Harije


Harije is a village in the hills west of Ilirska Bistrica in the Inner Carniola region of Slovenia.

Geography

Harije is an elongated village on a hill ridge in the southeast part of the Brkini region along the road from Ilirska Bistrica to Podgrad. It lies at a watershed; springs flow to the south into Klivnik Creek and to the north into Posrtev Creek. Grmada Hill stands east of the village and Ded Hill to the west. Most of the cultivated land lies to the west and east, separated by meadows and pastures.

History

During the Second World War there was a Partisan checkpoint in the village. The Partisans operated a kitchen and had several bunkers in the village.

Mass graves

Harije is the site of a four mass graves or unmarked graves from the end of the Second World War. They all contain the remains of German soldiers from the 97th Corps that fell at the beginning of May 1945. The Cemetery Mass Grave is located outside the north cemetery wall in the village. It contains the remains of four soldiers. The Vidos Oaks Mass Grave, also known as the Mlake Lake Mass Grave, is located on the edge of the woods about south of the village center and 40 m southeast of the main road. It contains the remains of four soldiers. The Laze Mass Grave lies next to the road, about northeast of the village. It contains the remains of two or three soldiers. The Spring Creek Grave, also known as the Studenčino Grave, is located about southwest of the main crossroads in the village. It contains the remains of one soldier.

Church

The parish church in the settlement is dedicated to Saint Stephen and belongs to the Koper Diocese.

Notable people

Notable people that were born or lived in Harije include: