Spodnji Otok

Spodnji Otok
Spodnji Otok Location in Slovenia
Coordinates: 46°20′44″N 14°13′23″E / 46.34556°N 14.22306°ECoordinates: 46°20′44″N 14°13′23″E / 46.34556°N 14.22306°E
Country	Slovenia
Region	Upper Carniola
Statistical region	Upper Carniola
Municipality	Radovljica
Elevation	494 m (1,621 ft)
Population (2002)
• Total	147
[1]

Spodnji Otok (pronounced [ˈspoːdnji ˈɔːtɔk]) is a village in the Municipality of Radovljica in the Upper Carniola region of Slovenia.

A document from 1326 mentions the village Otok as Werd. Between 1326 and 1331 two members of Polish gentry, Jurij and Nikolaj, moved to the area and Jurij had his mansion in Spodnji Otok. Part of this lineage is mentioned as living in the area during the early period of reign of the Counts of Celje.^[2]

Church

The Saint John the Baptist Church stands on a hill right by the village. In the 15th and 16th centuries during the period of Turkish raids it was a defence post, protected by defensive walls. Legends say that the church bells would start ringing of their own accord when the enemy would approach and scare them away. In remembrance of these raids the bells are still rung every day at eleven o'clock. The church is decorated with frescos from around 1460.^[3] The frescos on the portico painted by Jernej of Loka are largely lost, but the remaining frescos were recently restored and conserved.^[4]

References

1. Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia
2. Linhartovi listi, Občasnik za domoznanstvo in novice Knjižnice A.T.Linharta Radovljica, 11.12.2006, (in Slovene)
3. Radovljica municipal site
4. Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia

External links

• Spodnji Otok at Geopedia