Ježica | |
|---|---|
  Ježica Location in Slovenia | |
| Coordinates:46°5′41.81″N14°31′11.97″E / 46.0949472°N 14.5199917°E /46.0949472; 14.5199917 | |
| Country |  Slovenia |
| Traditional region | Upper Carniola |
| Statistical region | Central Slovenia |
| Municipality | Ljubljana |
| Elevation | 303 m (994 ft) |
Ježica (pronounced[ˈjeːʒitsa];German:Jeschza[2][3]) is a formerly independent settlement in the northern part of the capitalLjubljana in centralSlovenia.[1] It is part of the traditional region ofUpper Carniola and is now included with the rest of the municipality in theCentral Slovenia Statistical Region.[4]
Ježica is aclustered settlement in an open, sunny area along theSava River, originally consisting of a core of farms on the high terrace above the Sava. The soil is sandy and there are fields to the west.[1]
Ježica was attested in written sources in 1356 asGezziczsch (and asYessicz in 1425 andJesicz in 1464). The name is a diminutive derived from the Slovene common nounježa ("small grassy slope between two flat areas in a valley"), referring to the local geography (cf.Ježa).[5] In the past the German name wasJeschza.[3]
The Roman road fromEmona toCeleia passed through Ježica, crossing the Sava River, and a Roman settlement is believed to have stood at the site.[6]: 349 In 1880 a Roman grave was discovered near the church.[1] When theRoman Empire collapsed, migrating tribes destroyed the bridge. It was replaced with a ferry that operated until 1724.[7]
In 1515, 6,000 peasants gathered where the spa now stands and negotiated with the imperial commissioners, led by Styrian governor Sigmund Dietrichstein. The officials tried to placate the peasants, but they were unsuccessful, leading to the1515 Slovene Peasant Revolt.[7]
In 1713, plans were made for the new road from Vienna to Trieste. The work was finished in 1730, and the new bridge was built in Ježica: the first since the destruction of the Roman bridge.[7] Ježica was an important site because it controlled access to the bridge across the Sava; a large building known asGrad (literally, 'castle') was a former toll house for the bridge.[1] The building was owned by the Tavčar family before the Second World War.[6]: 349
A new bridge was built over the Sava in 1846, and was the basis for today's bridge.[7] A school was built in Ježica in 1869, and regular schooling started in 1871.[1] TheKamnik Railway was laid through Ježica in 1891, and a new train station namedTauzherhof was established at Ježica in 1893. The1895 Ljubljana earthquake also caused damage in Ježica, especially to the church, which was repaired afterwards.[7]
The first fire department was established in 1902 at the initiative of MayorAnton Vilfan. In 1910, Ježica's first post office was established, the train station was renamedJeschza, and water mains were installed. During theFirst World War, soldiers were quartered in people's homes, inns, and shops. Italian forces managed to approach Ježica in May, 1916 and Bregar's Meadow (Slovene:Bregarjev travnik) near theRussian Czar Inn was shelled.[7]
On April 11, 1941 Ježica was occupied up to the Sava River by theItalian Army, although the locals had expected occupation by theGerman Army. German forces occupied the territory east of the bridge, and the border between Italy and Germany was established at the Črnuče Bridge. A few months later, the border was shifted a few meters south. The border crossed an area with fields calledProd, below the villages ofSavlje andKleče. The Germans built a road through the area known asNemška cesta (German Street), today'sObvozna cesta (Bypass Street). A new railway was also built, connecting Kamnik and the Upper Carniola Gorenjska Railway, which extended east to the village ofLaze pri Dolskem. The border was secured with wire fencing, minefields, and watchtowers. The main border crossing was in Ježica, where the bus station is today. Two border checkpoints still stand today. On September 7, 1941 the first resistance against the Italian forces was carried out, when a night patrol of Italian border finance police was attacked in Mala Vas. Two policemen were badly injured. The date was declared a memorial day in Ježica in 1955. After the 1943Armistice of Cassibile, the Italian army left Ježica along with the rest of Ljubljana, and the German army moved in. This led to establishment ofDomobranstvo. TheSlovene Partisans entered Ježica together with the rest of Ljubljana in May 1945.[7]
Rebuilding of Ježica began soon after the war. An agricultural cooperative was established in 1947.Bus service was established, and then atrolleybus in 1958, which was discontinued in 1968. A Partisan grave and cenotaph was created at the Stožice Cemetery in 1950, and a plaque honoring thePeople's Hero Danila Kumar was installed in 1955.[7] In 1961, Ježica annexed the former village ofMala Vas na Posavju.[8] In the 1970s, theBS 7 apartment blocks were built nearby, connecting urban area with the rest of Ljubljana.[7] Ježica was annexed by theCity of Ljubljana in 1974, ending its existence as an independent settlement.[8]
Ježica looks very different today than it did in the past, especially its surroundings. The small village became part of Ljubljana. Construction of new houses has redefined its landscape while the village's tourist industry has collapsed. However, a new park was built in 2014, extending from Ježica toJarše and the route has become popular for horse riders and cyclists. Other recent projects include the installation of aroundabout in 2012, the renovation of the Črnuče bridge and the construction of Florjančkov Hram Hotel in 2014.
TheCity Municipality of Ljubljana has plans to extend Vienna Street (Dunajska cesta) from Russian Czar to Obvozna cesta, crossing Ježica. Obvozna cesta is also planned for renovation, and the road will cross Ježica through the bus station. A large number of houses are planned for demolition. On a grass field north of Russian Czar, there are plans forapartment blocks and business space as the new center of the community of Posavje.[9] Opposition to the Dunajska extension exists among residents.[10]
In 1787, there were 32 houses and 172 residents.[7] In 1935 there were 131 residential buildings, 319flats, 278 families, 510 working men and 574 women,[7] and in 2013 Ježica had 500–600 residents.
Ježica Street is a residential street in the upper part of the village, and Stara Ježica (old Ježica) is in the lower part. Na Produ ("on theriver gravel") is a residential street on theSava. Ulica Bratov Čebulj (Čebulj Brothers Street) is named after Alojz (1913-1942), Vinko (1914-1941) and Franc Čebulj (1916-1942), who fought for theLiberation Front of the Slovene Nation. Alojz died duringWorld War II atKrvavec, Vinko was killed in Savlje and Franc was killed on theOsovnik hill aboveŠkofja loka (where a memorial plaque stands).[7]
Za gasilskim domom (behind the fire station) is a residential street. Ulica bratov Kunovar (Kunovar Brothers Street) is named after Franc (1909-1942) and Slavko (1919-1943) Kunovar, born in Ježica, who also fought with the Liberation Front of the Slovene Nation. Franc died in Udinboršt (nearKranj) and Slavko died inKališe, Kamnik.[7] Kališnikov trg (Kališnik Place) is named after Jože Kališnik, born in 1923 inBuč, an activist and became apartisan in 1942. He was killed the following year nearPodutik.[7]
Ulica Danile Kumar (Danila Kumar Street) was named after Danila Kumar (1921-1944), who was born inHum at Kojsko. A soldier in theTomšič Brigade in 1942, Kumar became an activist of the Liberation Front of the Slovene Nation and died at Škofja loka (near Lubnik). A school inStožice is named after them.[7]
Udvančeva ulica (Udvanc Street) is named after Matija Udvanc (1912-1942), who was born in Ježica. A locksmith, Udvanc was a member of the Yugoslavian Communist Party, aYugoslav volunteer in the Spanish Civil War and a partisan. He died commanding the Selška Troop with Stane Žagar at the battle with the Germans inPlanica, nearŽabnica.[7]
Kratka pot (Short Track) is a residential street near Spa Laguna. Tesovnikova ulica (Tesovnik Street) is named after Viktor Tesovnik (1928-1949), born in Nova Štifta, who was an activist with the Liberation Front of the Slovene Nation and became a soldier in 1944. An officer in theYugoslav People's Army, he died from injuries in 1949.[7]
Ježica began to develop at the end of the 19th century, when people from Ljubljana visited the town's inns. At that time thelinden-lined Tyršer Road (present-day Dunajska Road) led there. TheSava was popular for bathing,[7] and a spa was built. World War II put an end to tourism, but it began to revive in 1965 with the opening of an auto camp. Tourists, now mostly from abroad, stayed in Ježica because of its proximity to Ljubljana. In 1984 more than 25,000 tourists visitedBežigrad District (in which Ježica is located), 18th place in Slovenia. A new hotel is part of the Florjančkov hram complex.
Ježica's inns were popular weekend destinations for Ljubljana residents. At the beginning of the 20th century, notable inns were Tavčar (pri Tavčarju), Florjanček (pri Florjančku), Štern (pri Šternu), Aleš (pri Alešu) and Angelca (pri Angelci). The Tavčar, Štern and Florjanček still operate as inns, but the former Aleš and Angelca buildings remain.
Tavčarjev dvor, built in 1906, is the successor of an inn with the same name which operated next door. It is named after the German Count Tavčar, whose inn was known as Tavčar hoff or Tauzherhof. The inn was popular with Ljubljana residents, who visited on weekends to swim in the Sava. During World War II the Germans used it for bridge defense, and after the war police and residents stayed there. The inn was nationalized before the Bežigrad catering company managed it; for several decades it has been privately owned, and is now primarily abar.
Restaurant Štern, built in 1928, was named after its first owner (who was fromUpper Carniola). During World War II, the Italian army was billeted there. After the war it was nationalized and became the restaurant and spa of the Bežigrad District. The restaurant, still in operation, servesSlovenian and other dishes.[11]
Florjančkov hram, also known as pri Florjančku (at Florjanček), has existed since 1792. Historian and literary critic Fran Levec was born here in 1846, and Slovenian poet France Prešeren was a frequent visitor. The restaurant specializes in Slovenian food.[12]
Aspa was built during the 1930s, when a wine merchant named Stern built the first building and inn (which still stand). Next to them he built a dressing room and showers, and a stable also existed. Pools with sand followed. The war halted the spa's operation; after the war it was nationalized, and its manager made it a recreation center for Ježica. In 1965 an auto camp opened near the spa with cottages, bungalows, summer and winter swimming pools and a bowling alley. After 1991 it was denationalized and decayed, but four popular swimming pools remained until 2005. That year, the swimming pool was renovated, newhydro massage pools were built and the spa was renamed Laguna Ljubljana.[11]
ASlovene quintain, known asštehvanje, was introduced to Ježica andneighboring villages in 1935. Originating in theGail Valley, the event is held each June. Agasilska veselica (firefighters' party) has been held in May since 2012. A memorial day is observed on 7 September each year, near the street of the same name, for local activists resistingfascism in Ježica during World War II.
The Sava has influenced the area, and during Roman times a bridge was built at Ježica. The region was flood-prone. On the 1825 Franciscancadastre, two bridges higher than the main bridge over the Sava are seen bridging the two Sava branches; one is made of steel. Work was done on the river from 1895 to 1908 fromTacen toŠentjakob, and erosion increased until 1935. Groundwater made the water level fall 7 meters (23 ft) at the Kleče water station.[13] In 1953 a hydroelectric power plant was built at Medvode, affecting the riverbed at Ježica.[14]
During the 19th century, the Ježica riverside was a popular recreation area. Although water quality is currently too poor for swimming, it has improved since the second half of the 20th century and the municipality of Ljubljana plans to make the river safe for swimming again.[15]
The church in Ježica is dedicated toSaint Cantius and Companions[16] and was built on the site of a medieval predecessor mentioned in written records in 1526. The new church was built from 1792 to 1802, and an east addition was built in 1938 based on plans by the architectVinko Glanz (1902–1977). The painting of the Holy Cross is an 1802 work byAndreas Herrlein (1739–1837), the Stations of the Cross are the work ofLeopold Layer (1752–1828), the pulpit painting byMirko Šubic (1900–1976), and the mosaic byStane Kregar (1905–1973). The main altar was designed by the architectCiril Zazula (1924–1995) and the side altars byJanko Omahen (1898–1980).[1] Ježica was originally part of the proto-parish of Saint Peter in Ljubljana.[6]: 349 It became a quasi-parish in 1787 and was elevated to a parish in 1850. There is an oldwayside shrine below the church.[1]
Notable people that were born or lived in Ježica include:
Media related toJežica at Wikimedia Commons