Blejska Dobrava
Encyclopedia
Blejska Dobrava is a settlement in the municipality of Jesenice, in the Upper Carniola
region of Slovenia
. It is one of the oldest villages in the area, attested from the 12th century, and is located at the base of the Mežakla
plateau, on a series of river terraces between the right bank of the Sava Dolinka
and the Radovna as it exits the Vintgar
gorge. Its name reflects its original connection to the nearby municipality of Bled
.
Once predominantly agricultural, it has partially urbanized under the influence of industry from the nearby municipal seat Jesenice. There is a manufacturing plant, tracing its roots back to a prewar electrode factory, as well as two smaller industrial facilities. The Vintgar hydroelectric plant on the Radovna lies nearby, as does the scenic gorge Vintgar
, a popular tourist attraction.
The Koroška Bela Elementary School, in the village of Koroška Bela
across the Sava valley, operates an annex in Blejska Dobrava.
The settlement is located on the road connecting the Upper Sava Valley
to Bled (through Poljane). The Jesenice–Bohinj railroad
also passes through, stopping at a small station. The Jesenice municipal cemetery is located nearby.
, with a rectangular nave and pentagonal presbytery, but was rebuilt in 1743 in a Baroque
style. A wall around the church encloses the old, abandoned graveyard, with some of the older graves still marked, including the grave of two sisters (Katra and Jera) of the poet France Prešeren
, built into the church facade
.
Upper Carniola
Upper Carniola is a traditional region of Slovenia, the northern mountainous part of the larger Carniola region. The centre of the region is Kranj, while other urban centers include Jesenice, Tržič, Škofja Loka, Kamnik, and Domžale.- Historical background :...
region of Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
. It is one of the oldest villages in the area, attested from the 12th century, and is located at the base of the Mežakla
Mežakla
Mežakla is a long undulating plateau about 15 km long, in the foothills of the Julian Alps above the town of Jesenice in northwestern Slovenia. It ranges from approximately 1,200 to 1,348 meters high. It is mostly covered with spruce and beech trees. There are many pastures and clear streams...
plateau, on a series of river terraces between the right bank of the Sava Dolinka
Sava Dolinka
The Sava Dolinka is a headwater of the Sava River in northwestern Slovenia. The 45 km Sava Dolinka starts as Nadiža Creek in the Planica Valley under Mount Zadnja Ponca in the Julian Alps, at an elevation of 1222 m, close to the Italian border. The stream goes underground soon after its source and...
and the Radovna as it exits the Vintgar
Vintgar
The Vintgar Gorge or Blejski Vintgar, Bled Gorge is a 1.6 km gorge located near the settlement of Zgornje Gorje, four kilometers northwest of Bled, Slovenia. Carved by the river Radovna, the sheer canyon walls are 50 to 100 m high, with a total slope measuring about 250 m...
gorge. Its name reflects its original connection to the nearby municipality of Bled
Bled
Bled is a municipality in northwestern Slovenia in the region of Upper Carniola. The area, within the Julian Alps, is a popular tourist destination.-History:...
.
Once predominantly agricultural, it has partially urbanized under the influence of industry from the nearby municipal seat Jesenice. There is a manufacturing plant, tracing its roots back to a prewar electrode factory, as well as two smaller industrial facilities. The Vintgar hydroelectric plant on the Radovna lies nearby, as does the scenic gorge Vintgar
Vintgar
The Vintgar Gorge or Blejski Vintgar, Bled Gorge is a 1.6 km gorge located near the settlement of Zgornje Gorje, four kilometers northwest of Bled, Slovenia. Carved by the river Radovna, the sheer canyon walls are 50 to 100 m high, with a total slope measuring about 250 m...
, a popular tourist attraction.
The Koroška Bela Elementary School, in the village of Koroška Bela
Koroška Bela
Koroška Bela is a settlement in the municipality of Jesenice in northwestern Slovenia. While its name refers to historic Carinthia, it has long been located in the Upper Carniolan region rather than in present-day Slovene Carinthia...
across the Sava valley, operates an annex in Blejska Dobrava.
The settlement is located on the road connecting the Upper Sava Valley
Upper Sava Valley
The Upper Sava Valley is an alpine valley in the Upper Carniola region of Slovenia. The Sava Dolinka river flows along it. It begins in Rateče at an altitude of 870 m and ends at Moste at 560 m. It is the geographical border between the Julian Alps and the Karavanke Alps. It was created on a...
to Bled (through Poljane). The Jesenice–Bohinj railroad
Bohinj railway
The Bohinj Railway or Transalpina is a railway in Slovenia extending into Italy. It connects Jesenice in Slovenia with the towns of Nova Gorica in Slovenia and Gorizia in Italy through the Julian Alps. It was built by Austria-Hungary in 1904 as a strategic railway to the port of Trieste...
also passes through, stopping at a small station. The Jesenice municipal cemetery is located nearby.
Church of St. Stephen
The Church of St Stephen was originally gothicGothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
, with a rectangular nave and pentagonal presbytery, but was rebuilt in 1743 in a Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
style. A wall around the church encloses the old, abandoned graveyard, with some of the older graves still marked, including the grave of two sisters (Katra and Jera) of the poet France Prešeren
France Prešeren
France Prešeren was a Slovene Romantic poet. He is considered the Slovene national poet. Although he was not a particularly prolific author, he inspired virtually all Slovene literature thereafter....
, built into the church facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
.