Kranj

Kranj, Slovenia
Kranj, Slovenia
	— City and Municipality —
; Flag	; Coat of arms
	Location of the Municipality of Kranj in Slovenia
	Kranj, Slovenia Location of the City of Kranj in Slovenia
	Coordinates: 46°14′N 14°22′E / 46.233°N 14.367°ECoordinates: 46°14′N 14°22′E / 46.233°N 14.367°E
Country	Slovenia
Region	Upper Carniola
Municipality	Kranj
	Government
• Mayor	Mohor Bogataj
• Deputy Mayor	Bojan Homan
• Deputy Mayor	Stane Štraus
• Deputy Mayor	Igor Velov
	Area
• Total	148 km2 (57 sq mi)
	Population (2007)
• Total	53,000
• Density	360/km2 (930/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+01)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+02)
Website	www.kranj.si
	Source: Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, census of 2002

Kranj (help·info) (known in historic sources at various times as Carnium, Creina, Chreina or Krainburg)² is the third largest municipality and fourth largest city in Slovenia, with a population of 54,500 (2010). It is located approximately 20 km north-west of Ljubljana. The centre of the Upper Carniola region (northwestern Slovenia) is a mainly industrial city with significant electronics and rubber industries. The historical region of Carniola (Slovene: Kranjska) is named after the town, which was its provincial capital in the early Middle ages.

The city is now also known for its sports facilities, including soccer tennis and basketball, as well as the biggest aquatic centre in the country, which hosted the 2003 Men's European Water Polo Championship (along with Ljubljana, hosting the women's competition). The annual Teden Mladih (Youth Week) festival and Festival Carniola are very popular.

The nucleus of the city is a well-preserved medieval old town, built at the confluence of the Kokra and the Sava rivers.

Geography

The city lies on the busy Ljubljana - Jesenice - Villach (Austria) - Munich (Germany) railway (served by Kranj's railway station) and highway.

Slovenia's national airport, Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport (in Brnik) is also very close to Kranj, considerably more so than its nominal client, Ljubljana.

Towns and villages

Babni Vrt, Bobovek, Brdo pri Kranju, Breg ob Savi, Britof, Čadovlje, Čepulje, Golnik, Goriče, Hrastje, Ilovka, Jama, Jamnik, Javornik, Kokrica, Kranj, Lavtarski Vrh, Letenice, Mavčiče, Meja, Mlaka pri Kranju, Nemilje, Njivica, Orehovlje, Pangršica, Planica, Podblica, Podreča, Povlje, Praše, Predoslje, Pševo, Rakovica, Spodnja Besnica, Spodnje Bitnje, Srakovlje, Srednja vas - Goriče, Srednje Bitnje, Suha pri Predosljah, Sveti Jošt nad Kranjem, Šutna, Tatinec, Tenetiše, Trstenik, Zabukovje, Zalog, Zgornja Besnica, Zgornje Bitnje, Žabnica, Žablje

Landmarks

Plečnik Steps
Kokra Canyon
Šum Falls in Besnica³^{dead link}
Šmarjetna gora (Mount St. Margaret)⁴
The village of Podreča
Gora sv. Jošta (Mount St. Jodocus)

Church of St. Cantianus

Sts. Cantius, Cantianius, Cantianella and Prot Church (Cerkev Sv. Kancija, Kancijana, Kancijanile in Prota) is the largest church in Kranj and also the seat of the Kranj parish and deaconates. It was built in the 14th century, and measures 442m³. Construction was commissioned by the then-counts of Kranj.⁵

Kieselstein Castle

Main article: Kieselstein Castle

The castle was built in the mid-16th century by baron Janž Khisl. Later owners have included the Moscon, Ravbar, Apfaltrer, Ausperg, and Pagliaruzzi families. The building was renovated in 1952 by the architect Jože Plečnik, near the end of his life. The castle garden is currently used as a setting for concerts.