Litija
Encyclopedia
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 traditional region of Lower Carniola
, while some parts were part of Lower Styria
. The entire municipality is now included in the Central Slovenia statistical region
. The town is home to about 7,000 people, while the population of the municipality is about 15,000.
, Ljubljana, and Croatia
. The town gained market rights
in the 14th century. According to Janez Vajkard Valvasor
, the name evolved from litus, the Latin word for 'riverbank'. In Roman times mining developed in Litija and remained one of the primary sources of income until the 1965, when the biggest of the mines closed. In 1849 the Austrian Southern Railway
reached Litija and boosted its economy. This development, however, also meant a decline in some of the traditional local professions.
The parish church
in the settlement is dedicated to Saint Nicholas
and belongs to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ljubljana
. The current building was built in 1884 and extended in 1997.
from Vače
(Vače situla
), the river Sava, and a boatmant pushing his boat, known as a punt
, across the Sava.
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 located in the valley of the river Sava, to the east of the capital Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
. Traditionally, the area was situated on the border between the historical provinces of Carniola
Carniola
Carniola was a historical region that comprised parts of what is now Slovenia. As part of Austria-Hungary, the region was a crown land officially known as the Duchy of Carniola until 1918. In 1849, the region was subdivided into Upper Carniola, Lower Carniola, and Inner Carniola...
and Styria. Most of the municipality belonged to 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...
, while some parts were part of Lower Styria
Lower Styria
Lower Styria or Slovenian Styria is a traditional region in northeastern Slovenia, comprising the southern third of the former Duchy of Styria. The population of Lower Styria in its historical boundaries amounts to around 705,000 inhabitants, or 34.5% of the population of Slovenia...
. The entire municipality is now included in the Central Slovenia 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 is home to about 7,000 people, while the population of the municipality is about 15,000.
History
The town of Litija is first mentioned in church documents dating to 1145. It developed as a trading post between TriesteTrieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
, Ljubljana, and Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. The town gained market rights
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
in the 14th century. According to Janez Vajkard Valvasor
Janez Vajkard Valvasor
Johann Weichard Freiherr von Valvasor or simply Valvasor was a Slovenian nobleman, scientist and polymath, and a fellow of the Royal Society in London.-Biography:...
, the name evolved from litus, the Latin word for 'riverbank'. In Roman times mining developed in Litija and remained one of the primary sources of income until the 1965, when the biggest of the mines closed. In 1849 the Austrian Southern Railway
Austrian Southern Railway
The Austrian Southern Railway was an Austrian railway company established in 1841...
reached Litija and boosted its economy. This development, however, also meant a decline in some of the traditional local professions.
The parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
in the settlement is dedicated to Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas , also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra . Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker...
and 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 current building was built in 1884 and extended in 1997.
Coat of arms
The municipal coat of arms shows the situla vaseSitula (vessel)
Situla, from the Latin for bucket or pail, is a term for a variety of elaborate bucket-shaped vessels from the Iron Age to the Middle Ages, usually with a handle at the top...
from Vače
Vače
Vače is a settlement in the Municipality of Litija in central Slovenia. Traditionally the area was part of Lower Styria and is now included with the rest of the municipality into the Central Slovenia statistical region....
(Vače situla
Vače situla
The Vače situla is the most decorated of four situlas found near Vače, Slovenia. The Vače situla dates from the turn of the 6th century BC and is one of the oldest situla objects of the northern Illyrians...
), the river Sava, and a boatmant pushing his boat, known as a punt
Punt (boat)
A punt is a flat-bottomed boat with a square-cut bow, designed for use in small rivers or other shallow water. Punting refers to boating in a punt. The punter generally propels the punt by pushing against the river bed with a pole...
, across the Sava.
External links
- Litija Municipality official site (in Slovene)
- Litija on Geopedia