Velenje
| Velenje | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
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 Velenje
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| Coordinates: 46°22′N 15°07′E / 46.367°N 15.117°ECoordinates: 46°22′N 15°07′E / 46.367°N 15.117°E | |
| Country |  Slovenia |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Bojan Kontič (SD) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 12,6 km2 (49 sq mi) |
| 1 | |
| Elevation | 396 m (1,299 ft) |
| Population (2011)1 | |
| • Total | 25,456 |
| • Density | 2,021/km2 (5,230/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+01) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+02) |
| Website | www.velenje.si |
| Source: Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, 2011. | |
Velenje (
pronunciation (help·info)) is the fifth largest town in Slovenia and the centre of the eponymous municipality. It is located on the Paka River in the eastern part of the Šalek Valley in northern Slovenia. After World War II, it rapidly advanced and developed into a modern city.
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History
Velenje Castle is located on a hill to the west of the town. The Old Velenje (Slovene: Staro Velenje), the downtown at the foot of the castle, is first mentioned in written documents dating to 1264 and 1374 as a small market town and was a center of handicraft and trade. The lignite mining industry in the area contributed to the expansion of the town, especially before World War II. The modern city of Velenje was planned and built in the 1950s, in the time of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia. In 1960, the manufacturer of household appliances Gorenje moved its headquarters to the town from the nearby village of Gorenje. From 1981 until 1990, the town had the name Tito Velenje (Titovo Velenje), after the revolutionary and the statesman Josip Broz Tito.2
Townscape
The central square in Velenje is named Tito Square. It was officially opened on 20 September 1959 and features the highest statue (about 10 m or 33 ft) of Tito in the world. It was designed by Antun Augustinčič and Vladimir Herljević.3 The square was the meeting point of Soviet communist leaders Nikita Khrushchev and Leonid Brezhnev as well as of Czech and Romanian communist leaders Edward Gierek and Nicolae Ceaușescu.4
In the northwestern part of the square is located the Velenje Hall of Culture, built in 1959 according to plans of Oton Gaspari. Its façade was decorated with a relief by Stojan Batič and the interior by Riko Debenjak. It was opened in November 1960.5 In the 1990s, the hall was the centre of subcultures in Velenje. Now it hosts the public instute Velenje Festival, which organises diverse cultural activities,5 among them the most popular event in Velenje and the largest children's festival in Slovenia, Pika's Festival, named after Pippi Longstocking, which started in 1990. The hall also houses a puppet theatre and a dance theatre.5
The parish church in the town is dedicated to Saint Martin and belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Celje. It dates to the 13th century with 16th and 17th century additions.6
Sport
The town is the birthplace of Jolanda Čeplak, a Slovenian middle distance athlete and Olympic bronze medalist. It is also the hometown of the Slovenian tennis player Katarina Srebotnik. The handball club RK Gorenje and football club NK Rudar Velenje are also based in the town.
Velenje holds the only adventure race in Slovenia. The 400 kilometres (250 mi) long adventure race, called Adventure Race Slovenia, is known across Europe and is held every weekend in June. It was first organized in 2003 by the Lake Dragon Scout Group.
References
- ^ a b "Data on the selected settlement: Velenje (Municipality of Velenje)". Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia. http://www.stat.si/eng/KrajevnaImena/default.asp?txtIme=VELENJE&selNacin=celo&selTip=naselja&ID=4911. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
- ^ "Izbrano naselje: Velenje (občina Velenje)". Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia. http://www.stat.si/KrajevnaImena/default.asp?txtIme=VELENJE&selNacin=celo&selTip=naselja&ID=4911. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
- ^ Bartulovič, Alenka. "Spomenik Josipu Brozu Titu v Velenju [The Monument to Josip Broz Tito in Velenje]". In Šmid Hribar, Mateja; Golež, Gregor; Podjed, Dan et al (in Slovene). Enciklopedija naravne in kulturne dediščine na Slovenskem – DEDI [Encylopedia of Natural and Cultural Heritage in Slovenia]. http://www.dedi.si/dediscina/325-spomenik-josipu-brozu-titu-v-velenju. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
- ^ Trampuš, Jure (7 January 2003). "Bronasti velikan [The Bronze Giant]" (in Slovene). Mladina.si (Mladina, časopisno podjetje, d. d.). ISSN 1580-5352. http://www.mladina.si/96317/titovtrg/?utm_source=tednik%2F200301%2Fclanek%2Ftitovtrg%2F&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=oldLink.
- ^ a b c Bartulovič, Alenka. "Dom kulture – Velenje [The Hall of Culture – Velenje]". In Šmid Hribar, Mateja; Golež, Gregor; Podjed, Dan et al (in Slovene). Enciklopedija naravne in kulturne dediščine na Slovenskem – DEDI [Encylopedia of Natural and Cultural Heritage in Slovenia]. http://www.dedi.si/dediscina/324-dom-kulture-velenje. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
- ^ Slovenian Ministry of Culture register of national heritage reference number ešd 3426
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Velenje |
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