Vrba, Žirovnica

Vrba
—  Village  —
The village of Vrba with the Church of St. Mark
Vrba
Coordinates: 46°23′N 14°09′E
Country	Slovenia
Region	Upper Carniola
Municipality	Žirovnica
First mentioned	1247
Population (2002)
• Total	196

Vrba is one of ten villages in the Municipality of Žirovnica in the Upper Carniolan region of Slovenia. It was first mentioned in written sources from 1247 and is a typical example of a compact Alpine village. According to the 2002 census, it has a population of 196. The Slovene national poet France Prešeren, who was born in the village, dedicated the first sonnet of his Sonnets of Misfortune to the village.

Cultural significance

In January 2011, the Prešeren House, the Church of St Mark, and an ancient linden tree in the center of the village, were proclaimed cultural monuments of national importance by the Government of Slovenia. The linden tree, around which there are sixteen stones, was the meeting place of the elders of the village, who would traditionally meet under this tree to discuss village issues. The Prešeren House, where France Prešeren and Archbishop Anton Vovk were born, is a typical example of a rural residence from the first half of the 19th century and has been a museum since 1939, dedicated to Prešeren's life and work. The village Church of St. Mark stands on the outskirts of the village behind the Prešeren House. It has Romanesque foundations, but the actual structure is Gothic with an interesting apse, extensive Gothic frescoes from the 15th and early 16th century on the interior walls, a renovated wooden ceiling, and two gilded Baroque altars. On the outside wall there are also relatively well-preserved frescoes of St. Christopher, the Crucifixion, and St. George fighting the dragon from the 15th century.

Notable people

Notable people that were born or lived in Vrba include:

• France Prešeren (1800–1849), poet
• Anton Vovk (1900–1963), archbishop of Ljubljana