Tolmin
Encyclopedia
Tolmin is a small town
and municipality
in the Littoral
region of Slovenia
.
Valley , as well as its economic, cultural and administrative centre. It is located on a terrace above the confluence of Soča and Tolminka rivers. It is positioned beneath steep mountainous valleys.
In ancient times the area was inhabited by the Illyrians
and then by the Romans
. In the 6th century the Slavs, ancestors of present-day Slovenes, settled the area.
Until 1420 it belonged to the Patriarchate of Aquileia
, when it was acquired by the Republic of Venice
. In 1514 it became a possession of the Habsburg
s, who gave it as fief to the Coronini-Cronberg family. Medieval documents testify to a long series of uprisings, culminating in the Tolmin peasant revolt
of 1713. That particular insurgence spread from the Tolmin county to the Vipava Valley
, Kras
, Brda
and further on to northern Istria
. The uprising was mercilessly crushed by the imperial army and its eleven leaders were beheaded.
In the 16th century, the area became part of the County of Gorizia and Gradisca. During the World War I
, Tolmin served as a base
for the victorious breach of the Soča/Isonzo Front
. Occupied by Italian troops at the end of 1918, it was part of the Kingdom of Italy
between 1918 and 1943 (nominally to 1947) as a commune of the Province of Gorizia
(as Tolmino), except during the period between 1924 and 1927, when the Province of Gorizia was abolished and annexed to the Province of Udine
. and between 1943 and 1945 of the Nazi German Operational Zone Adriatic Coast. In 1945 it was liberated by the Yugoslav partisans and in 1947 it was officially annexed to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
. Since then, it has been an integral part of Slovenia
.
ruins
at Kozlov Rob.
The area is home to a multitude of vestiges from World War I
. The most significant relic of the time is the church of the Holy Spirit
at Javorca, built above the Polog
shepherds outpost in the Tolminka Valley by Austro-Hungarian soldiers to commemorate their deceased comrades.
The museum, library, schools and the town’s open spaces provide venues for a variety of events, exhibitions and presentations all year round. The Tolmin region is also a popular destination for artists from Slovenia
and abroad.
The Parish Church
in the town is dedicated to The Assumption of Mary
and belongs to the Diocese of Koper.
Tolmin area houses the Tolminka and Zadlaščica basins at the entrance to Triglav National Park
, which are also its lowest point (180 m). A special feature of the Tolminka basins is a thermal spring at the end of the path. The region also boasts several record-holding waterfalls (Brinta Falls 104 m, Gregorčič Falls 88 m) and several other smaller waterfalls hidden in the ravines of the Mrzli Potok, Godiča, Pščak, and Sopotnica
rivers.
Tolmin is also the playground for the Metalcamp
heavy metal festival and Soča Reggae Riversplash
festival.
and Slovenian People's Party
tend to get a higher proportion of votes than their national average. Traditionally, the left wing and liberal parties have been stronger in the town center, while the countryside tends to favor conservative parties. In national politics, the Tolmin electoral district has highly favored the conservative Slovenian Democratic Party
, but this is largely due to the prevalence of this party in the other two municipalities forming the district (Bovec
and Kobarid
).
with: Vicchio
, Italy
, since 1981
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
and municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in the Littoral
Slovenian Littoral
The Slovenian Littoral is a historical region of Slovenia. Its name recalls the historical Habsburg crown land of the Austrian Littoral, of which the Slovenian Littoral was a part....
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...
.
Geography
Tolmin, the old town that gave the name to the entire area , is the largest settlement in the Upper SočaSoca
The Soča or Isonzo is a 140 km long river that flows through western Slovenia and northeastern Italy. An Alpine river in character, its source lies in the Trenta Valley in the Julian Alps in Slovenia, at an elevation of around 1,100 metres...
Valley , as well as its economic, cultural and administrative centre. It is located on a terrace above the confluence of Soča and Tolminka rivers. It is positioned beneath steep mountainous valleys.
History
- see also Gorizia and GradiscaGorizia and GradiscaThe County of Gorizia and Gradisca was a Habsburg county in Central Europe, in what is now a multilingual border area of Italy and Slovenia. It was named for its two major urban centers, Gorizia and Gradisca d'Isonzo.-Province of the Habsburg Empire:...
, Austrian LittoralAustrian LittoralThe Austrian Littoral was established as a crown land of the Austrian Empire in 1849. In 1861 it was divided into the three crown lands of the Imperial Free City of Trieste and its suburbs, the Margraviate of Istria, and the Princely County of Gorizia and Gradisca, which each had separate...
, Julian MarchJulian MarchThe Julian March is a former political region of southeastern Europe on what are now the borders between Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy...
In ancient times the area was inhabited by the Illyrians
Illyrians
The Illyrians were a group of tribes who inhabited part of the western Balkans in antiquity and the south-eastern coasts of the Italian peninsula...
and then by the Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
. In the 6th century the Slavs, ancestors of present-day Slovenes, settled the area.
Until 1420 it belonged to the Patriarchate of Aquileia
Patriarchate of Aquileia (State)
The Patriarchate of Aquileia was an Imperial State in the Friulian region of Northeastern Italy under the control of the Patriarchs of Aquileia.- Foundation :...
, when it was acquired by the Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
. In 1514 it became a possession of the Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
s, who gave it as fief to the Coronini-Cronberg family. Medieval documents testify to a long series of uprisings, culminating in the Tolmin peasant revolt
Peasant revolt
Peasant, Peasants' or Popular is variously paired with Revolt, Uprising and War and may refer to :*Daze Village Uprising 209 BC*Yellow Turban Rebellion 184...
of 1713. That particular insurgence spread from the Tolmin county to the Vipava Valley
Vipava Valley
The Vipava Valley is a valley located in the Slovenian Littoral, between the towns of Nova Gorica and Vipava.-Geography:It is a narrow valley, serving as the main passage between Friulian lowland and central Slovenia, and thus also an important corridor connecting Northern Italy to Central Europe...
, Kras
Kras
Karst ; also known as the Karst Plateau, is a limestone borderline plateau region extending in southwestern Slovenia and northeastern Italy. It lies between the Vipava Valley, the low hills surrounding the valley, the westernmost part of the Brkini Hills, northern Istria, and the Gulf of Trieste...
, Brda
Brda (Slovenia)
Brda is a municipality in western Slovenia. It is located in the Slovenian Littoral region, extending from the Italian border to the river Soča...
and further on to northern Istria
Istria
Istria , formerly Histria , is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner...
. The uprising was mercilessly crushed by the imperial army and its eleven leaders were beheaded.
In the 16th century, the area became part of the County of Gorizia and Gradisca. During the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Tolmin served as a base
Military base
A military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. In general, a military base provides accommodations for one or more units, but it may also be used as a...
for the victorious breach of the Soča/Isonzo Front
Battles of the Isonzo
The Battles of the Isonzo were a series of 12 battles between the Austro-Hungarian and Italian armies in World War I. They were fought along the Soča River on the eastern sector of the Italian Front between June 1915 and November 1917...
. Occupied by Italian troops at the end of 1918, it was part of the Kingdom of Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
between 1918 and 1943 (nominally to 1947) as a commune of the Province of Gorizia
Province of Gorizia
The Province of Gorizia is a province in the autonomous Friuli–Venezia Giulia region of Italy.-Overview:Its capital is the city of Gorizia. It belonged to the Province of Udine between 1924 and 1927 and the communes of Sonzia, Plezzo, Bergogna, Caporetto, Tolmino, Circhina, Santa Lucia d'Isonzo,...
(as Tolmino), except during the period between 1924 and 1927, when the Province of Gorizia was abolished and annexed to the Province of Udine
Province of Udine
The Province of Udine is a province in the autonomous Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy, bordering Austria and Slovenia. Its capital is the city of Udine....
. and between 1943 and 1945 of the Nazi German Operational Zone Adriatic Coast. In 1945 it was liberated by the Yugoslav partisans and in 1947 it was officially annexed to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
. Since then, it has been an integral part 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...
.
Main sights
Tolmin's main sights are its old town centre, a modern sports park and a thousand-year-old castleCastle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
ruins
Ruins
Ruins are the remains of human-made architecture: structures that were once complete, as time went by, have fallen into a state of partial or complete disrepair, due to lack of maintenance or deliberate acts of destruction...
at Kozlov Rob.
The area is home to a multitude of vestiges from World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The most significant relic of the time is the church of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
at Javorca, built above the Polog
Polog
Polog also known as the Polog Valley , is located in the north-western part of the Republic of Macedonia near the border with Serbia.It is divided into Upper and Lower Polog...
shepherds outpost in the Tolminka Valley by Austro-Hungarian soldiers to commemorate their deceased comrades.
The museum, library, schools and the town’s open spaces provide venues for a variety of events, exhibitions and presentations all year round. The Tolmin region is also a popular destination for artists from 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...
and abroad.
The Parish Church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
in the town is dedicated to The Assumption of Mary
Assumption of Mary
According to the belief of Christians of the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, and parts of the Anglican Communion and Continuing Anglicanism, the Assumption of Mary was the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her life...
and belongs to the Diocese of Koper.
Tolmin area houses the Tolminka and Zadlaščica basins at the entrance to Triglav National Park
Triglav National Park
Triglav National Park is a national park located in Slovenia and the only one in the country. It was named after Mount Triglav, the highest peak of the Julian Alps and a symbol of Slovenia and Slovenian character....
, which are also its lowest point (180 m). A special feature of the Tolminka basins is a thermal spring at the end of the path. The region also boasts several record-holding waterfalls (Brinta Falls 104 m, Gregorčič Falls 88 m) and several other smaller waterfalls hidden in the ravines of the Mrzli Potok, Godiča, Pščak, and Sopotnica
Sopotnica
Sopotnica is a village in the Republic of Macedonia, it used to be a separate municipality but as of 2005 it belongs to the Demir Hisar municipality....
rivers.
Tolmin is also the playground for the Metalcamp
Metalcamp
Metalcamp is a heavy metal music festival held annually in Slovenia since 2004.-2004:Danzig, Apocalyptica, Hypocrisy, Sentenced, Primal Fear, Katatonia, Dew-Scented, Dead Soul Tribe, Fleshcrawl, Mnemic, Prospect, Belphegor, Ancient, Destruction, Brainstorm, Dark Funeral, Vintersorg, Finntroll,...
heavy metal festival and Soča Reggae Riversplash
Soca Reggae Riversplash
Soča Reggae Riversplash is a music festival in Tolmin, Slovenia at the confluence of the Soča and the Tolminka rivers. It mainly features reggae music by international musicians.-1st Soča Reggae Riversplash 2000 , Tolmin :...
festival.
Politics
The municipality of Tolmin is governed by a mayor, elected every 4 years by popular vote, and a municipal council of 22 members. The local political scene is relatively diversified, with no prevalence of a particular party, although the conservative New SloveniaNew Slovenia
The New Slovenia – Christian People's Party or simply New Slovenia, NSi is a Christian democratic political party in Slovenia...
and Slovenian People's Party
Slovenian People's Party
The Slovenian People's Party is a rural-based conservative political party in Slovenia. Formed in 1988 under the name of Slovenian Peasant Union as the first non-Communist political organization in Yugoslavia, it merged with the Slovene Christian Democrats to form the present-day party in 2000...
tend to get a higher proportion of votes than their national average. Traditionally, the left wing and liberal parties have been stronger in the town center, while the countryside tends to favor conservative parties. In national politics, the Tolmin electoral district has highly favored the conservative Slovenian Democratic Party
Slovenian Democratic Party
The Slovenian Democratic Party , known until 2003 as the Social Democratic Party of Slovenia is a Slovenian centre-right liberal conservative and Christian democratic party...
, but this is largely due to the prevalence of this party in the other two municipalities forming the district (Bovec
Bovec
Bovec is a small city and municipality in northwestern Slovenia. The city of Bovec lies in the Bovec Basin in the Soča Valley below the Kanin mountain in the Julian Alps.-Geographical location:...
and Kobarid
Kobarid
Kobarid is a town and a municipality in the upper Soča valley, western Slovenia, near the Italian border.Kobarid is known for the famous Battle of Caporetto, where the Italian retreat was documented by Ernest Hemingway in his novel A Farewell to Arms. The battle is well documented in the museum in...
).
Notable natives and residents
- Pino Bosi, Writer and historian
- Ivan Čargo, Painter
- Jan CvitkovičJan CvitkovicJan Cvitkovič is a critically acclaimed Slovenian film director, screenwriter and actor. As of April 2007 he has already won a total of 12 awards and 3 nominations at various film festivals for his work, including the San Sebastian Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival.-Biography:After one...
, Film director - Anton HausAnton HausAnton Haus was an Austrian naval officer. Despite his German surname, he was born to a Slovenian-speaking family in Tolmein . Haus was fleet commander of the Austro-Hungarian Navy in World War I and was the Navy's Grand Admiral from 1916 until his death.-Biography:Haus entered the Navy in 1869...
, Grand Admiral of the Austro-Hungarian NavyAustro-Hungarian NavyThe Austro-Hungarian Navy was the naval force of Austria-Hungary. Its official name in German was Kaiserliche und Königliche Kriegsmarine , abbreviated as k.u.k. Kriegsmarine.... - Ciril KosmačCiril KosmačCiril Kosmač was a Slovenian novelist and screenwriter.- Life :He was born in a Slovene family in the village of Slap ob Idrijci near Sveta Lucija , in what was then the Austro-Hungarian County of Gorizia and Gradisca . He attended high school in Tolmin and Gorizia...
, Writer - Karel LavričKarel LavričKarel Lavrič, also spelled Laurič or Lauritsch , was a Slovene liberal politician and lawyer from the Slovenian Littoral, and one of the most prominent activists of the Young Slovene movement. Together with the conservative Lovro Toman, he was considered among the most popular Slovene politicians...
, Politician - Giancarlo Movia, Philosopher
- Ivan PregeljIvan PregeljIvan Pregelj was a Slovene writer, playwright, poet, and critic.- Life :Pregelj was born to a tailor's family in Most na Soči . His father died while Pregelj was still a child. He attended school with the help of the parish priest...
, Writer - Albert Rejec, Founder and head of TIGRTIGRTIGR, abbreviation for Trst , Istra , Gorica and Reka , with the full name Revolutionary Organization of the Julian March T.I.G.R. was a militant anti-Fascist and insurgent organization active in the 1920s and the 1930s in the eastern Italian border region known as the Julian March.The...
- Jožko ŠavliJožko ŠavliJožko Šavli was a Slovene author, self-declared historian and high school teacher in economic sciences from Italy....
, Writer and historian - Saša Vuga, Writer
Twin towns — Sister cities
Tolmin is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with: Vicchio
Vicchio
Vicchio is a comune in the Province of Florence in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 25 km northeast of Florence...
, Italy
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...
, since 1981
External links
- Tolmin Municipality on Geopedia
- Knjižnica Tolmin - Tolmin Library, Ciril Kosmač Library of Tolmin
- LTO Sotočje, local tourist board
- FFA Posočje, Free Flying Association Posočje
- Ribiška družina Tolmin, Angling club of Tolmin
- Julijske Alpe, Julian Alps