Birthplace of France Prešeren

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Rojstna hiša Franceta Prešerna

Vrba 2, SI-4274 Žirovnica

http://www.zirovnica.eu

info@zirovnica.eu

Phone386 (0) 4 580 2092, 386 (0) 4 580 1503

Managed byŽirovnica Institute for Tourism and Culture

Janez Dolžan, Director

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France Prešeren bust in Vrba, the Birthplace of France Prešerenin the background. A bronze replica of a plaster statue created in 1865 by Franc Ksaver Zajec, 2013

The Vrba village house Pr' Rib’ču (At the fisherman’s) in which Romantic poet France Prešeren (1800–1849) was born was restored in period style and opened as a museum in 1939.

Prešeren's birthplace serves also as a venue for literary readings and temporary exhibitions (such as the 2009 exhibition on Janez Bleiweis; literary evenings organised by the contemporary poet Jaka Košir). Together with the birthplaces of Matija Čop, Fran Saleški Finžgar and Janez Jalen this house is included on the Path of Cultural Heritage route in the Municipality of Žirovnica.

Background

Vrba is one of the oldest villages at the foot of Stol mountain, inhabited by peasants whose additional sources of income used to be trade and transportation with wagons and pack-horses. When the Prešeren house was originally constructed in the 16th century it was mostly made of wood, with only the basement, hall and barn made of stone. After a fire in 1856 the house was rebuilt. It was bought and arranged into a memorial museum in 1939 following an initiative of another native, priest and writer Fran Saleški Finžgar (see Birthplace of Fran Saleški Finžgar).

The house was one of the first Slovene protected cultural monuments and remains an interesting monument of vernacular art. The building has an entrance hall with a staircase, a so-called "black kitchen" (črna kuhinja) and a cellar. Two memorial plaques are built in the entrance façade, commemorating the birth of France Prešeren and Archbishop Anton Vovk (1900–1963).

Collection

The rooms of the house contain furniture and domestic artefacts dating back to the 19th century. The most important piece of furniture is the poet's cradle. In 1985 the historical significance of the house was increased by the addition of translations of poems by France Prešeren, including 84 mutually-exclusive publications of Poezije and a range of literature on Prešeren's life and work. On 3 December 2000 a new exhibition on the life and work of France Prešeren was installed.

In front of the house stands a bust of Prešeren's first sculptural depiction, modelled in 1865 by academic sculptor Franc Ksaver Zajec. It was erected in Vrba in 2000 at the 200th anniversary of Prešeren's birth.

See also

• Prešeren House
• Prešeren.net
• Birthplace of Matija Čop
• Birthplace of Fran Saleški Finžgar
• Birthplace of Janez Jalen

External links

• Birthplace of France Prešeren web page (in Slovenian)
• Prešeren's legacy on Gorenjska Museum website
• France Prešeren on Wikipedia
• France Prešeren's digitalised poetry on Wikivir (in Slovenian)

Gallery

Black kitchen (Črna kuhinja) with an open fireplace and bread oven, Birthplace of France Prešeren, 2013

Every day dining area, Birthplace of France Prešeren, 2013

The Birthplace of France Prešeren (pr' Ribču) located in the village of Vrba in the Municipality of Žirovnica. The house where the Slovene poet France Prešeren was born in 1800.

Birthplace of France Prešeren (pr' Ribču) located in the village of Vrba in the Municipality of Žirovnica. The house where the Slovene poet France Prešeren was born in 1800.

Main living area at Birthplace of France Prešeren, biggest room of the house containing the tiled stove and the benches for older children to sleep on. This table was used only at special occasions, 2013

The only bedroom in the house, where France Prešeren's parents slept with the youngest child of the family, who slept in a crib, Birthplace of France Prešeren, 2013

Two memorial plaques are built in the entrance façade of Birthplace of France Prešeren, commemorating the birth of France Prešeren and Archbishop Anton Vovk, 2013

Typical Slovenian tiled stove for heating in Birthplace of France Prešeren with benches around it for sitting on, often the central area of the house, 2013

One of many portraits which Božidar Jakac painted of France Prešeren. Some historians consider this to be one of the most accurate portraits of the famous Slovenian poet. Birthplace of France Prešeren, 2013

France Prešeren bust in Vrba, the Birthplace of France Prešerenin the background. A bronze replica of a plaster statue created in 1865 by Franc Ksaver Zajec, 2013