German

Obcina Skofja Loka
Poljanska 2
SI-4220 Skofja Loka
Slovenia

Tel. + 386 64 624 130
Fax + 386 64 624 122

E-mail

The picturesque town of Skofja Loka, located at the confluence of the two Sora rivers and watched over by its imposing castle, attests to the rich and turbulent history of this area. Archaeological discoveries in the region bear witness to pre-Christian settlement. After 796, when the ecclesiastical administration of the Slovene lands south of the Drava river came under the Patriarchate of Aquileia, missionary activities were pursued in the Skofja Loka area. In the second half of the 10th century, when the Magyar invasions came to an end, the oldest original parishes were established, among them that of Loka. A new era began for the settlement in 973, when German Emperor Otto II granted Loka and its surroundings, essentially the territory of the Loka parish, as a feudal estate to the Freising Bishop Abraham. As well as being an ecclesiastical centre, Skofja Loka became an important administrative centre, which encouraged economic and cultural progress in the area. The beginnings of written Slovene are linked with the name of Bishop Abraham. His Latin liturgical book contains three Slovene texts written in worship of God around 980 and based on even older versions. The bishop used them during visits to his possessions in the Slovene lands. These writings, known as the Freising Manuscripts, are the oldest preserved writings in the Slovene language.

In the Late Middle Ages Skofja Loka experienced a flourishing in the crafts. Blacksmiths, shoemakers, tailors, furriers, weavers, painters, butchers, bakers, potters and stove-makers joined together in fellowships and guilds. At the same time there was lively trading in the area: not only was Skofja Loka a strong crafts centre, it was also an important station on the road between the coast and the Carinthian and Bavarian towns, and traders took products made by local craftsmen far into the neighbouring lands. Town walls were erected in the 14th century to provide greater safety. Nevertheless, much suffering was endured in the battles for the Celje heritage in the 15th century; the town was threatened by the Turks, and seriously damaged in an earthquake in 1551 and by several fires.

As well as the imposing castle which stands above the town - today it is a museum and the site of permanent exhibitions and cultural events - many buildings in the town bear witness to a thousand years of religious faith and the cultural and artistic endeavours of the townspeople. The Parish Church of St Jacob, like many succursal churches in the surrounding area, is a superb monument to 15th century Gothic architecture. A nunnery of the Order of St Clare stood directly beneath the castle from 1358. But under the reforms of Joseph II they had to make way for the Ursulines, who ran several schools here right up until the Second World War, making a significant contribution to the education of people in and around Skofja Loka.

There has been a Capuchin monastery in the town since 1707, which has always been primarily devoted to preaching and confession. In 1721 Fr Romuald Marusic wrote skofjeloski pasijon (“Skofja Loka Passion”): this text for the Good Friday procession is the oldest preserved dramatic work in Slovene. The original is kept, together with numerous old books including a number of incunabula, in the Capuchin library, which is one of the town’s important cultural monuments.

Skofja Loka today pleasantly combines a thousand years of tradition with a modern touch. In recent times there has been substantial development of the textile, wood and machine industries, but this has been deliberately kept to the outskirts of the town. This progress has given Skofja Loka a considerable economic importance within the country. Yet despite all the development, the old town centre still offers the authentic image of a thousand-year-old town, and on closer inspection the visitor will encounter numerous sights of interest, now restored to their former brilliance. The visitor will also be attracted to the many works of art in the local churches, the diversity and intactness of the natural surroundings, the rich cultural life and, not least, the warm and friendly service of the local people.