Šmartno pri Litiji
Encyclopedia
Šmartno pri Litiji is a town and a municipality
in central Slovenia
. It is part of the traditional region of Lower Carniola
and is now included in the Central Slovenian statistical region
. The town itself is located 3 km southeast of Litija
at the confluence of three creeks: Reka, Črni potok and Kostrevniški potok. The town of Litija
outgrew the formerly more important Šmartno when the Austrian Southern Railway
was routed through Litija. The name of the settlement is first attested in ecclesiastical documents from 1135, although the area was already settled in prehistoric times. The oldest house in Šmartno pri Litiji bears the year 1580, and in the 17th century the Mollerey painting and graphic arts workshop operated in it.
The center of the town is dominated by the neo-Gothic
church dedicated to Saint Martin, from which the settlement gets its name (Šent Martin > Šmartno). It belongs to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ljubljana
. The church was designed by the architect Adolf Wagner
, and was built between 1899 and 1901 on the site of an earlier church mentioned in written documents dating to 1363. The interior of the church is illuminated by light coming through stained-glass windows designed by Anton Jebačin. According to a legend, the church was built on the place where trapped miners in Šmartno were once rescued on Martinmas
.
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in central Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
. It is part of the traditional region of Lower Carniola
Lower Carniola
Lower Carniola was a kreis of the historical Habsburg crown land of Carniola from 1849 till 1919 and is nowadays a traditional region of Slovenia. Its center is Novo Mesto, while other urban centers include Kočevje, Grosuplje, Krško, Trebnje, Mirna, Črnomelj, Semič, and Metlika.-See also:* Upper...
and is now included in the Central Slovenian statistical region
Osrednjeslovenska statistical region
The Central Slovenia statistical region is a statistical region in central Slovenia. It includes the Slovene capital Ljubljana and is the most densely populated area of Slovenia. In terms of size it is the second largest region. It has good traffic connections in all directions and is economically...
. The town itself is located 3 km southeast of Litija
Litija
Litija is a town and a municipality in central Slovenia. It is located in the valley of the river Sava, to the east of the capital Ljubljana. Traditionally, the area was situated on the border between the historical provinces of Carniola and Styria. Most of the municipality belonged to the...
at the confluence of three creeks: Reka, Črni potok and Kostrevniški potok. The town of Litija
Litija
Litija is a town and a municipality in central Slovenia. It is located in the valley of the river Sava, to the east of the capital Ljubljana. Traditionally, the area was situated on the border between the historical provinces of Carniola and Styria. Most of the municipality belonged to the...
outgrew the formerly more important Šmartno when the Austrian Southern Railway
Austrian Southern Railway
The Austrian Southern Railway was an Austrian railway company established in 1841...
was routed through Litija. The name of the settlement is first attested in ecclesiastical documents from 1135, although the area was already settled in prehistoric times. The oldest house in Šmartno pri Litiji bears the year 1580, and in the 17th century the Mollerey painting and graphic arts workshop operated in it.
The center of the town is dominated by the neo-Gothic
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
church dedicated to Saint Martin, from which the settlement gets its name (Šent Martin > Šmartno). It belongs to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ljubljana
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ljubljana
The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Ljubljana is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Slovenia. It was erected as the Diocese of Ljubljana by Pope Eugene IV on 6 December 1461 and was immediately subject to the Holy See from its creation until erected...
. The church was designed by the architect Adolf Wagner
Adolf Wagner
Adolf Wagner was a German soldier and high-ranking Nazi Party official born in Algrange, Alsace-Lorraine.He served in World War I as an officer in the German Army...
, and was built between 1899 and 1901 on the site of an earlier church mentioned in written documents dating to 1363. The interior of the church is illuminated by light coming through stained-glass windows designed by Anton Jebačin. According to a legend, the church was built on the place where trapped miners in Šmartno were once rescued on Martinmas
St. Martin's Day
St. Martin's Day, also known as the Feast of St. Martin, Martinstag or Martinmas, the Feast of St Martin of Tours or Martin le Miséricordieux, is a time for feasting celebrations. This is the time when autumn wheat seeding is completed. Historically, hiring fairs were held where farm laborers...
.