The Municipality of Jezersko (; sl, Občina Jezersko ) is a
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
in northern
Slovenia
Slovenia ( ; sl, Slovenija ), officially the Republic of Slovenia (Slovene: , abbr.: ''RS''), is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the southeast, an ...
. In 1995, Jezersko became part of
Preddvor
Preddvor (; german: Höflein''Leksikon občin kraljestev in dežel zastopanih v državnem zboru,'' vol. 6: ''Kranjsko''. 1906. Vienna: C. Kr. Dvorna in Državna Tiskarna, p. 54.) is a town in Slovenia. It is the seat of the Municipality of Preddvo ...
and became an independent municipality in 1998.
Originally located in the historic region of
Carinthia, it became part of the
Upper Carniola Statistical Region
The Upper Carniola Statistical Region ( sl, Gorenjska statistična regija) is a statistical region in northwest Slovenia. It is a region with high mountains, including Mount Triglav, and is almost entirely Alpine. A large part of this statistical ...
in 2005. The seat of the municipality is the town of
Zgornje Jezersko.
Jezersko is located in the remote
Kokra
The Kokra () is a river of Slovenia. Originating in the Karawanks, the river is long. It flows into the Sava
The Sava (; , ; sr-cyr, Сава, hu, Száva) is a river in Central and Southeast Europe, a right-bank and the longest tributary o ...
Valley in the
Kamnik–Savinja Alps
The Kamnik–Savinja Alps ( sl, Kamniško-Savinjske Alpe) are a mountain range of the Southern Limestone Alps. They lie in northern Slovenia, except for the northernmost part, which lies in Austria.
The western part of the range was named the Ka ...
, south of the
Seeberg Saddle
Seeberg Saddle (german: Seebergsattel, sl, Jezerski vrh), also just Seeberg (''Jezersko'') is a high mountain pass connecting Bad Eisenkappel in the Austrian state of Carinthia with Jezersko in the Slovenian region of Carinthia. It is located in ...
mountain pass and the border with the
Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
n state of
Carinthia.
History
The name of the area derives from a
glacial lake near the settlement of Zgornje Jezersko that started to disappear after an earthquake in 1348. However, it was still described by
Johann Weikhard von Valvasor
Johann Weikhard Freiherr von Valvasor or Johann Weichard Freiherr von Valvasor ( sl, Janez Vajkard Valvasor, ) or simply Valvasor (baptised on 28 May 1641 – September or October 1693) was a natural historian and polymath from Carniola, pr ...
in 1689 as a large lake.
It gave the area its German name ''Seeland'' (literally "lake land", first recorded as ''Seelant'' in 1496), and its Slovene equivalent , which came into use at the end of the 19th century. A document from 1391 mentions the church of "St. Oswald by the Lake" (''Sv. Ožbolt pri Jezeru'').
The remote village was part of the
Duchy of Carinthia until 1919, administratively linked to
Eisenkappel in the north; however, the residents did not consider themselves "true" Carinthians.
It was therefore the only settlement already ceded by the Carinthian
Landtag
A Landtag (State Diet) is generally the legislative assembly or parliament of a federated state or other subnational self-governing entity in German-speaking nations. It is usually a unicameral assembly exercising legislative competence in non ...
assembly to the newly established
State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs
The State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs ( sh, Država Slovenaca, Hrvata i Srba / ; sl, Država Slovencev, Hrvatov in Srbov) was a political entity that was constituted in October 1918, at the end of World War I, by Slovenes, Croats and Serbs ( ...
, before it was officially adjudicated together with the
Meža
The Meža ( Slovene) or Mieß (German; ) is a river in the Austrian state of Carinthia and in Slovenia, a right tributary of the Drava. It is long, of which are in Slovenia. Its catchment area is , of which in Slovenia.
Name
The Meža River w ...
Valley and
Dravograd
Dravograd (; german: Unterdrauburg) is a small town in northern Slovenia, close to the border with Austria.
It is the seat of the Municipality of Dravograd. It lies on the Drava River at the confluence with the Meža and the Mislinja. It i ...
to the
Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes
Kingdom commonly refers to:
* A monarchy ruled by a king or queen
* Kingdom (biology), a category in biological taxonomy
Kingdom may also refer to:
Arts and media Television
* ''Kingdom'' (British TV series), a 2007 British television drama s ...
by the 1919
Treaty of Saint-Germain
A treaty is a formal, legally binding written agreement between actors in international law. It is usually made by and between sovereign states, but can include international organizations, individuals, business entities, and other legal pers ...
.
Settlements
In addition to the municipal seat of Zgornje Jezersko, the municipality also includes the settlement of
Spodnje Jezersko
Spodnje Jezersko (; literally, 'Lower Jezersko') is a settlement in the Municipality of Jezersko in Slovenia
Slovenia ( ; sl, Slovenija ), officially the Republic of Slovenia (Slovene: , abbr.: ''RS''), is a country in Central Europe. It ...
.
Economy
Agriculture
The main activities that locals engage in are
tourism
Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours. The World Tourism Organization defines tourism mor ...
,
cattle breeding, and
forestry
Forestry is the science and craft of creating, managing, planting, using, conserving and repairing forests, woodlands, and associated resources for human and environmental benefits. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands. ...
. Cattle breeding is extensive in Jezersko, both by private farms and larger corporations. Jezersko is also the place of the origin of the breed of sheep known as the
Jezersko–Solčava sheep. A sheep festival called the Sheep Dance () is held annually in mid-August.
Tourism
Jezersko has a long tourist tradition. There is a 3-star hotel in Jezersko as well as private accommodation in self-catering units at vacation farms. The location of the village offers exceptional views of the surrounding mountains, and it is a starting point for mountain
hiking
Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...
routes to Grintovec, Mount
Kočna
Kočna at high, is the second-highest mountain in the Kamnik–Savinja Alps and the westernmost peak of the Grintovec Range ( sl, Grintovci). Its prominent and easily recognized peak is visible from far around. The mountain has two peaks: the high ...
, and Big Peak (). The Kranj Lodge at Ledine () and the Czech Lodge at Spodnje Ravni ()
mountain hut
A mountain hut is a building located high in the mountains, generally accessible only by foot, intended to provide food and shelter to mountaineers, climbers and hikers. Mountain huts are usually operated by an Alpine Club or some organization ...
s are well known to mountain hikers.
Slovenian Tourist Board
/ref> Lake Planšar () in Zgornje Jezersko is an artificial lake created after World War II. In winter skiing is also possible.
References
External links
*
Municipality of Jezersko on Geopedia
Jezersko municipal site
{{Authority control
Jezersko
1998 establishments in Slovenia