Zgornja Besnica, Kranj

Coordinates: 46°15′33.13″N 14°15′53.67″E / 46.2592028°N 14.2649083°E / 46.2592028; 14.2649083
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Zgornja Besnica
Zgornja Besnica is located in Slovenia
Zgornja Besnica
Zgornja Besnica
Location in Slovenia
Coordinates: 46°15′33.13″N 14°15′53.67″E / 46.2592028°N 14.2649083°E / 46.2592028; 14.2649083
Country Slovenia
Traditional regionUpper Carniola
Statistical regionUpper Carniola
MunicipalityKranj
Area
 • Total16.86 km2 (6.51 sq mi)
Elevation
508.8 m (1,669.3 ft)
Population
 (2002)
 • Total651
[1]

Zgornja Besnica (pronounced [ˈzɡoːɾnja ˈbeːsnitsa]; German: Oberweßnitz[2]) is a village in the Municipality of Kranj in the Upper Carniola region of Slovenia.[3]

Geography[edit]

Zgornja Besnica is a scattered village on partially wooded terraced terrain below the eastern slope of Rovnik Hill (707 meters or 2,320 feet). It includes the hamlets of Brše, Čepulje, Dvor, Klinar, Nova Vas, Podrovnik, and Videm. It is connected by road to Kranj to the southeast and Nemilje to the west. The Lucenk Woods stands south of the village, and there is a trail to the north to Šum Falls on Nemiljščica Creek, located just beyond the village's territory in Poljšica pri Podnartu. Bidovec Cave (Bidovčeva luknja), with a length of 130 meters (430 ft), lies to the west, below the summit of Rovnik Hill. Other caves in the area include Brjevšca Cave, Grlovec Cave, and Podskokar Cave (Podskokarjeva jama).[4]

Name[edit]

The name Zgornja Besnica means 'upper Besnica', contrasting with Spodnja Besnica 'lower Besnica', which lies 79 meters (259 ft) lower in elevation. The two villages were attested in historical documents as Vessnitz in 1421, referring to the stream of the same name.[5] The name Besnica is originally a hydronym that was later applied to the settlement along Besnica Creek, a tributary of the Sava. The name is derived from the Slavic adjective *běsьnъ 'rushing, swift', referring the character of the stream.[6]

Church[edit]

The parish church in the settlement is dedicated to Saint Giles.[7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia Archived November 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Leksikon občin kraljestev in dežel zastopanih v državnem zboru, vol. 6: Kranjsko. 1906. Vienna: C. Kr. Dvorna in Državna Tiskarna, p. 56.
  3. ^ Kranj municipal site
  4. ^ Savnik, Roman (1968). Krajevni leksikon Slovenije, vol. 1. Ljubljana: Državna založba Slovenije. p. 172.
  5. ^ "Besnica". Slovenska historična topografija. ZRC SAZU Zgodovinski inštitut Milka Kosa. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  6. ^ Snoj, Marko (2009). Etimološki slovar slovenskih zemljepisnih imen. Ljubljana: Modrijan. p. 58.
  7. ^ Družina RC Church in Slovenia site

External links[edit]