Postojna

Postojna (pronounced [pɔˈstóːjna] ^ⓘ; German: Adelsberg,^[2] Italian: Postumia) is a town in the traditional region of Inner Carniola, 35 kilometers (22 mi) from Trieste, in southwestern Slovenia. It is the seat of the Municipality of Postojna.^[3] It includes the hamlet of Ravbarkomanda (sometimes also spelled Ravberkomanda, German: Räubercommando)^[2] to the northeast.

Postojna
Town
From top, left to right: Postojna from a nearby hill, Postojna Cave entrance manor, St. Stephen's Church, Villa Jurca, Karst Research Institute, Railway station
Flag Coat of arms
Postojna Location in Slovenia
Coordinates: 45°46′33.11″N 14°12′49.18″E
Country	Slovenia
Traditional region	Inner Carniola
Statistical region	Littoral–Inner Carniola
Municipality	Postojna
Government
• Mayor	Igor Marentič (Independent)
Area
• Total	33.3 km2 (12.9 sq mi)
Elevation	556.4 m (1,825.5 ft)
Population  (2020)
• Total	9,605
• Density	290/km2 (750/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	6230
Area code	05
Vehicle registration	PO
Climate	Cfb
Website	www.postojna.si
[1]

History

The area is known to have been populated since the Paleolithic era due to the discovery of a cave settlement near the town of Postojna called Betal Rock Shelter (Betalov spodmol). The town lies on the Pivka River. Written sources first mention the settlement in the 13th century and in 1432 it became a borough. It was proclaimed a town in 1909.^[3]

From the late Middle Ages, it was part of the Duchy of Carniola and hence of the Habsburg monarchy. In the 19th century, it was part of the Inner Carniola Kreis. It was part of the Italy under the Treaty of Rapallo between 1918 and 1943 (nominally to 1947) and was part of the province of Trieste as Postumia.^[4]

Mass grave

At Postojna there is a mass grave associated with the Second World War. The Pine Shaft Mass Grave (Slovene: Grobišče Brezno v borovcih) is southeast of Postojna, between Little Trebevnik Hill (Mali Trebevnik) and Big Trebevnik Hill (Veliki Trebevnik). It is a steep sinkhole that contains the remains of unidentified victims.^[5][6][7]

Climate

Climate data for Postojna (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1950–2020)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	17.2 (63.0)	20.0 (68.0)	22.9 (73.2)	27.6 (81.7)	31.0 (87.8)	34.0 (93.2)	36.2 (97.2)	36.3 (97.3)	31.5 (88.7)	25.7 (78.3)	23.6 (74.5)	16.9 (62.4)	36.3 (97.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	4.2 (39.6)	6.0 (42.8)	10.2 (50.4)	14.7 (58.5)	19.4 (66.9)	23.6 (74.5)	25.9 (78.6)	26.0 (78.8)	20.3 (68.5)	15.0 (59.0)	9.5 (49.1)	5.1 (41.2)	15.0 (59.0)
Daily mean °C (°F)	0.5 (32.9)	1.3 (34.3)	4.9 (40.8)	8.9 (48.0)	13.4 (56.1)	17.4 (63.3)	19.3 (66.7)	18.9 (66.0)	14.2 (57.6)	10.1 (50.2)	5.6 (42.1)	1.3 (34.3)	9.6 (49.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−2.9 (26.8)	−2.8 (27.0)	0.3 (32.5)	3.6 (38.5)	7.6 (45.7)	11.3 (52.3)	12.9 (55.2)	13.1 (55.6)	9.7 (49.5)	6.5 (43.7)	2.6 (36.7)	−2.1 (28.2)	5.0 (41.0)
Record low °C (°F)	−26.8 (−16.2)	−30.4 (−22.7)	−24.2 (−11.6)	−11.7 (10.9)	−5.4 (22.3)	0.2 (32.4)	2.5 (36.5)	1.8 (35.2)	−3.0 (26.6)	−9.2 (15.4)	−17.5 (0.5)	−20.9 (−5.6)	−30.4 (−22.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	89 (3.5)	104 (4.1)	96 (3.8)	107 (4.2)	124 (4.9)	119 (4.7)	95 (3.7)	100 (3.9)	161 (6.3)	160 (6.3)	172 (6.8)	141 (5.6)	1,469 (57.8)
Average extreme snow depth cm (inches)	6 (2.4)	5 (2.0)	2 (0.8)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	1 (0.4)	2 (0.8)	1.4 (0.6)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)	11	10	11	13	14	13	12	11	12	13	14	12	146
Average snowy days (≥ 0 cm)	12	10	5	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	7	38
Average relative humidity (%) (at 14:00)	73	63	59	58	58	58	52	53	60	67	73	76	62
Mean monthly sunshine hours	98	121	154	172	219	241	292	268	196	144	91	82	2,079
Source: Slovenian Environment Agency (humidity/snow/sun 1981–2010)[8][9]

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1948	3,391	—
1953	4,081	+20.3%
1961	4,857	+19.0%
1971	6,271	+29.1%
1981	8,181	+30.5%
1991	8,621	+5.4%
2002	8,548	−0.8%
2011	9,183	+7.4%
2021	9,750	+6.2%
Population size may be affected by changes in administrative divisions.

Attractions

One of Slovenia's major tourist attractions, Postojna Cave, is located near the town.

Church

The parish church in the town is dedicated to Saint Stephen and belongs to the Koper Diocese. Within the urban area of Postojna, the church dedicated to the Prophet Daniel in the hamlet of Zalog and the chapel dedicated to Saint Lazarus at the town cemetery also belong to this parish.^[10]

See also

• Postojna Cave
• Planina Cave
• Predjama Castle
• Haasberg Castle