Vrba, Žirovnica

For Dr. Rudolf Vrba, see Rudolf Vrba.

Vrba
Village
The village of Vrba with the church of St. Mark. Photo by [http://www.burger.si/Vrba/Vrba.html Boštjan Burger] The village of Vrba with the church of St. Mark. Photo by Boštjan Burger
Country	Slovenia
Region	Upper Carniola
Municipality	Žirovnica
First mentioned	1247
Population  (2002)
• Total	196

Vrba is one of ten villages in the Žirovnica municipality in the Upper Carniola region of Slovenia.

According to the 2002 census, it has a population of 196.

It is best known as the birthplace of the Slovene poet France Prešeren who also dedicated it the first sonnet of his Sonnets of Unhappiness. The house where he was 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.

Vrba is a typical example of a compact Alpine village with an ancient lime tree in the centre of the village, around which there are still to this day sixteen stones. Elders of the village would traditionally meet under this tree and discuss issues of the common. The village is first mentioned in written sources from 1247. The village church of St Mark lies on the outskirts of the village behind Prešeren's 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. The village and the church of St Mark are also mentioned in one of Prešeren's sonnets.