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The region of Kranj was already populated in Neolithic - early Stone Age (2350 - 1950 BC). Remains from that period were found on Špik at Drulovka: clay colander, clay weights, ladles, cup with ram head. Excavations are kept in Museum of Gorenjska. |
Illyrians, which lived in the region of Kranj in older Stone Age (800 - 500 BC) built a settlement near today's parish church (Župna cerkev) and Prešern's grove (Prešernov gaj). They buried their passed-ones on Turklje where heaps (Illyrian's graves) are easily spotted.
In earlier Iron Age (around 300 BC) Celts migrated from Czech and Hungarian ground. They built a settlement on a pier where today's local parish church is situated. Their graves were found at the bus station, along Stritar Street and Prešeren's grove. The most interesting findings are trivet, Celtic chain for joining swords, decorative clips and clayey products.
At the time emperor August was ruling (37 BC - 14 AC), Kranj was a partof Roman Empire and was inferior to Emona (today Ljubljana). Their settlement was where today's castle Kieselstain stands. The biggest Roman cemetery with 39 urns was found near Bobovek.
From late antique period (about 670 AC) a written source mentions Carniurm (Kranj) in the land of Carneola.
Lombards came in 6th century. They maintained Kranj as a fort from Avar invasions from Pannonia. About 1000 graves with additions (knives, earrings, rings, swords, belt clips, shields, etc) were found on the left strand of Sava River. After they left to Italy (568 AC) Slavs began to fill in the empty place. They assumed and reformed geographical names (Canium = Kranj, Corcaca = Kokra, Savus = Sava) from roman aboriginals which stayed - our ancestors (Slavs) named them "Lahi" or "Vlahi" (Italians). From that period over 1300 graves were found near today's parish church and in the right strand of Sava River (by the crossroad at Iskra). Inside those graves were found shaded earrings, rings, clasps, knives and sewing needles. Typical for that period are lunar shaped earrings which define Carantanian Cetlac culture.
In 10th century the region of Kranj falls under German supremacy. From the fact that via Chreinorum was already mentioned in the year 937 we can conclude that there was Creina settlement. Kranj was the headquarter for landgrave of Kranjska country in 11th century. At that time Kranj got a church consecrated to Saint Kacijan and Prot. The first known rulers of Kranj were Brixen's bishops (settlement is mentioned on the pier in 1075 AC). First citizens were Burgenses (mentioned 1221 AC). As a city, Kranj is mentioned in the year 1256 as a property of And counts, who gave the city his coat-of-arms (uncrowned eagle on red field). The city-walls were built in 15th century (800 m long, 4 - 10 m wide and 6 m high, with at least 7 watch towers). At the same time the city falls under Hapsburg's authority. In the middle-aged Kranj people were making a living with agriculture, handcrafts (first millers, then potters, sieves, smiths) and marketing. Kranj was also a market town (Mark's fair 12.4., Tilen's fair 1.9.) and it had his own quack doctor. It didn't have it's own water system, so the water had to be ladled from the city well. The citizens were facing many difficulties as plagues, cholera, typhus, smallpox and fires (1811). First civil collectivity was city community or parish, where all the citizens were represented. It was led by the city judge, which was first elected by a duke and later (from 15th century) by citizens themselves.
By the end of 18th and in the begging of 19th century the city has lost a great part of defensive devices. In 40's of the 19th century Kranj got a grammar school. At that time Dr. France Prešeren spent his last years of life in Kranj. The political paper Gorenjec was published in 1900. In the year 1876 an iron bridge across the Sava river was constructed and in the year 1910 a concrete one. After the 1st world war cultural societies had restored their activity. The city became one of the leading industrial points, but was shaken by a strong strike movement in the 30's. Kranj spread on the left side of Kokra River, on Huje a new cemetery was built and a hanging bridge over Kokra was constructed. A political and administration place of German occupation district was held in Kranj during the 2nd world war. The city was liberated on 9th May 1945.
Kranj became an industrial, commercial, traffic and administrative centre of Gorenjska after the 2nd World War. It is also an important cultural and sport centre. The international airport of Ljubljana (in Brnik) is very close to Kranj.
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Slovenia 