Grgar (pronounced [ˈɡəɾɡaɾ]; Italian: Gargaro) is a village in western Slovenia in the Municipality of Nova Gorica.[2] It is located under Holy Mount (Slovene: Sveta gora), above the Soča Valley and below the Banjšice Plateau.

Grgar
Grgar is located in Slovenia
Grgar
Grgar
Location in Slovenia
Coordinates: 46°0′2.6″N 13°40′7.48″E / 46.000722°N 13.6687444°E / 46.000722; 13.6687444
Country Slovenia
Traditional regionSlovenian Littoral
Statistical regionGorizia
MunicipalityNova Gorica
Area
 • Total
16.87 km2 (6.51 sq mi)
Elevation
297.4 m (975.7 ft)
Population
 (2015)
 • Total
813
[1]

Name

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Grgar was mentioned in written sources c. 1370 as Gaergaer and in 1389 as Grêgôr. For phonological and morphological reasons, the latter transcription appears to be a hypercorrection and not connected with Saint Gregory or the name Gregor 'Gregory'. Instead, the name may be derived from another Romance base, perhaps *gregārius 'shepherd'.[3]

Mass graves

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Grgar is the site of two known mass graves associated with the Second World War. The Podgomila Shaft Mass Grave (Slovene: Grobišče Brezno Podgomila), also known as the Miljavec Shaft Mass Grave (Grobišče Miljavčev brezen), is located on the left side of the road to Grgarske Ravne, about 1 kilometer (0.62 mi) north of Grgar. It contains the remains of Home Guard and Italian prisoners of war, and Slovene and Italian civilians murdered in May 1945.[4] The Jošč Shaft Mass Grave (Grobišče Joščevo brezno) is located on the left side of the road to Grgarske Ravne, about 1 kilometer (0.62 mi) north of Grgar. It contains the remains of unknown victims.[5][6]

Church

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The parish church in the settlement is dedicated to Saint Martin and belongs to the Diocese of Koper.[7]

Notable people

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Notable people that were born or lived in Grgar include:

  • Matej Bor, pen name of Vladimir Pavšič (1913–1993), poet

References

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  1. ^ Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia
  2. ^ Nova Gorica municipal site
  3. ^ Snoj, Marko (2009). Etimološki slovar slovenskih zemljepisnih imen. Ljubljana: Modrijan. p. 153.
  4. ^ Ferenc, Mitja (December 2009). "Grobišče Brezno Podgomila". Geopedia (in Slovenian). Ljubljana: Služba za vojna grobišča, Ministrstvo za delo, družino in socialne zadeve. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  5. ^ Ferenc, Mitja (December 2009). "Grobišče Joščevo brezno". Geopedia (in Slovenian). Ljubljana: Služba za vojna grobišča, Ministrstvo za delo, družino in socialne zadeve. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  6. ^ Marušič, Lanko. "Jamski objekti v Grgarju." (in Slovene)
  7. ^ Roman Catholic Diocese of Koper List of Churches May 2008 Archived 2009-03-06 at the Wayback Machine
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