Novo Mesto

Novo Mesto
Novo mesto
Town

Novo Mesto with the Krka River from the air
Nickname(s): City of Situlas
Coordinates: 45°48′N 15°10′E / 45.800°N 15.167°ECoordinates: 45°48′N 15°10′E / 45.800°N 15.167°E
Country Slovenia
Traditional region Lower Carniola
Statistical region Southeast Slovenia
Municipality Novo Mesto
Government
 • Mayor Gregor Macedoni
Area
 • Total 33.3 km2 (12.9 sq mi)
  [1]
Population (2011)
 • Total 23,341
 • Density 700/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
  [1]
Time zone CET (UTC+01)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+02)
Website www.novomesto.si
Source: Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, census of 2002.

Novo Mesto (pronounced [ˈnɔːvɔ ˈmeːstɔ]; Slovene: Novo mesto, German: Neustadtl) is the city on a bend of the Krka River in the City Municipality of Novo Mesto in southeastern Slovenia, close to the border with Croatia. The town is traditionally considered the economic and cultural centre of the historical Lower Carniola region.[2]

Novo Mesto
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
47
 
 
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49
 
 
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12
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4
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source:
Ruodolphswert, engraving by Valvasor, 1689

History

Novo Mesto (literally "New Town") has been settled since pre-history. The city is one of the most important archeological sites of the Hallstatt culture (Early Iron Age) and has been nicknamed the "City of Situlas" after numerous situlas found in the area.[3] Graben Castle down the Krka River, ancestral seat of the noble House of Graben von Stein, was first mentioned in an 1170 deed. The town itself was founded by the Habsburg archduke Rudolf IV of Austria on 7 April 1365 as Rudolfswerth. The Austrian Habsburgs received the Carniolan March from the hands of Emperor Louis IV in 1335 and in 1364 Rudolf "the Founder" proclaimed himself a Duke of Carniola. The name Neustadt was given in the early 15th century.[4]

Until 1918, the town (bilingual name Rudolfswerth - Rudolfovo) was part of the Austrian monarchy (Austria side after the compromise of 1867), head of the district of the same name, one of the 11 Bezirkshauptmannschaften in Carniola province.[5] The name Neustadtl was used before 1867.[6]

Following World War I and the dissolution of Austria-Hungary, the city passed to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and was officially renamed Novo mesto. During World War II the city passed back and forth between Nazi Germany and the Kingdom of Italy, finally settling in German hands.

In 1958, the authorities of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia had a motorway built connecting the Slovenian capital Ljubljana and Zagreb in Croatia, which passed through Novo Mesto. The A2 motorway is today part of the European route E70. With its construction, Novo Mesto became much better connected to the rest of Slovenia and the rest of Yugoslavia, and began to grow as an important regional center.

Demographics

Demographic evolution[7]

1948 1953 1961 1971 1981 1991 2002 2011 2013
6,645 7,526 9,873 14,144 19,741 22,333 22,415 23,341 23,212

Religion

The Chapter Church of St. Nicholas

On 7 April 2006 Novo Mesto became the seat for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Novo Mesto, which is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Ljubljana. The Saint Nicholas' Cathedral, located on the hill above the town, is dedicated to Saint Nicholas and is an originally Gothic building that was rebuilt in the Baroque style in the 17th century. An oil painting of Tintoretto and altar images by Valentin Metzinger are on display in the church.[8]

Economy

A tourist postcard scene from Novo Mesto

Today, tourism is increasing in Slovenia, and Novo Mesto is feeling some of the effects. The Krka Valley is becoming a place for wine enthusiasts who take tours throughout the Lower Carniola region, tasting locally produced Cviček wine, which is produced by blending several different varieties of local wine.

Major industries include:

International relations

Twin towns – Sister cities

Novo Mesto is twinned with:

Notable people

Notable people that were born or lived in Novo Mesto include:

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Data on the selected settlement: Novo Mesto (City Municipality of Novo Mesto)". Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  2. ↑ Novo Mesto municipal site
  3. ↑ "Application for the Title of the European Capital of Culture 2012" (PDF). City Municipality of Maribor. 2008.
  4. ↑ Treasures of Yugoslavia, An encyclopedic touring guide, Belgrade, 1982.
  5. ↑ Die postalischen Abstempelungen auf den österreichischen Postwertzeichen-Ausgaben 1867, 1883 und 1890, Wilhelm KLEIN, 1967
  6. ↑ Handbook of Austria and Lombardy-Venetia Cancellations on the Postage Stamp Issues 1850-1864, by Edwin MUELLER, 1961.
  7. ↑ Popisi prebivalstva 1948-2011 [Population Census 1948-2011, 2003] (in Slovenian). Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia. 2013.
  8. ↑ "494: Novo mesto - Cerkev sv. Nikolaja" [494: Novo Mesto – St. Nicholas' Church]. Register nepremične kulturne dediščine [Registry of Immovable Cultural Heritage] (in Slovenian). Ministry of Culture, Republic of Slovenia. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  9. ↑ "Miasta bliźniacze Torunia" [Toruń's twin towns]. Urząd Miasta Torunia [City of Toruń Council] (in Polish). Retrieved 2013-08-22.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Novo Mesto.