836 and 1855. A Slovene reading room was established in 1863. Artisans' workshops became established in Kranj in the 19th century, with roots going back to a number of painters in the 17th and 18th centuries. Prominent among these was the workshop of Josip Egartner Jr. (1833–1905), who settled in Kranj in 1875. An upper secondary school was established in 1861, and a vocational school for textile workers opened in 1930. A water supply system was installed in Kranj in 1901, supplied by Čemšenik Spring on the Kokra River.

There was limited industry in Kranj until the late 19th century. Until this time, trade in agricultural products, livestock, and wood was economically most important. The Majdič Mill, which operated from 1874 until the Second World War, was an early industry, producing up to of milled products per day. A leather factory was established in 1875. Large-scale industrialization occurred after the First World War, starting with the founding of a rubber factory in 1921. The Jugo-Češka textile works was established in 1923. Additional textile works were established after this, making Kranj one of the most important centers of textile manufacturing in pre-war Yugoslavia. A major strike by textile workers occurred in 1936, when they occupied the factories. Two shoe factories were established in 1925, and a bakery in 1937.

Second World War

During the Second World War, Kranj, along with the rest of northern Slovenia, was annexed by Nazi Germany. The German authorities dismantled the Jugo-Češka textile works, replacing the machinery with equipment to produce aircraft. On 21 March 1944, German forces discovered several communist activists and functionaries at the Šorli Mill in Rupa in the northern part of the town, where military supplies for the Partisans were being stored. Three of the men at the mill were killed and the German forces then burned the mill.

Mass grave

Kranj is the site of a mass grave from the period immediately after the Second World War. The Planina Mass Grave () is located in a small woods in a field near the city cemetery. It contains the remains of an undetermined number of people murdered after the war; the victims may be German prisoners of war, Home Guard soldiers repatriated from Austria, or Slovene civilians from Kranj and the surrounding area.

Economy

Kranj is a mainly industrial city with significant electronics and rubber industries. It experienced a wave of deindustrialisation with many of its factories going bankrupt following independence in 1991, leaving behind several brownfields. In recent years, its manufacturing sector has become more based around highly-competitive export-oriented industries. Major industrial companies operating in Kranj include Goodyear (under their subsidiary Goodyear Dunlop Sava), Iskratel and Hidria.

Landmarks

St. Cantianus and Companions Parish Church

The St. Cantianus and Companions Parish Church () is the largest church in Kranj and also the seat of the Kranj Parish and Deaconates. It was built in the 14th century, and measures . Construction was commissioned by the counts of Kranj.

Kieselstein Castle

The castle was built in the mid-16th century by Baron Johann Jakob Khisl. Later owners included the families of Moscon, Ravbar, Apfaltrer, Auersperg, and Pagliaruzzi. The building was renovated in 1952 by the architect Jože Plečnik in his late period. The castle garden is currently used as a concert setting.

Culture

The city is known for its sports facilities, including soccer, tennis and basketball, as well as the biggest aquatic centre in the country, which hosted the 2003 Men's European Water Polo Championship (along with Ljubljana, hosting the women's competition). The annual ''Teden Mladih'' (Youth Week) festival and Carniola Festival are very popular.

Gallery

File:Sava River in Kranj with Kranj HE.jpg, Sava River, Sava Hydroelectric Plant on right
File:Kranj Savska cesta.JPG, Sava Street ()
File:Kranj Main Square 01.jpg, Main Square ()
File:Kranj City Hall 01.jpg, Kranj city hall
File:Kranj 03.jpg, View of Kranj from Mount St. Margaret ()
File:Kranj - Slovenski trg.jpg, Kranj Secondary School and Slovenia Square ()
File:Kranj Center 05.jpg, Corner building on Main Square (), Prešeren Street () right, Jenko Street () left
File:Sv. Rok - Kranj 01.jpg, St. Roch's Church
File:Cankarjeva ulica, Kranj.jpg, Street near Kieselstein Castle
File:Kranj 06.jpg, Kamnik–Savinja Alps seen from Kranj
File:Kranj 91.jpg, Panoramic view of Kranj
File:Kranj_Kokra_01.jpg, Kokra River in Kranj
File:Kranj - skakalnica Bauhenk.jpg, Bauhenk ski-jumping hill in Kranj
File:Kranj Train Station 01.jpg, Kranj Train Station
File:Kranj - Grad Kieselstein 01.jpg, Kieselstein Castle
File:Kranj - panorama 03.jpg, Panoramic view of Kranj and Kamnik–Savinja Alps from Mount St. Margaret ()
File:Kranj - stara Posta 01.jpg, Stara Pošta a small shopping center in Kranj
File:Kranj - Pungert 01.jpg, Pungert - Old Defense tower with St. Roch's Church

Twin towns — sister cities

Kranj is twinned with:

* Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bitola, North Macedonia
* Büyükçekmece, Turkey
* La Ciotat, France
* Colorado Springs, United States
* Doberdò del Lago, Italy
* Eisenkappel-Vellach, Austria
* Grožnjan, Croatia
* Herceg Novi, Montenegro
* Kočani, North Macedonia
* Kotor Varoš, Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Oldham, England, United Kingdom
* Pula, Croatia
* Rivoli, Italy
* Senta, Serbia
* Villach, Austria
* Zemun (Belgrade), Serbia
* Zhangjiakou, China

Notable people

Notable people that were born or lived in Kranj include:

* Miroslav Ambrožič (1885–1944), physical education specialist
* Janez Mihael Arh (1678–c. 1730), actor and singer
* Franc Babič (1868–1913), merchant
* Friderik Irenej Baraga (1797–1868), missionary
* Ana Belac (born 1997), first Slovenian to join the LPGA Tour
* Žan Benedičič (born 1995), football player
* Jurij Blatnik (born 1693), composer
* Janez Bleiweis (1808–1881), politician
* Franjo Bradaška (1829–1904), historian and geographer
* Fran Čadež (1882–1942), physicist and meteorologist
* Zvone Černe (1927–2007), industrialist
* Karel Dobida (1896–1964), art historian and critic
* Davorin Dolar (1921–2005), chemist
* Lojze Dolinar (1893–1970), sculptor
* Genti Sheholli (born 1997), singer and software developer
* Leon Engelman (1841–1862), port and writer
* Vesna Fabjan (born 1985), cross country skier
* Gregor Fučka (born 1971), Italian basketball player
* Stojan Globočnik (1895–1985), designer and construction engineer
* Alojzij Goetzl (1820–1905), sculptor and painter
* Franc Serafin Goetzl (1783–1855), painter
* Gašpar Luka Goetzl (1782–1852), painter
* Josip Goetzl (1754–1806), painter
* Karel Goetzl (1816–1892), sculptor and painter
* Leopold Goetzl (1817–?), sculptor
* Stanko Gogala (1901–1987), education specialist
* Peter Graselli (1841–1933), politician
* Primož Grašič (born 1968), guitarist
* Anton Hayne (1786–1853), painter
* Boštjan Hladnik (1929–2006), film director
* Simon Jenko (1835–1869), poet
* Bojan Jokić (born 1986), footballer
* Ciril Metod Koch (1867–1925), architect
* Robert Kranjec (born 1981), ski jumper
* Anton Layer (1765–?), painter
* Leopold Layer (1752–1828), painter
* Marko Layer (1727–1808), painter
* Valentin Layer (1763–1810), painter
* Peter Lipar (1912–1980), composer
* Peter Malec (1909–1986), theater director
* Valentin Mandelc (1837–1872), writer and translator
* Janez Mencinger (1838–1912), writer
* Ernst Mally (1879–1944), philosopher
* Mihael Markič (1864–1939), grammarian
* Aleš Mejač (born 1983), footballer
* Janez Michor (a. 1626–1686), sculptor
* Marko Milič (born 1977), Slovenian basketball player
*Matej Mohorič (born 1994), cyclist
* Franc Novak (1908–1999), gynecologist
* Janez Jakob Olben (1643–1728), mathematician
* Nikolaj Omersa (1878–1932), literary historian
* Josip Paternoster (1847–1903), singer and theater actor

*Borut Petrič and Darjan Petrič (born 1964), freestyle swimmers
* Ciril Pirc (1865–1941), politician
* Valentin Pleiweis (1814–1881), merchant
* Lovrenc Pogačnik (1698–1768), Latin religious writer
* Marko Pogačnik (born 1944), sculptor
* Jan Polanc (born 1992), cyclist
* Dragotin Poljanec (1892–1940), painter
* Karel Pollak (1853–1937), merchant and industrialist
* Jakob Posinger, founder of Prvi partizan ammunition factory in 1927, who started with a workshop in Kranj
* Ivan Pregelj (1883–1960), writer
* Marij Pregelj (1913–1967), painter
* France Prešeren (1800–1849), poet
*Nina Prešiček (born 1976), classical pianist
* Mirko Pretnar (1898–1962), poet and translator
* Peter Prevc (born 1992), ski jumper
* Janez Puhar (1814–1864), inventor of a glass photography process
* Aleksandar Radosavljević (born 1979), footballer
* Ivan Rakovec (1866–1925), industrialist
* Franc Remec (1846–1917), playwright
* Franjo Roš (1898–1976), poet and children's writer
* Ivan Rozman (1873–1960), writer and journalist
* Marjan Rus (1905–1974), concert and opera singer
* Evgen Sajovic (1880–1916), athletics specialist
* Gvido Sajovic (1883–1920), natural scientist
* Ivan Savnik (1879–1950), industrialist and merchant
* Karel Šavnik (1874–1928), physician
* Leo Šavnik (1897–1968), physician
* Pavel Šavnik (1882–1924), dermatologist
* Florijan Sentimer (1786–1836), physician
* Andrej Šifrer (born 1952), musician
* Ljubo Sirc (born 1920), economist
* Fran Skaberne (1877–1951), lawyer
* Minka Skaberne (1882–1965), education specialist
* Viktor Skaberne (1878–1956), designer and construction engineer
* Hinko Smrekar (1883–1942), painter
* Blaž Snedic (c. 1631–1684), merchant and banker
*Marjan Šorli (1915–1975), architect
* Ivo Štempihar (1898–1955), journalist
* Jurij Štempihar (1891–1978), lawyer
* France Štiglic (1919–1993), film director and journalist
* Andrej Štremfelj (born 1956), alpinist
* Gustav Strniša (1887–1970), poet and children's writer
* Suimon Strupi (1813–1880), veterinarian
* Desanka Švara (Schwara; born 1959), historian
* Aliash Tepina, actor
* Fidelis Terpinc (1799–1875), businessman
* Tadej Valjavec (born 1977), cyclist
* Anzelm Wissiak (1837–1876), painter
* Edvard Wissiak (1841–1874), painter
* Franz Wissiak (a.k.a. Franc Vizjak, 1810–1880), painter
* Grega Žemlja (born 1986), tennis player
* Janko Žirovnik (1855–1946), folk song collector and musician
* Franc Zupanc (1853–1922), technical writer

References

External links

*

Kranj on Geopedia

Kranj tourist board

{{Authority control

Populated places in the Urban Municipality of Kranj
Cities and towns in Upper Carniola