Slunj

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Slunj
Slunj is located in Croatia
Slunj
Slunj
Slunj (Croatia)
County Karlovac
Location 45°36′25″N 15°27′36″E / 45.607°N 15.46°E / 45.607; 15.46
Mayor Ivan Bogović (HDZ)
Surface (km²) 392 km²
Population
(2001)
6,096 (municipality)
Time zone (UTC) UTC+1 Central European Time

Slunj is a town in the mountainous part of Croatia, located along the very important north-south route to the Adriatic Sea between Karlovac and the Plitvice Lakes, on the meeting of the rivers Korana and Slunjčica (also called Slušnica by local people). It has a population of 1,776, with a total of 6,090 people in the municipality (2001) and is the centre of the region of Kordun.

Image of Slunj municipality within Karlovac County

History

Slunj has historically been called: in archaic Croatian: Slovin grad, in German: Sluin, and in Hungarian: Szluin.

An old fortification of the Frankopans, built during the wars against the Turks, Slunj was first mentioned in the 12th century. The old fort was property of the Frankopan family since the 15th century, joined by an old Franciscan monastery from the same period. In the 16th century the town was ravaged by the Ottoman wars and turned into a military outpost of the Military Frontier, but by the end of the 17th century the settlement was rebuilt into the Slunj as it exists today.

Slunj is famous for its little waterfalls and the well-preserved corn mills (dating back to the 18th century) in the picturesque lower part of the town, called Rastoke (referring to the branching of the rivers). The Waterfalls of Slunj (Die Wasserfälle von Slunj) is the title of a late novel by the Austrian writer Heimito von Doderer which features a climactic sequence set in this locality.[1]

Demographics

Old fortification of the Frankopans, built during the wars against the Ottoman Empire

Most of Slunj's population is Croatian (87.0%) followed by Serbs (9,4%) and, Bosnian and a small number of other ethnic groups.

According to the 1910 Austro-Hungarian census, the Slunj district had some 46360 inhabitants,[2].

Ethnic group Number Percentage
Croats 21655 46.7%
Serbs 24652 53.2%

Sport

Football

Although Slunj is very small, it has many sport clubs. Most famous are the football club Slunj and MNK Drenak. There are two football fields in Slunj. On is situated in the center of Slunj and popularly called Gradsko Igralište (Town field) and the other is Zubac, which is the official filed for football Club Slunj.

Paintball

File:D-F-Slunj.jpg
Delta Force Slunj in action

Slunj also has a paintball club "Delta Force Slunj" which organizes matches for its members.

Koranski susreti

On the last day of "Dani Grada Slunja" (festivity called Days of the city of Slunj) games are organized on main bathing area on the river Korana. Participating teams compete in many games like swimming and snorkeling and many other. There is also a contest for the nicest and craziest jump. Everyone can compete in this contests.

Majorettes Slunj

Majorettes Slunj

Slunj is also a home of Majorettes Slunj. They currently have three groups seniors, juniors and cadets. Majorettes appear on many important events and sport manifestations in Slunj and surrounding cities.

Notable people

Gallery

Towns and villages in the Slunj municipality

Twinnings

External links

45°07′N 15°35′E / 45.117°N 15.583°E / 45.117; 15.583