JANEZ VAJKARD VALVASOR -

                                  (1641 – 1693)

BIOGRAFHY

JANEZ VAJKARD VALVASOR  was born in 1641 in Ljubljana, in an old aristocratic family.

He spent his childhood in the family castle Medija near Izlake.

He got his education in Ljubljana, but he received much of his knowledge on his travellings in Germany, North Africa, France and Switzerland.

In the years 1663 and 1664 he was a soldier in the war against Turks.

In 1672 he returned home, bought some castles and started a family.

He was married twice and had eleven children.

HIS WORK

Mostly all his life was dedicated to the scholar activities; especially to the studying of Carniola, the central part of today’s Slovenia.

He was a cartographer, he founded the graphic company, collected old coins and music instruments.

His rich library contained very important and valuable works.

SLAVA VOJVODINE  KRANJSKE is his the most relevant book where the history of Slovenia is described in details. It was published in 1689 in Nurnberg, Germany.

All his life was connected with studying of the history of Slovenian countries and it is a very valuable source for the presentation of the life in this part of Slovenia. He dealt in it with the valleys, woods, rivers, lakes, caves and other natural beauties.

VALVASOR drew the plan for the Ljubelj (Loiblpass) Tunnel which was later built and opened in 1946. He drew plans for the castles and many other architectural sights. One of them is KOZOLEC (hayrack), which is a typical symbol of Slovenia.

He was a great man.