Planina pod Golico
Encyclopedia
Planina pod Golico is a mountain village in the municipality of Jesenice, in the Upper Carniola
region of Slovenia
.
It lies at an altitude of 954 m in the Karavanke Alps, at the foot of mount Golica
. The settlement's name itself means "pasture below Golica." Before 1955, it was known as Sveti Križ ("Holy Cross"), however the political climate
at the time could not tolerate such an explicitly religious name.
The settlement was originally linked to ironworks
. In the 14th century smelting ovens were in operation in the village, and the beginnings of mining are documented in an Ortenburg Mining Order dating to 1381, where mining and blast furnace operations at Planina pod Golico are mentioned. A copy of this document is exhibited in the Museum of the History of Steel Production in Jesenice. After the 15th century, the ironworks were moved further down into the valley, closer to a greater source of water needed for the process, and Jesenice became the main industrial and administrative centre. Iron ore was still mined close to the village in the Savske Jame ("Sava Caves") area until the early 20th century.
The Church of the Holy Cross
(Slovene
: Cerkev Svetega Križa) was built in the late 17th century by the Bucelleni family, the Italian
owners of mines in the surrounding area. The village nucleus developed around it; the settlement also derived its original name of Sveti Križ from it.
Today the village is more famous as a starting point for hiking routes to nearby scenic peaks such as Golica and Rožca, but especially for the wild white narcissi that flower in mountain pastures around the village from late April to early May. The plants have been protected by law from 1949 and any picking of them is strictly forbidden. There is a Narcissi festival organized by the local tourist association in May. The chairlift
for the Španov vrh
ski slope also begins in Planina pod Golico. There is also a natural luge
track beyond the village in the Savske Jame area and competitions are organised by the Jesenice Luge Club here every winter.
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 lies at an altitude of 954 m in the Karavanke Alps, at the foot of mount Golica
Golica
Golica is a peak in the Western Karavanke Alps, on the border between Slovenia and Austria, above the Slovene town of Jesenice. It is known mainly for its fields of wild white narcissi, swathes of which cover Golica and surrounding pastures in late April and early May. This marks the beginning of...
. The settlement's name itself means "pasture below Golica." Before 1955, it was known as Sveti Križ ("Holy Cross"), however the political climate
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
at the time could not tolerate such an explicitly religious name.
The settlement was originally linked to ironworks
Ironworks
An ironworks or iron works is a building or site where iron is smelted and where heavy iron and/or steel products are made. The term is both singular and plural, i.e...
. In the 14th century smelting ovens were in operation in the village, and the beginnings of mining are documented in an Ortenburg Mining Order dating to 1381, where mining and blast furnace operations at Planina pod Golico are mentioned. A copy of this document is exhibited in the Museum of the History of Steel Production in Jesenice. After the 15th century, the ironworks were moved further down into the valley, closer to a greater source of water needed for the process, and Jesenice became the main industrial and administrative centre. Iron ore was still mined close to the village in the Savske Jame ("Sava Caves") area until the early 20th century.
The Church of the Holy Cross
Feast of the Cross
In the Christian liturgical calendar, there are several different Feasts of the Cross, all of which commemorate the cross used in the crucifixion of Jesus....
(Slovene
Slovenian language
Slovene or Slovenian is a South Slavic language spoken by approximately 2.5 million speakers worldwide, the majority of whom live in Slovenia. It is the first language of about 1.85 million people and is one of the 23 official and working languages of the European Union...
: Cerkev Svetega Križa) was built in the late 17th century by the Bucelleni family, the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
owners of mines in the surrounding area. The village nucleus developed around it; the settlement also derived its original name of Sveti Križ from it.
Today the village is more famous as a starting point for hiking routes to nearby scenic peaks such as Golica and Rožca, but especially for the wild white narcissi that flower in mountain pastures around the village from late April to early May. The plants have been protected by law from 1949 and any picking of them is strictly forbidden. There is a Narcissi festival organized by the local tourist association in May. The chairlift
Chairlift
An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel cable loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs...
for the Španov vrh
Španov vrh
Španov vrh is a peak in the Western Karavanke Alps above the village of Planina pod Golico. Like Golica, it is a popular destination for tourists during the flowering of wild white narcissi, swathes of which cover its pastures in late April and early May...
ski slope also begins in Planina pod Golico. There is also a natural luge
Luge
A Luge is a small one- or two-person sled on which one sleds supine and feet-first. Steering is done by flexing the sled's runners with the calf of each leg or exerting opposite shoulder pressure to the seat. Racing sleds weigh 21-25 kilograms for singles and 25-30 kilograms for doubles. Luge...
track beyond the village in the Savske Jame area and competitions are organised by the Jesenice Luge Club here every winter.