KOSTANJEVICA NA KRKI ALI »DOLENJSKE BENETKE« - EDINO SLOVENSKO MESTO NA REČNEM OTOKU
TOWN OF KOSTANJEVICA NA KRKI AKA »VENICE OF LOWER CARNIOLA« - THE ONLY SL OVENIAN TOWN ON AN ARTIFICAL RIVER ISLAND

Summary/Abstract: The only Slovenian town on an artifical river island (locally known as ‘ada’, or ‘ait’) - Kostanjevica na Krki - is one of the oldest urban settlements in Slovenia; also, the only settlement with a formal status of a town, that has never been walled in. Despite various dangers and threats on the outpost borders of the Empire, it has always enjoyed sufficient protection thanks to its microlocation. This is why all building plans from the Early Middle Ages, to build fortifications, remained untouched. The main function of the river indeed was defense of the settlement and its inhabitants, with very little value in river traffic; up to a point, the only other use it had was fishing and watermills. In historical sources, the river Krka was more frequently mentioned as a negative factor; to the present day, it has been known for its adverse effects and frequent flooding. Particularly harmful effects were produced in the period from the late 17th until the early 19th century, with significant erosion of the river banks, reshaping and cutting down the island itself.

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