Prevalje

Municipality_of_Slovenia|nativename=Prevalje
coat=
location=
District=Slovenj Gradec
Historic Region=Koroška
area=58.1 km²
population=6643
males=3296
females=3347
Mayor=Matic Tasič
avg_age=39,9 years
residental_density=27.58 m²/person
households=2818
families=1763
workers=3459
unemployed=341
salary_date=August 2003
avg_salary_bruto=
avg_salary_neto=
students=237
Webpage=www.prevalje.si

Prevalje (German language] : "Prävali") is a municipality in Slovenia. It lies in the valley of river Meža in Koroška, Carinthia. On the 1st January, 1999 Prevalje became the independent municipality. Other big municipalities of the region are Ravne na Koroškem (in German Gutenstein - principal place of the Meža valley), Črna na Koroškem (in German Schwarzenbach) and Mežica (in German Mießdorf). Prevalje lies with a valley widening where the Meža (River) from a valley narrowness flow into a spacious scenery full with fluvioglazialen sediments. In the North the western runners of the Strojna, Stražišče und Dolga Brda limit the settlement core and in the South the Navrski vrh (605 m) and Riflov vrh (726 m).

The historical settlement core is on the left shore of the Meža, in the north edge of the valley ground, in the district „Na Fari“ (in German Pfarrdorf) with the parish church Marija na jezeru (in German Maria am See). The second historical centre of the place lies with the mouth of the Leški potok (in German Liescha-Bach) in the Meža. Here stood beginning of 18. Cent. the first industrial companies which laid the foundation-stone for the quick economic and spatial development of the place. The area forms the today's centre of the vast place around the high street Dravograd - Mežica - Črna na Koroškem.

The area of the today's Prevalje was already settled in early time. Of it interesting findings, e.g., a bronze ax, and rests of a „hallstatt“ timely settlement testify. In 1860 were found in the riverbed below the today's cellulose and cardboard factory of Paloma in Zagrad around 50 Roman marble slabs. The stones belonged to a bigger antique tomb in Romanian Street Celeia - Virunum. Few metres away, at the Pub Brančurnik, a Roman sarcophagus - „Brančurnikova klop“ - to see. The oldest written spring about the parish church Marija jezeru comes from 1335, but the church is much older. Eastern bell tower, ship and Presbyterium are received from the first Romanesque church. The ungainly bell tower with baroque cap is striking. The inside is painted completely, the rich high altar with a representation of the Ascension of Maria comes from the Renaissance. In Zagrad, raises about the Meža, stands strikingly the Late-Gothic, partly barock church sv. Barbara, surrounded with frescoes from 15. Cent. and from a wall.

The last battle of the Second World War in Europe, the Battle of Poljana was fought nearby on 14 and 15 May 1945 between the Yugoslav army and retreating German and quisling forces.

Economy

Prevalje formed an important centre of the Ironworking. The development of Prevalje was connected therefore always narrowly with the iron industry. Also even today the processing industry forms an important basis for the economy of Prevalje, followed by trade, metal processing, traffic and building industry. During the last years services and tourism also experienced an impetus. The biggest companies in the municipality after number occupying (2003) are: Lesna (furniture industry), Koratur (coach and bus companies), Prevent (textile industry), Lek (Pharma), Jamnica (trade), Paloma (paper industry) and Instalater (engineering, services). In central-local functions offers Prevalje also several elementary schools, nursery school, kindergartens, a sick person's station, several close providers, bank and post.

External links

* [http://www.prevalje.si/ Prevalje] , official page of municipality (in Slovene)
* [http://www.koroska-on.net/ Koroska-On.Net] , information about culture and tourism in Prevalje (in Slovene)
* [http://www.bajta.si Bajta.si] Regional Carinthian news and entertainment website. (in Slovene)
* [http://www.korotan-prevalje.si Korotan Prevalje] Local football club, played in I. division for 8 years (in Slovene)