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Grič pri Klevevžu
Grič pri Klevevžu
	Grič pri Klevevžu Location in Slovenia
	Coordinates: 45°54′19.02″N 15°13′50.99″E / 45.9052833°N 15.2308306°E
Country	Slovenia
Traditional region	Lower Carniola
Statistical region	Southeast Slovenia
Municipality	Šmarješke Toplice
Area
• Total	1.46 km2 (0.56 sq mi)
Elevation	226.8 m (744.1 ft)
Population (2002)
• Total	44

Grič pri Klevevžu (pronounced [ˈɡɾiːtʃ pɾi klɛˈʋeːu̯ʒu]) is a settlement in the Municipality of Šmarješke Toplice in southeastern Slovenia. The area is part of the historical region of Lower Carniola. The municipality is now included in the Southeast Slovenia Statistical Region.^[2]

Name

The name Grič pri Klevevžu literally means 'hillock near Klevevž'. The name refers to medieval Klevevž Castle (German: Klingenfels),^[3] first mentioned in written documents dating to 1267. The surrounding Lower Carniolan lands in the Radulja valley had been acquired the Bavarian Prince-Bishops of Freising from the estates of the late Saint Hemma of Gurk. The bishops finally sold their remote lordship in 1622. The castle was burned down by the Partisans during World War II.^[4]

Mass graves

Grič pri Klevevžu is the site of three known mass graves associated with the Second World War. The Klevevž 1–3 mass graves (Slovene: Grobišče Klevevž 1–3) are located north of the settlement. They are also known as the Kačja Rid, Bričevka, or Jurjevci mass graves. They contain the remains of Slovene and Romani civilians murdered by the Partisans in the spring and early summer of 1942 while the staff of the Krka Detachment was at Klevevž Castle. The first grave is located in the woods 30 meters (98 ft) from the main road and 10 meters (33 ft) from a forest path; it contains the remains of 30 victims.^[5] The second grave lies in front of a sinkhole next to a path in the woods, about 180 meters (590 ft) from the main road, and contains the remains of several dozen victims.^[6] The third grave lies in front of another sinkhole next to the same path in the woods, about 220 meters (720 ft) from the main road, and contains the remains of several dozen victims.^[7]

Landmarks

Klevevž is known for the ruins of Klevevž Castle with the remains of the castle park, the hypothermal spring Klevevž Spa (Klevevške toplice), also suitable for bathing, and two caves, Upper Klevevž Cave (Zgornja Klevevška jama) and Lower Klevevž (or Heathen) Cave (Spodnja Kleveška jama or Ajdovska jama). The first one is an over 200 metres (660 ft)-long dry cave, with some dripstones at its end. Some prehistoric ceramics has been found there. The latter is a water cave inside of which there is the only known thermal spring in a cave in Slovenia. It is a home to a rich animal life, including bat colonies. The hypothermal spring flows to the Radulja, which flows through a gorge formed in the Triassic limestone and forms a cascade in this part.^[8]

References

^ Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia
^ Šmarješke Toplice municipal site
^ Leksikon občin kraljestev in dežel zastopanih v državnem zboru, vol. 6: Kranjsko. 1906. Vienna: C. Kr. Dvorna in Državna Tiskarna, p. 83.
^ "EŠD 8660". Registry of Immovable Cultural Heritage (in Slovenian). Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
^ Ferenc, Mitja (December 2009). "Grobišče Klevevž 1". Geopedia (in Slovenian). Ljubljana: Služba za vojna grobišča, Ministrstvo za delo, družino in socialne zadeve. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
^ Ferenc, Mitja (December 2009). "Grobišče Klevevž 2". Geopedia (in Slovenian). Ljubljana: Služba za vojna grobišča, Ministrstvo za delo, družino in socialne zadeve. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
^ Ferenc, Mitja (December 2009). "Grobišče Klevevž 3". Geopedia (in Slovenian). Ljubljana: Služba za vojna grobišča, Ministrstvo za delo, družino in socialne zadeve. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
^ "Experience Nature: Natural Sights". Šmarješke Toplice Tourist Information Centre. Retrieved 6 July 2015.