Village of Topli Vrh Today, as we ascend the asphalt road from Črmošnjice towards the Gače ski resort or venture further into the vast forest, we have only telltale signs that we are passing through one of the largest former Gottscheer villages in this part of Kočevski Rog. This is Topli Vrh, situated on the sunny side of Topli vrh Hill. As early as prehistoric times, there was a hillfort…
Culture
The Mala Knežja jama (Fürstloch) and the Jama nad Dolgim vodnjakom caves: archaeological sites in the central part of Kočevski Rog
Human presence in Kočevska Area in prehistoric times It is generally believed that Kočevski Rog was not inhabited until the 14th century, when the Gottscheers were colonised there by the Counts of Ortenburg. However, sparse archaeological finds indicate that people were present in the area in prehistoric times. As expected, most of the prehistoric sites are located on the edges of the plateau, but they are extremely scarce towards the…
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Culture Heritage
The Folk Ballad of the Infanticide: Slovenian and Gottscheer Versions
The motif of the illegitimate mother who murders or casts out her child and is punished for it is known in folk song tradition almost throughout Europe, including Slovenia. In Slovenian folk tradition, the motif is used in four ballad form. In the first, an illegitimate mother deliberately commits a crime so that she can get married as a virgin bride. When her cast-out babe turns up on her wedding…
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Culture Heritage
Reflection of the Aristocratic World in the Gottscheer Folk Song Tradition
Gottscheer couple (Balthasar Hacquet 1778)…
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Culture Heritage
How Did Micika v püngradi come to the Kočevska Region? – Folk Songs of the Prekmurje Region in Kočevska Region
How Did Micika v püngradi come to the Kočevska Region? – Folk Songs of the Prekmurje Region in Kočevska Region
The multicultural character of the wider Kočevska area could be thought of as a single intertwined “culture” or community. It is home to people who have migrated from all over and the integral cultural diversity imbues its everyday life. Comings and goings have been part of this space for centuries. They are, of course, part of every place, but this is particularly pronounced in the Kočevska region. And that is…
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Art Culture
Artistic activity in Kočevska region
Artistic activity, both by academic and amateur artists, has a special character in Kočevska region. On the one hand, it is strongly linked to the natural features of the area, while on the other hand it seeks expression in its past. Kočevsko area not only awakens the imagination of artists, but also serves as a place where artistic ideas intertwine with the cultural context, creating a unique artistic landscape. In…
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Animals Environment
Lynx, the mysterious feline of Slovenian forests
Most probably you will never spot a lynx in the wild. We may see traces of its footprints in the mud or snow. Yet the very thought of a large wildcat watching us from behind a nearby rock stirs the imagination. The forest is more full, diverse and inspiring because of its presence. What kind of an animal is lynx – the mysterious denizen of our forests? The Eurasian lynx…
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Heritage History
Franc Volf, a miner from Kočevje: memories of a miner’s life in Kočevje
Unfortunately, there are less and less former miners from Kočevje still alive today. One of the few retired mine workers who still remembers his mining years with great joy and pride is Franc Volf from Šalka vas. He came to work at the Kočevje Mine directly after completing his compulsory military service in 1968. He also worked as a mine rescue worker at the coal mine, where he remained until…
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Events Gottscheer Communities Heritage Tourism
Student project for the Gottscheer ethnological exhibition in Občice
The Society of Native Gottschee Settlers On the main road through the village of Občice in the municipality of Dolenjske Toplice stands a restored, blue-painted old farmhouse. Since 1998, it has housed the Society of Native Gottschee Settlers. The society was founded in 1992 and promotes and preserves the cultural heritage of the Gottschee region. The main activities of the society include a folklore and singing group, the publication of…
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History
Planina (Stockendorf)
Postcard of Planina (Stockendorf), sent on 4 March 1918 from Planina to Vinica. Archive of Dr. Božidar Flajšman. Kočevski b(r)log / Gottscheerblog …
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