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Dolenja Vas (pronounced [dɔˈleːnja ˈʋaːs]; Slovene: Dolenja vas, German: Niederdorf[2][3]) is a village southwest of Cerknica in the Inner Carniola region of Slovenia.[4]

Dolenja Vas
Village
Dolenja Vas Location in Slovenia
Coordinates: 45°47′13.08″N 14°20′52.47″E
Country	Slovenia
Traditional region	Inner Carniola
Statistical region	Littoral–Inner Carniola
Municipality	Cerknica
Area
• Total	5.9 km2 (2.3 sq mi)
Elevation	554.6 m (1,819.6 ft)
Population  (2020)
• Total	499
• Density	85/km2 (220/sq mi)
[1]

Name

The name Dolenja vas literally means 'lower village'. Dolenja vas and names like it are quite common in Slovenia and other Slavic countries, and they indicate that the settlement lay at a lower elevation than nearby settlements.[5] It lies about 20 meters (66 ft) lower than neighboring Cerknica. The village was known as Niederdorf in German in the past.[2]

History

Ancient settlement of the area is testified by the discovery of the remains of a Hallstatt- or Roman-era fortress on Tržišče Hill above the village. The site included a large cache of weapons. An Urnfield burial site was discovered on the southeast slope of the hill and was excavated in 1877. Southwest of this there was a second fortress, the embankments of which are well preserved.[6]

Mass grave

Dolenja Vas is the site of a mass grave associated with the Second World War. The Balant Valleys Shaft Mass Grave (Slovene: Grobišče Brezno v Balantovih dolinah) is located southwest of the settlement. The narrow shaft has been explored to a depth of 25 m (82 ft) and contains unidentified remains.[7]

Church

The local church, built southwest of the settlement, is dedicated to Saint Lawrence and belongs to the Parish of Cerknica.[8] The church dates from 1616 and contains a gilded altar dedicated to Saint Margaret.[6]

Notable people

Notable people that were born or lived in Dolenja Vas include:

• Lojze Perko (1909–1980), artist[6]
• Franjo Sterle (1889–1930), painter[6]

References

External links

• Media related to Dolenja Vas at Wikimedia Commons
• Dolenja Vas on Geopedia

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