Bezuljak (, german: Wesulak''Leksikon občin kraljestev in dežel zastopanih v državnem zboru,'' vol. 6: ''Kranjsko''. 1906. Vienna: C. Kr. Dvorna in Državna Tiskarna, p. 120.) is a village north of

Begunje pri Cerknici Begunje pri Cerknici (; german: Wigaun''Leksikon občin kraljestev in dežel zastopanih v državnem zboru,'' vol. 6: ''Kranjsko''. 1906. Vienna: C. Kr. Dvorna in Državna Tiskarna, p. 120.) is a settlement north of Cerknica in the Inner Carniola re ...

in the Municipality of Cerknica in the Inner Carniola region of Slovenia.

Name

Bezuljak was attested in written records as ''Holaer'' in 1260, ''Oleren'' in 1261, and ''Holleren'' in 1321, among other spellings. The name ''Bezuljak'' is derived from the Slavic common noun ''*bъzъ'' '

elder An elder is someone with a degree of seniority or authority. Elder or elders may refer to: Positions Administrative * Elder (administrative title), a position of authority Cultural * North American Indigenous elder, a person who has and tr ...

', thus originally referring to the vegetation. Similar names based on the same root are common in Slovenian ethnic territory (e.g., '' Basovizza'' in Italy and '' Bezgovica'') as well as in other Slavic areas (e.g., '' Bazje'' in Croatia, '' Bzová'' in the Czech Republic, etc.). Some other suggested explanations of the name are connected with pasturing, Ottoman attacks, or geographical features.

History

Bezuljak was mentioned as early as the second half of the 13th century as a property of the Carthusian monastery at Bistra. During the Second World War, the Partisans attacked an Italian post in the village on the night of 19 October 1941.

Mass grave

Bezuljak is the site of a mass grave associated with the Second World War. The Matevž Shaft Mass Grave ( sl, Grobišče Matevževo brezno) lies northwest of the village, in the Ravnik Valley, in an overgrown area with many sinkholes. It contains the remains of an unknown number of victims at a depth of two meters.

Church

The local church in the settlement is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary and belongs to the Parish of Begunje pri Cerknici.

Notable people

Notable people that were born or lived in Bezuljak include: *

Alojz Anton Popek Alojz is a given name. Notable people with the name include: * Alojz Ajdič (born 1939), Slovenian composer, author of many orchestral works * Alojz Fandel, former Slovak football player and coach * Alojz Geržinič (1915–2008), Slovenian compose ...

(a.k.a. Vandek) (1920–1943), Partisan and People's Hero of Yugoslavia"Slovo od narodnega heroja Vandka." 1969. ''Brestov obzornik'' 3(20) (31 May): 7.

References

External links

*
Bezuljak on Geopedia
{{Cerknica Populated places in the Municipality of Cerknica