Vrba | |
|---|---|
Village | |
Vrba from an airplane | |
| Coordinates:46°23′N14°09′E / 46.383°N 14.150°E /46.383; 14.150 | |
| Country | |
| Traditional region | Upper Carniola |
| Statistical region | Upper Carniola |
| Municipality | Žirovnica |
| First mentioned | 1247 |
| Population (2024)[1] | |
• Total | 196 |
Vrba (pronounced[ˈʋə̀ɾba];German:Velben[2]) is one of ten villages in theMunicipality of Žirovnica in theUpper Carniolan region ofSlovenia. It was first mentioned in written sources from 1247 and is a typical example of a compactAlpine village. The Slovene national poetFrance Prešeren, who was born in the village, dedicated thesonnet "O Vrba" to the village, the first of hisSonnets of Misfortune.
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In 1940, the Prešeren House and the village were filmed for theblack and whitesounddocumentaryO, Vrba.[3] It was directed byMario Förster [sl] and produced in 1941. Due to the communist-imposedban on artistic productions, it was released only in 1945.[4] The house was presented by Finžgar, andOton Župančič read the poem "O Vrba".[4] Due to the news about theGerman assault on Poland the film has a threatening atmosphere created by clouds moving over theKarawanks mountain range.[4]

Vrba is the site of amass grave associated with the Second World War. The Bele Linden Mass Grave (Slovene:Grobišče Belejeva lipa) is located in a meadow south of the settlement and west of the freeway, near ahayrack along a field road. It contains the remains of 20 people fromJesenice that were killed en route from Jesenice toBegunje na Gorenjskem.[5]
St. Mark's Church stands on the outskirts of the village behind the Prešeren House. It hasRomanesque foundations, but the actual structure isGothic with an interesting apse, extensive Gothic frescoes from the 15th and early 16th century on the interior walls, a renovated wooden ceiling, and two gildedBaroque altars. On the outside wall there are also relatively well-preserved frescoes ofSt. Christopher, theCrucifixion, andSt. George fighting the dragon from the 15th century.
ThePrešeren House, where France Prešeren and ArchbishopAnton Vovk were born, is a typical example of a rural residence from the first half of the 19th century and has been in 1939 on the initiative and under the leadership of the writerFran Saleški Finžgar arranged as a museum, dedicated to Prešeren's life and work. The museum was opened in May that year.
Thelinden tree, around which there are sixteen stones, in the center of the village was the meeting place of the elders of the village, who would traditionally meet under this tree to discuss village issues.
In January 2011, the Prešeren House, St. Mark's Church, and the linden tree were proclaimedcultural monuments of national importance by theGovernment of Slovenia.[6]
Notable people that were born or lived in Vrba include:
46°23′20.21″N14°8′46.57″E / 46.3889472°N 14.1462694°E /46.3889472; 14.1462694