Zakriž

Zakriž is a village on the slope of Davinec Hill ({{convert|872|m|ft|disp=or|sp=us}}) to the north, and Big Kovk Hill ({{langx|sl|Veliki Kovk}}; {{convert|839|m|ft|disp=or|sp=us}}) rises to the south. The hamlet of Vrh Križa lies above the village. Cultivated fields and meadows lie on sandy soil on the slopes of the hills. Zajegrščica Creek flows southeast through the village, eventually joining the Cerknica River in Cerkno. Mixed forest surrounds the village.{{cite book |last1=Savnik |first1=Roman |title=Krajevni leksikon Slovenije, vol. 1 |date=1968 |publisher=Državna založba Slovenije |location=Ljubljana |page=81}}

The name of the village is derived from the common noun križ 'cross'. In many cases, villages with similar names are named after a local church or cross-shaped wayside shrine.Snoj, Marko. 2009. Etimološki slovar slovenskih zemljepisnih imen. Ljubljana: Modrijan and Založba ZRC, p. 214. However, in this case it is more likely that the name Zakriž—literally, 'behind the cross(ing)'—refers to the village's location near a crossroads (cf. Slovene križišče 'crossroads'), as indicated by its position along a transport route.

{{multiple image

| align = left

| footer = Italian fortifications above Zakriž

| footer_align = center

| image1 = Zakriž Cerkno Slovenia - Barracks.JPG

| width1 = 202

| caption1 =

| image2 = Zakriž Cerkno Slovenia - Fortification.jpg

| width2 = 231

| caption2 =

}}

A water main was installed in Zakriž in 1903, piped from Big Kovk Hill. During the interwar period, the Italian authorities installed military fortifications above the village as part of the Alpine Wall, but the installation was never completed. During the Second World War, Italian Carabinieri had an outpost in the barracks above the village. They were routed on January 26, 1943 in an engagement with the Partisans, who later set up Partisan workshops in the barracks. In the second half of 1944, the Partisans stationed staffs of various brigades and artillery in the village.

Zakriž is the site of a mass grave associated with the Second World War. The Zakriž Mass Grave ({{lang|sl|Grobišče Zakriž}}), also known as the Slope Mass Grave ({{lang|sl|Grobišče v Rebrah}}),Zakriž. Kulturne znamenitosti (tourism information sign in Zakriž). LTO Laufar Cerkno. lies southwest of the village core, on the steep western slope of Big Kovk Hill ({{lang|sl|Veliki Kovk}}), below a series of cliffs below a forest path. It contains the remains of 22 or 23 civilians that were taken from the prison in Cerkno or held for forced labor, and who were murdered by the Partisans on March 21 or 22, 1945.{{cite web |last1=Ferenc |first1=Mitja |title=Grobišče Zakriž |url=https://www.geopedia.world/#T12_L362_F2534:181_x1553603.1848352195_y5801459.13399039_s14_b2345 |website=Geopedia |publisher=Služba za vojna grobišča, Ministrstvo za delo, družino in socialne zadeve |access-date=October 22, 2023 |location=Ljubljana |language=sl |date=December 2009}}[http://www.zaveza.si/index.php/revija-zaveza/122-zaveza-t-51 Aljančič, Jože. 2010. Pet tržiških mož pod Vrhom Križa. Zaveza 51.]

{{multiple image

| align = right

| footer = Religious heritage in Zakriž

| footer_align = center

| image1 = Zakriž Slovenia - church.jpg

| width1 = 150

| caption1 = Saint Andrew's Church

| image2 = Zakriž Cerkno Slovenia - shrine.JPG

| width2 = 136

| caption2 = Wayside shrine

}}

The local church is dedicated to Saint Andrew and belongs to the Parish of Cerkno.[http://kp.rkc.si/dokumenti/zupnije/seznam.pdf Koper Diocese list of churches] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306055057/http://kp.rkc.si/dokumenti/zupnije/seznam.pdf |date=March 6, 2009 }} It is a Gothic structure that was reworked in the 18th century. It has a polygonal chancel walled on three sides, a rectangular nave, and a bell tower. The furnishings were created by local wood carvers in the 19th century.[http://giskd2s.situla.org/rkd/Opis.asp?Esd=3599 Slovenian Ministry of Culture register of national heritage] reference number ešd 3599.

Near the house at Zakriž no. 11 is a small chapel-shrine, which stood above a watering trough (now destroyed, although the pump remains). It is built of stone and has an arched niche with a wooden statue of Saint Anthony of Padua, a triangular gable, and a double-pitched roof.[http://giskd2s.situla.org/rkd/Opis.asp?Esd=21039 Slovenian Ministry of Culture register of national heritage] reference number ešd 21039.

{{Reflist}}

• {{Commons category-inline|Zakriž}}
• [https://www.geopedia.world/#T12_L362_F2473:1412_x1554138.3562462_y5802102.783035567_s15_b2345 Zakriž on Geopedia]

{{Cerkno}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zakriz}}

Category:Populated places in the Municipality of Cerkno