Šempeter pri Gorici
Encyclopedia
Šempeter pri Gorici is a town and the administrative centre of the Šempeter-Vrtojba
municipality in the Slovene Littoral region of Slovenia
. There is a border crossing into the Italian town of Gorizia
. The crossing is known as Gorizia San Pietro in Italian.
Through most of its history, it was linked to the town of Gorizia
, which is now in Italy. Whence also its name, meaning literally "St. Peter's near Gorizia". Since 1947, has been gravitating towards the newly established town of Nova Gorica
, with which it forms a continuous conurbation
.
and then of the County of Gorizia
. In 1500, it came under Habsburg
rule, and remained part of the Habsburg Monarchy
until 1918, excluding a short French interim
between 1809-1813.
During the Austrian
administration in the 19th and early 20th century, it formed an independent municipality. According to the last Austrian census of 1910, more than 97% of its inhabitants were ethnic Slovenes. During World War I
, it was almost completely destroyed during the Battles of the Isonzo
. In August 1916, it was seized by the Italian Army, but it was recaptured by the Austro-Hungarians
in November 1917. After the war, it was again occupied and later annexed by Italy. In the 1920s, it was rebuilt according to the plans of the architect Max Fabiani
.
In 1924 and 1947, it was an integral part of the Gorizia municipality, and effectively became a suburb of Gorizia. During World War II
, it became an important center of Yugoslav partisan resistance. In May 1945, it was liberated by the Yugoslav partisans. From June 1945 to September 1947 it was under Anglo-American military administration, before being annexed to Yugoslavia
in 1947.
In the 1950s and 1960s, when the town of Nova Gorica was still largely under construction, several important institutions had their seat in Šempeter, including the Nova Gorica Grammar School
and the Gorica Football Club
.
Since the 1970s, the regional Dr. Franc Derganc General Hospital Nova Gorica with a maternity ward is located in Šempeter. Thus, most of the younger inhabitants of Nova Gorica and the wider Goriška
area have been born in Šempeter pri Gorici.
, and of the football players Valter Birsa
, Tim Matavž
and Etien Velikonja
.
Šempeter-Vrtojba
Šempeter-Vrtojba is a municipality in Slovenia. The municipality comprises the town of Šempeter pri Gorici and the adjacent village of Vrtojba....
municipality in the Slovene Littoral region of 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...
. There is a border crossing into the Italian town of Gorizia
Gorizia
Gorizia is a town and comune in northeastern Italy, in the autonomous region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. It is located at the foot of the Julian Alps, bordering Slovenia. It is the capital of the Province of Gorizia, and it is a local center of tourism, industry, and commerce. Since 1947, a twin...
. The crossing is known as Gorizia San Pietro in Italian.
Through most of its history, it was linked to the town of Gorizia
Gorizia
Gorizia is a town and comune in northeastern Italy, in the autonomous region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. It is located at the foot of the Julian Alps, bordering Slovenia. It is the capital of the Province of Gorizia, and it is a local center of tourism, industry, and commerce. Since 1947, a twin...
, which is now in Italy. Whence also its name, meaning literally "St. Peter's near Gorizia". Since 1947, has been gravitating towards the newly established town of Nova Gorica
Nova Gorica
Nova Gorica ; 21,082 ; 31,000 ) is a town and a municipality in western Slovenia, on the border with Italy...
, with which it forms a continuous conurbation
Conurbation
A conurbation is a region comprising a number of cities, large towns, and other urban areas that, through population growth and physical expansion, have merged to form one continuous urban and industrially developed area...
.
History
In the Middle Ages, it was part of the Patriarchate of AquileiaPatriarchate of Aquileia (State)
The Patriarchate of Aquileia was an Imperial State in the Friulian region of Northeastern Italy under the control of the Patriarchs of Aquileia.- Foundation :...
and then of the County of Gorizia
County of Gorizia
The County of Görz was a county based around the town of Gorizia in the present-day Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of north-eastern Italy.Count Meinhard, descendant of the Bavarian Meinhardiner noble family with possessions around Lienz in Tyrol, is mentioned as early as 1107...
. In 1500, it came under Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
rule, and remained part of the Habsburg Monarchy
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
until 1918, excluding a short French interim
Illyrian provinces
The Illyrian Provinces was an autonomous province of the Napoleonic French Empire on the north and east coasts of the Adriatic Sea between 1809 and 1816. Its capital was established at Laybach...
between 1809-1813.
During the Austrian
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
administration in the 19th and early 20th century, it formed an independent municipality. According to the last Austrian census of 1910, more than 97% of its inhabitants were ethnic Slovenes. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, it was almost completely destroyed during the Battles of the Isonzo
Battles of the Isonzo
The Battles of the Isonzo were a series of 12 battles between the Austro-Hungarian and Italian armies in World War I. They were fought along the Soča River on the eastern sector of the Italian Front between June 1915 and November 1917...
. In August 1916, it was seized by the Italian Army, but it was recaptured by the Austro-Hungarians
Austro-Hungarian Army
The Austro-Hungarian Army was the ground force of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy from 1867 to 1918. It was composed of three parts: the joint army , the Austrian Landwehr , and the Hungarian Honvédség .In the wake of fighting between the...
in November 1917. After the war, it was again occupied and later annexed by Italy. In the 1920s, it was rebuilt according to the plans of the architect Max Fabiani
Max Fabiani
Max Fabiani, was a Slovene-Italian architect from the Gorizia region. Together with Ciril Metod Koch, he introduced the Vienna Secession style of architecture in the Slovene Lands.-Life:...
.
In 1924 and 1947, it was an integral part of the Gorizia municipality, and effectively became a suburb of Gorizia. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, it became an important center of Yugoslav partisan resistance. In May 1945, it was liberated by the Yugoslav partisans. From June 1945 to September 1947 it was under Anglo-American military administration, before being annexed to Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
in 1947.
In the 1950s and 1960s, when the town of Nova Gorica was still largely under construction, several important institutions had their seat in Šempeter, including the Nova Gorica Grammar School
Nova Gorica Grammar School
Nova Gorica Grammar School is a coeducational nondenominational state secondary general education school for students aged between 15 to 19. It is located in Nova Gorica, Slovenia. It is considered among the best secondary schools in Slovenia...
and the Gorica Football Club
ND Gorica
ND Gorica is a Slovenian football club, playing in the town of Nova Gorica. They are one of the most successful Slovenian clubs with four Slovenian League, two Slovenian Cup and one Slovenian Supercup titles. Together with NK Maribor and NK Celje they are the only club that have participated in...
.
Since the 1970s, the regional Dr. Franc Derganc General Hospital Nova Gorica with a maternity ward is located in Šempeter. Thus, most of the younger inhabitants of Nova Gorica and the wider Goriška
Goriška
Goriška is a traditional region in western Slovenia on the border with Italy. The name means "the Gorizia region" because it is named after Gorizia, Italy. It is part of the wider traditional region of the Slovenian Littoral . Its principal urban center is Nova Gorica...
area have been born in Šempeter pri Gorici.
Famous residents
It is the native town of the current Slovenian Prime Minister Borut PahorBorut Pahor
Borut Pahor is a Slovenian politician who has been Prime Minister of Slovenia since 2008. A longtime president of the Social Democrats party, Pahor served several terms as a member of the National Assembly and was its chairman from 2000 to 2004. In 2004, Pahor was elected as member of the European...
, and of the football players Valter Birsa
Valter Birsa
Valter Birsa is an Slovenian footballer who currently plays for Italian Serie A side Genoa and the Slovenian national team.-Club career:...
, Tim Matavž
Tim Matavž
Tim Matavž is a Slovenian football player who plays as a striker for the Dutch club PSV Eindhoven.-Club career:Matavž began his football career at the age of 6 playing for NK Bilje. In 2004 he moved to ND Gorica youth squads...
and Etien Velikonja
Etien Velikonja
Etien Velikonja is a Slovenian football forward, who currently plays for Maribor in Slovenian top division, 1.SNL.-Club career:...
.