| Hotavlje | |
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Hotavlje
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Slovenia |
| Region | Upper Carniola |
| Municipality | Gorenja vas-Poljane |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.14 km2 (1.6 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 445.2 m (1,461 ft) |
| Population (2002) | |
| • Total | 353 |
| [1] | |
Hotavlje is a village in the Poljanska Sora valley in the Gorenja vas - Poljane Municipality in the Upper Carniola region of Slovenia.[2]
The local church is dedicated to Saint Laurence. It is first mentioned in visitation records of the Counts of Gorizia dating to 1520, but its angled apse indicates a gothic origin. The simple rectangular nave dates to around 1705. The befry was built in 1630 and heightened in 1718. The main altar, dedicated to Saint Laurence and the side altars dedicated to Saint Roch and Saint Clement, as well as the depictions of the Stations of the Cross, are from the late 18th century.[3]
Hotavlje is best known for its stone quarries. Cordevol limestone, also called Hotavlje marble, is a greyish-pink and red colour mineral. It has an attractive mottled image with irregular patches of grey, opaque yellow or scarlet dolomite in small rhomboid crystals, white and coloured calcite veins and several remnants of fossilised algae. Its colour and high shine of polished surface make it a popular material and it was traditionally used in buildings in the area. It is exploited by the local company Marmor Hotavlje which employs 150 workers and has over the years developed into one of Slovenia's leading stone-cutting companies, exploiting the local quarries to the north of the settlement as well as travertine and tuff quarries in Jezersko and limestone breccia in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The marble is also used for restoration work in listed buildings. The true replica of the Robba fountain in the main town square in Ljubljana was made by the company and it supplied cut and carved marble to projects abroad such as the Cathedral of Saint Sava in Belgrade.[4]