Blatnik pri Črmošnjicah (pronounced [ˈbláːtnik pɾi tʃəɾmɔˈʃnjìːtsax, -njíː-]; German: Rußbach[2][3]) is a small settlement in the Municipality of Semič in Slovenia. It was inhabited by Gottschee Germans that were mostly expelled in 1941 during the Second World War. The area is part of the historical region of Lower Carniola. The municipality is now included in the Southeast Slovenia Statistical Region.[4]

Blatnik pri Črmošnjicah
Blatnik pri Črmošnjicah Location in Slovenia
Coordinates: 45°38′45.03″N 15°8′9.04″E
Country	Slovenia
Traditional region	Lower Carniola
Statistical region	Southeast Slovenia
Municipality	Semič
Area
• Total	3.65 km2 (1.41 sq mi)
Elevation	502 m (1,647 ft)
Population  (2002)
• Total	11
[1]

Name

Blatnik pri Črmošnjicah was attested in written sources as Ruespach in 1574.[5] The toponym Blatnik is relatively common in Slovenia and generally refers to low-lying areas near water; it is also found as a hydronym and surname. The name is derived from the common noun blato 'mud; swamp, marsh', which is also the root of names like Blače, Blatno, and Blate.[6] In this case, the settlement lies in an area with several karst springs feeding Blatnik Creek (Blatniški potok), a tributary of Vrčica Creek.[7] In the past, Blatnik pri Črmošnjicah was known as Rußbach in German.[2] The name Rußbach is a compound of Ruß 'soot(y), black' and bach 'creek', referring to the former name of Blatnik Creek[7] (cf. also medieval Růzpach, now Sajevec).

Church

View from west

Interior

Holy Cross Church

The local church is now only a ruin. It was dedicated to the Holy Cross and was a Baroque building from the mid-17th century.[8]

References

External links

• Media related to Blatnik pri Črmošnjicah at Wikimedia Commons
• Blatnik pri Črmošnjicah at Geopedia
• Pre–World War II map of Blatnik pri Črmošnjicah with oeconyms and family names
• Blatnik pri Črmošnjicah cemetery at Find a Grave

This article about the Municipality of Semič in Slovenia is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

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