Kamnik

Kamnik
Town and Municipality
Kamnik town centre Kamnik town centre
Location of the Municipality of Kamnik in Slovenia
Country	Slovenia
Government
• Mayor	Anton Smolnikar
Area
• Total	265.6 km2 (102.5 sq mi)
Population  (2002)
• Total	26,477
• Density	100/km2 (260/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02 (CEST)

Kamnik () (German: Stein in Oberkrain) is the name of a municipality in Slovenia as well as the town that serves as its administrative, cultural, economic, and educational center. The municipality is in north central Slovenia. It encompasses a large part of the Kamnik Alps and the surrounding area. The town of Kamnik has ruins of two castles as well as many examples of historical architecture.

History

The name Kamnik was first mentioned in the 11th century. The first time it was mentioned as a town was in 1229, when it was an important trading post on the road between Ljubljana and Celje. This makes the town one of the oldest in Slovenia. In the Middle Ages, Kamnik had its own mint and some aristocratic families among its residents. The town was among the most influential centers of power for the Bavarian counts of Andechs in the region of Carniola at the time. The only remnant of the Bavarian nobility are the two ruined castles which are both strategically built on high ground near the town center. The Franciscan monastery built in the town itself is a testament to its importance. The building is well preserved and has undergone extensive renovation in recent years. Zaprice Castle, which stands outside the town, was built in a later period.

Most of the old town center is built in an Austro-Hungarian style. Most of the facades have been renovated in recent years but the process is still ongoing.

Famous natives

Rudolf Maister Birthhouse in Kamnik

• Fran Albreht, author
• France Balantič, poet
• Jurij Japelj, philologist
• Rudolf Maister, military leader
• Francis Xavier Pierz, American prelate
• Jakob Savinšek, sculptor and illustrator
• Bojan Kraut, engineer

Tourism

Notable tourist attractions in Kamnik:

• The Church of the Our Lady
• The Church of St. Primus
• The spa in Tunjice
• The Volčji Potok Arboretum, a permanent exhibition of about 3,000 species of flowers, trees, and other flora
• The Snovik Spa
• The unique architectural tradition of the Velika Planina plateau
• The Kamniška Bistrica Valley

External links

• Kamnik, official page of municipality (in Slovene)
• Volčji Potok Arboretum
• Virtual landscape
• Pure Slovenia, Self catering alpine chalet.
• Terme Snovik, Spa Snovik
• Velika planina, photos
• Camping Alps,