Ribnica

Description:

Ribnica is one of the oldest Slovenian towns with rich history. From the distance the visitors are greeted by two bell towers of the Ribnica Parish Church, which are built in cathedral style according to the design of the architect Jože Plečnik.


The town of Ribnica is the geographical, historical, cultural, economic, and administrative centre of the municipality.It is situated on the river banks of the partly underground stream Bistrica, in the centre of the Ribniško polje plain, between the ridges of the Mala and Velika gora hills.The climate is continental, with long winters and a lot of snow. More than 60% of the area is covered with woods, mostly coniferous. The woods are richly populated with wildlife.


Ribnica is one of the oldest towns in Slovenia with a very rich history. The name Ribnica derives from the word 'riba' (=fish), which is depicted in the town's coat-of-arms.

In the last few decades, a very important role in the development of the Ribnica valley has been held by timber industry.

The Ribnica valley is well known not only for its rich natural and cultural heritage, but also for its numerous cultural and ethnographic events: Wooden Ware and Pottery Fair, Crafts Festival, Mardi Gras with ethnographic costumes, Summer Festival, Feast of St Nicholas, Live Nativity Scene, Slemena Rural Games, New Year's Concert, etc.

There is a common trademark to all these events in the Ribnica valley: 'Ribn'ean Urban', the traditional inhabitant of the region, with his rich colloquial language and the traditional hawker's basket on his back.

Famous natives and residents
Jacobus Gallus, composer;
Janez Evangelist Krek, Christian social activist and politician;
France Prešeren, poet (studied in Ribnica);
Simona Škrabec, translator, essayist and literary historian;
Ivan Šušteršič, conservative politician;