Pokojišče (pronounced [pɔkɔˈjiːʃtʃɛ]) is a small village in the Municipality of Vrhnika in the Inner Carniola region of Slovenia.[2]

Pokojišče
Pokojišče is located in Slovenia
Pokojišče
Pokojišče
Location in Slovenia
Coordinates: 45°53′38.06″N 14°21′19.99″E / 45.8939056°N 14.3555528°E / 45.8939056; 14.3555528
Country Slovenia
Traditional regionInner Carniola
Statistical regionCentral Slovenia
MunicipalityVrhnika
Area
 • Total3 km2 (1 sq mi)
Elevation
728.7 m (2,390.7 ft)
Population
 (2014)
 • Total14
[1]

Geography

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Pokojišče lies on the karst Menišija Plateau at a point where various routes intersect to Verd, Laze pri Borovnici, Padež, and Cerknica. The land is heavily karstified and there are several caves in the area, including the Cukala Shaft (Cukalovo brezno, 80 meters or 260 feet deep), Kobi Shaft (Kobijevo brezno, 50 meters or 160 feet deep), and Pizdica Shaft (70 meters or 230 feet deep).[3]

Name

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Pokojišče was mentioned in written sources in 1763–87 as Pokoinik. The name of the village comes from the common noun pokojišče 'resting place' and refers to the physical location of the village at a level point along the route between Borovnica and the Menišija Plateau, which offered a place for rest during the ascent.[4]

History

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Plaque commemorating Wolfgang Markowitsch

A transport route to Cerknica already passed through Pokojišče in the distant past, traversing land owned by the monastery in Bistra. A house in the village with the oeconym Colnar (literally, 'toll collector') is reminiscent of the route, and a plaque bearing the coat of arms of the 17th-century provincial clerk Wolfgang Markowitsch is built into the structure. During the Second World War, on September 26, 1942, Italian forces burned all but the largest house in the village.[3] In June 2010, part of the settlement of Dobec in the Municipality of Cerknica merged with Pokojišče, which increased its area by 1 square kilometer (0.39 sq mi).

Mass grave

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The Cukala Shaft Mass Grave (Grobišče Cukalovo brezno) is located about 2 kilometers (1.2 mi) west of the village. It contains the remains of undetermined victims; spelunkers found a human skull in the cave.[5][6]

Church

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Saint Stephen's Church

The local church in the settlement is dedicated to Saint Stephen and belongs to the Parish of Borovnica.[7] It dates from the beginning of the 17th century.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia
  2. ^ Vrhnika municipal site
  3. ^ a b c Savnik, Roman (1968). Krajevni leksikon Slovenije, vol. 1. Ljubljana: Državna založba Slovenije. p. 451.
  4. ^ Snoj, Marko (2009). Etimološki slovar slovenskih zemljepisnih imen. Ljubljana: Modrijan. p. 317.
  5. ^ Ferenc, Mitja (December 2009). "Grobišče Cukalovo brezno". Geopedia (in Slovenian). Ljubljana: Služba za vojna grobišča, Ministrstvo za delo, družino in socialne zadeve. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  6. ^ Debevec, Damjan (December 9, 2013). "Smeti čez človeške ostanke". Občina Vrhnika - MojaObčina.si. PriMS. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  7. ^ Družina RC Church in Slovenia Journal website
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