Kanal, Kanal
Kanal ob Soči | |
|---|---|
Town and Municipality | |
 Kanal ob Soči | |
 Location of the Municipality of Kanal ob Soči in Slovenia | |
| Country |  Slovenia |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Andrej Maffi (SLS) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 146.53 km2 (56.58 sq mi) |
| Population (2002)[1] | |
| • Total | 5,948 |
| • Density | 41/km2 (110/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02 (CEST) |
| Website | www |
Kanal ob Soči (Italian: Canale d'Isonzo, German: Kanalburg) is a town and municipality in Slovenia, established in 1995 by secession from Nova Gorica.[2] It lies near the railway track between Nova Gorica and Jesenice. The name Kanal comes from the shape of the valley. The settlement was established in antique times, and the first records date back to 1264, the year 1336 mentions the name of Dvor Svete Marije, and bridge in 1350.
The town itself is an important crossing point over the Soča River. The first bridge was built by the Romans. The current bridge was built after World War I. There are plans for building a new bridge to reduce traffic through the center. The bridge is around 17 meters tall and there are yearly diving events in mid-August. The center of the town was fortified in the Middle Ages. There are four towers left called bastions. There is also a beautiful fountain called Neptune's Fountain, built in 1815, in the town center next to the main church. There used to be a small castle, which was destroyed in 1264 and later rebuild after WWI as a resident building.
The parish church in the town was built in 1430 on the site of an earlier church. It was extended in the late 18th century and is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary and belongs to the Diocese of Koper.[3] A second, smaller church in the town is dedicated to Saint Anne and was first mentioned in documents dating to 1542.[4]
In the 19th century small manufacturing plants were established. There is a small factory called Plastik Kanal in the town. About a kilometre south in hte village of Anhovo is a big cement factory called Salonit Anhovo and two smaller ones called ESAL and INDE.
The town's volleyball team OK Salonit Anhovo is named after the company. They were national champions many times about 15 years ago.[5]
Settlements in the municipality
Ajba, Anhovo, Avče, Bodrež, Deskle, Doblar, Gorenja vas, Kal nad Kanalom, Kambreško, Kanalski Vrh, Kostanjevica pri Ligu, Krestenica, Levpa, Lig, Ložice, Morsko, Plave, Ročinj, Seniški Breg, Ukanje and Zapotok
Notable natives and residents
- Ivo Hvalica, politician (SDS)
- Vojeslav Mole, poet and art historian
- Author Josip Ribičič mother Marija Ribičić (born Križanič or Križnic)
- Ignazio Francesco Scodnik, Garibaldine general
- Valentin Stanič, mountaineer, author and philanthropist
- Ivan Čargo, painter and illustrator
- Riko Debenjak, academic painter
- Anton Nanut
- Josip Kocijančič, composer
Events
- Hiking on the steps of Valentin Stanič (slovene Pohod po stopinjah Valentina Staniča in March/April)
- Diving championship from 25 m (July)
- Festival Kontrada (July)
- Traditional diving championship from 17 m high bridge (August)
- Kogojevi dnevi - festival of modern music (September, October)
References
- Enciklopedia Slovenije, 4. zvezek ISBN 908-497-12-031, Ljubljana 1990
External links
See also
| Settlements | Administrative seat: Kanal
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| Landmarks | ||
| Notable people | ||
