Cerknica Multi-Cache

Cerknica 1967

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Opis

Cerknica je mesto na Notranjskem, ki leži na severnem robu Cerkniškega polja, ob ustju doline reke Cerkniščice, pod Gradiščem (858 m), ki je zahodni pomol Slivnice (1114 m). Cerknica je središče istoimenske občine. Staro cerkniško mestno jedro se imenuje Tabor in je vrh nizke vzpetine. Gre za enega najbolje ohranjenih ostankov protiturških taborov v Sloveniji. V njem so se med turškimi vpadi v srednjem veku skrivali bližnji prebivalci. Novejši del naselja se širi ob njegovem vznožju po prodnem vršaju Cerkniščice na osamelec Sinjo gorico ter na Peščenk pod Gradiščem.

Na kraškem polju prevladujejo občasno poplavljeni travniki, njive so le na vršaju Cerkniščice. Pod cesto proti Martinjaku so na robu polja veliki dvojni kozolci. Južno od Cerknice je na dnu kraškega polja presihajoče Cerkniško jezero. Njegova gladina niha med 546 in 552 m nadmorske višine. Kadar je polno, je jezero s 26 km² površine največje v Sloveniji.

V Cerknici je izhodišče poti na Slivnico, kjer je pod vrhom oskrbovana planinska koča. Pašniki na Slivnici se zaradi postopnega pogozdovanja in zaraščanja močno krčijo. Slivnica je po ljudski pripovedki domovanje čarovnic, sicer pa razgledna točka na Cerkniško polje in okoliške kraške planote. Tik pod vrhom je Coprniška jama (tu je skrit zaklad GC14WMJ), iz katere se pozimi dviga topel vlažen zrak. Vlaga se kondenzira v meglo, kar je pripomoglo k nastanku legende o tem, da v jami bivajo coprnice. Ni čudno, da so coprnice osrednji liki vsakoletnega tradicionalnega pustnega karnevala, po katerem je Cerknica tudi znana.

V Cerknici so se rodili skladatelj Fran Gerbič, psihiater Alfred Šerko , slikar Marko Šuštaršič in pesnik Jože Udovič.

Zgodovina

Sledovi prazgodovinske poselitve so bili najdeni na območju Slivnice, kjer so na Gradišču (858 m) so odkrili ostanke suhega zidu. Najdbe kovancev dokazujejo obstoj naselbine tudi v rimski dobi. Železnodobne najdbe so bile izkopane pri župnijski cerkvi. V antiki se je prebivalstvo naselilo v ravninskem delu ob cesti Emona-Tarsatica. V bližini pokopališča so bile odkrite rimske najdbe iz 1. in 2. stoletja.

Večje rimsko gradišče je bilo na vzpetini Sinja gorica. Arheološka izkopavanja so pokazala obstoj večjega števila žganih grobov iz 1. in 2. stoletja, ki so bili obloženi z opeko ali kamnitimi ploščami. Med grobnimi pridatki prevladujejo keramični in stekleni izdelki. Med kovinskimi predmeti je bilo največ železnih ukrivljenih nožev z koščenimi ročaji. Antična naselbina je bila ob sedanji župnijski cerkvi, ob kateri so odkrili tudi slovanske grobove iz 10. in 11. stoletja in ostanke objekta, ki naj bi predstavljal sakralno stavbo iz 9. stoletja. Čeprav se cerkev prvič omenja leta 1265, je nastanek pražupnije moč postaviti v čas po letu 1040, ko je območje spadalo k oglejskemu patriarhu. Leta 1296 je bila Cerknica ena od treh oglejskih župnij »na Krasu«. Leta 1395 jo je oglejski patriarh podelil kartuzijanskemu samostanu v Bistri, pozneje pa je bila last rodbine Haasberg s Planine.

V srednjem veku sta bili pomembni obrt in trgovina s soljo, ki so jo tovorili iz Primorja po tovorni poti prek Loža ter Menišije proti Ljubljani. Tovorjenje soli  in njegova pomembnost sta slikovito prikazana v Levstikovi pripovedki o Martinu Krpanu, ki naj bi v resnici živel v teh krajih.

V 18. stoletju zgrajena cesta Vrhnika-Postojna in leta 1857 odprta železniška proga Ljubljana-Trst sta Cerknico obšli, zato je začela počasi razvojno nazadovati. Poleg kmetijstva so bili obsežni gozdovi v zaledju ter vodna energija Cerkniščice osnova za žagarstvo in lesno trgovino. Na tej osnovi je po drugi svetovni vojni nastala tovarna pohištva Brest, eno največjih tovrstnih podjetij v nekdanji Jugoslaviji.

V mestu je ohranjenih nekaj klasicističnih in secesijskih stavb. Dobro so ohranjeni tudi ostanki nekdanjega protiturškega tabora, od katerega stojita še dva stolpa in precej obzidja. Na levem obrambnem stolpu je vzidana spominska plošča pesniku in pripovedniku Jožetu Udoviču, ki se je rodil  v njem. Na severni strani taborskega obzidja je s spominsko ploščo obeležena rojstna hiša skladatelja in pevca Frana Gerbiča.

Zahodno od kraja so vidne ruševine gradu Loško. Prvotno je bil last plemiške družine Palmburg, nekaj časa so ga imeli Auerspergi, od sredine 17. stoletja je bil last kartuzijanskega samostana v Bistri, po njegovi ukinitvi pa ga je na dražbi kupila družina Gale. Grad je propadal vse do 2. svetovne vojne, ko so ga italijanski okupatorji porušili.

Sakralna dediščina

Župnijska cerkev Marijinega rojstva na Taboru je nastala v dveh gradbenih fazah. Graditi so jo začeli okoli leta 1480 (prezbiterij, zakristija, ladijska lupina in zvonik), dokončali pa v letih 1513-1520, ko so obokali ladjo. Gre za poznogotsko triladijsko dvoransko cerkev, ki se na podlagi stavbnega tipa uvršča v krog kranjsko-škofjeloške arhitekture. Notranjščina prezbiterija je obokana zvezdasto-rombasto, obok ladje pa prekrivajo osemrogeljne zvezde. Poudarek obokanja je na osrednji zvezdi. V 17. in 18. stoletju je bila cerkev barokizirana in dopolnjena s stransko kapelo. Na južni ladijski steni je napisna plošča, ki sporoča, da so staro cerkev leta 1472 požgali Turki. Glavni portal je iz leta 1825. Visoka šilasta okna s kogovičjem so iz časa regotizacije v 19. stoletju. Oprema v cerkvi je neogotska iz druge polovice 19. stoletja. Glavni oltar iz leta 1863 je izdelan v poznobaročnem slogu, oltarna slika pa je delo slikarja Lojzeta Perka. Orgle na koru so največji ohranjeni inštrument ljubljanskega orglarja J.G.Kunata iz leta 1820. Okoli cerkve se je ob koncu 15. in v 16. stoletju izoblikoval eden največjih protiturških taborov na Slovenskem. Od petih obrambnih stolpov sta ohranjena dva.

V času kuge so mrliče pokopavali na Kamni gorici, kjer je bila v ta namen leta 1476 zgrajena podružnična cerkev svetega Roka. Cerkev so zaradi zaporednih epidemij kuge povečali v drugi polovici 17. stoletja. V glavnem oltarju je ohranjena slika sv. Boštjana in Roka z Materjo božjo, ki je podpisano in datirano delo baročnega slikarja Antona Cebeja iz leta 1763.

Podružnična cerkev svetega Janeza Krstnika, ki stoji na pokopališču, je arhitekturno posebna varianta zapoznele gotike, kjer se prepletajo severni in južni stilni vplivi. Na portalu v zvonici je vklesana letnica 1642.

Dostop

Do Cerknice je najlaže priti po avtocesti Ljubljana – Koper, kjer se na izvozu Unec obrnemo proti vzhodu. Možnosti za parkiranje je v mestu veliko, za iskanje tega zaklada pa priporočamo, da avto pustite na parkirišču ob blagovnici v centru (točka CKN PARK). Od tam vas bo iskanje zaklada vodilo po središču mesta, uspešna najdba pa vas bo pripeljala malo dlje od centra, a še vedno dovolj blizu za pešačenje.

Zaklad

Zaklad je majhna okrogla škatlica. V njej je le knjižica vpisov, zato prinesite svinčnik s seboj.

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Description

Cerknica is a town in the Notranjska region of Slovenia. It lies on the northern edge of Cerknica field on both sides of the Cerkniščica River, under Gradišče hill (858 m), which is the western pier of Slivnica (1114 m). Cerknica is the center of the Cerknica municipality. Its old town is called Tabor and is on the summit of a low hill. This is one of the best preserved remains of anti-Turkish defense fortifications in Slovenia. Behind its walls nearby residents were hiding during the Turkish military campaigns in the Middle Ages.

The karst field south of Cerknica is dominated by periodically flooded meadows; fertile fields are on its north part. Below the road to Martinjak on the edge of a field large double hay racks can be found. South of Cerknica is the intermittent Lake Cerknica. Its water level varies from 546 to 552 m above sea level. When full, the lake is 26 km ² in size which makes it the largest in Slovenia.

Cerknica is a starting point for hikes to Slivnica, where a mountain hut is located. Pastures on Slivnica are rapidly disappearing due to reforestation and overgrowth. According to a popular tale Slivnica is home to witches, while in reality it is an excellent viewpoint over Cerknica field and the surrounding karst plateau. Just below the summit is the Witches' lair (cache GC14WMJ is hidden there), from which warm moist air rises in winter. Moisture condenses into fog, which probably contributed to the creation of legends about the witches residing in the cave. No wonder that witches are the central characters at traditional annual carnival, for which Cerknica is also well known.

Composer Fran Gerbič, psychiatrist Alfred Šerko, painter Marko Šuštaršič and poet Jože Udovič were all born in Cerknica.

History

Traces of prehistoric settlements have been found in the Slivnica area where on Gradišče (858 m) remains of a dry wall have been discovered. Finds of coins show the existence of settlements in the Roman era. Iron Age finds were excavated at the parish church. In the Antiquity era, the population settled in the flat part by the road Emona-Tarsatica. Near the cemetery Roman remains from the 1st and 2nd century were discovered.

Major Roman fort was on the Sinja gorica hill. Archaeological excavations have revealed the existence of a large number of gravesites from the 1st and 2nd century, which were lined with brick or stone slabs. Among the grave goods dominate ceramics and glassware. Among the metal objects, iron curved knives with bone handles were most common. Antique settlement was where the parish church is now. There Slavic graves from the 10th and 11th century were discovered, together with the remains of the building, which was probably a sacred building from the 9th century. Although the church was first mentioned in 1265, the formation of a parish can be dated to the period after 1040, when the area belonged to the patriarch of Aquileia. In 1296, Cerknica was one of three Aquileia parishes "in the Karst." In 1395, the patriarch gave Cerknica parish to the Carthusian monastery in Bistra, and later it was owned by the Haasberg family from Planina.

In the Middle Ages the most important economic activities were crafts and trade in salt, which was transported from the coast along the freight route through Lož and Menišija towards Ljubljana. Transporting salt and its relevance to people in the area are pictured in Fran Levstik’s picturesque story about Martin Krpan, who has supposedly lived in this area.

Both the road Vrhnika-Postojna, built in the 18th century, and the railway line Ljubljana-Trieste, which opened in 1857, bypassed Cerknica and it slowly began to regress economically. Main sources of livelihood were agriculture, sawmilling and timber trade, made possible by extensive forests around Cerknica and sufficient hydropower provided by the Cerkniščica River. After WWII this led to foundation of the Brest furniture factory, one of the largest companies of its kind in the former Yugoslavia.

In the town a few classicist and Art Nouveau buildings were preserved. Also well preserved are remains of the former anti-Turkish fortification, of which two towers and a large portion of the wall still stand. On the left defense tower there's a memorial plaque in memory of poet Jože Udovič, who was born in it. On the north side of the fortification there's a house with a plaque marking the birthplace of composer and singer Fran Gerbič.

West of Cerknica lie ruins of the Loško castle. Originally it was owned by the Palmburg family, then by the Auersperg family and from the mid-17th century by the Carthusian monastery in Bistra. After the monastery was closed the castle was bought at auction by the Gale family. The castle was decaying slowly until the WW II, when the Italian occupation forces demolished it.

Sacral heritage

Parish Church of the Nativity of Mary at Tabor was built in two phases. Its construction began around the year 1480 (the presbytery, vestry, belfry and nave shell) and was completed in the years 1513-1520 when the nave was arched. This is a late Gothic three-nave hall church, built in the tradition of architecture originating around Kranj and Škofja Loka. In the 17th and 18th century, the church was baroqueized and supplemented with a side chapel. On the south wall of the nave there’s an inscription plate telling that the old church was burned down in 1472 by the Turks. Main entrance is from 1825. Equipment in this neo-Gothic church originates from the second half of the 19th century. The main altar from 1863 is made in the late Baroque style; altarpiece is a work of the local painter Lojze Perko. The organ in the choir, made in 1820, is the largest preserved instrument of Ljubljana organ maker J.G. Kunat. In the late 15th and in the 16th century one of the largest anti-Turkish fortifications in Slovenia was built around the church. Of the five defense towers two are still standing today.

During the plague epidemics in the Middle Ages the dead were buried in the Kamna Gorica area, where in 1476 the branch church of St.Rok was built. As a result of successive epidemics of plague the church was expanded in the second half of the 17th century.

Branch church of Saint John the Baptist, which stands in the cemetery is an example of a late Gothic architecture, showing a combined influence of northern and southern style. Carving on the portal shows that this church was built in 1642.

Access

The easiest way to come to Cerknica is to use the Ljubljana-Koper highway, leave it at the exit Unec and then turn east. There’s a lot of parking options in the town, but for this cache hunt we recommend that you leave your car on the parking lot at a department store in the town center (waypoint CKN PARK). From there you will be able to walk from stage to stage and to the final location.

Cache

Cache is a small round box. BYOP.

Cache is hidden in a location, where you can be seen by some uninvited eye. One should be careful not to raise any unnecessary attention and remain as stealthy as possible. Hide the cache well afterwards to prevent muggles finding it.

Here’s how you can find this cache:

1.       The first stage (waypoint CKN1) will bring you in front of the Cerknica cultural center. The building was built at the beginning of the 20th century and was completely renovated a few years ago. Outside the building is a monument to Martin Krpan, who carries a mare, together with bags of salt. If you stand at the coordinates, watching Martin Krpan in the face, you will see a few words carved on the pedestal of the statue. How many letters in total are there on the front side of the base? Disregard spaces.

A = number of letters on the front of the base (no spaces)

2.       In the second stage, which ends at waypoint CKN2, you will come to one of the two towers of the former fortification. A memorial plaque in front of which you stand, says that poet Jože Udovič was born in the building. As a curiosity, just the opposite of this building, on the other side of the main town square (called “Plac”), there is a municipal library named after the poet. Count the number of windows from top to bottom on the side of the building where you stand. Count only the normal windows, not shop windows.

B = number of (ordinary) windows on the side of the building, where the memorial plaque is

3.       For the next stage go through the yard of the parish church to the place indicated by waypoint CKN3. You'll notice a plaque that marks the birthplace of composer Fran Gerbič. What year was the plaque built in?

C = year of installing the memorial plaque on the birthplace of Fran Gerbič

4.       The fourth stage (waypoint CKN4) brings you to the building which is today a music school named after Fran Gerbič, and was built in 1862 as a public school. Due to lack of space it was later extended with an additional floor. The year of the expansion is engraved above the entrance. What year is this?

D = the year above the entrance of the music school

5.       Waypoint CKN5 is at the monument dedicated to the partisans that died in the WW II. It was erected in 1952 in the center of Cerknica. On it are written the names and surnames of dead partisans from Cerknica and surrounding villages. Count how many among them have the surname of Logar.

E = the number of fallen soldiers with the surname of Logar, that are recorded on the monument

6.       The last stage (waypoint CKN6) will have you cross the bridge over the Cerkniščica River and walk to the Šerko’s house. This house was built as part of the estate of a rich local family, whose most famous member was a psychiatrist and one of the first professors at the University of Ljubljana, Alfred Šerko. Later there were offices and data center of the Brest factory in it. Today the building belongs to the Cerknica notary. What is the house number on this building?

F = house number on the building, before which you stand

The sum of all six unknowns, i.e.  A + B + C + D + E + F = 3899.

7.       Now calculate the final location of the cache as follows: