In the northeast of Slovenia, somewhat removed from the hustle and bustle of cities, you will find a beautiful land of rolling hills crisscrossed by ravines and valleys. And while people here have been enjoying the modern world luxuries for several decades now, these places have remained pristine and authentic.
The territory of the modern-day municipality of Cirkulane was also known as Sveta Barbara v Halozah in the past. The administrative, political, school, and ecclesiastical district includes the villages of Brezovec, Cirkulane, Dolane, Gradišča, Gruškovec, Mali Okič, Medribnik, Meje, Paradiž, Pohorje, Pristava, Slatina and Veliki Vrh.
Več o občini na: Občina Cirkulane
People from neighboring villages know us as the Belans, a name derived from the names of the two largest local streams – Belica and Belana. The two brooks merge to form the Bela creek, which flows into the River Drava below Borl Castle. You will recognize Belans by their distinctive dialect, which is slightly different from those spoken in the neighboring communities. The locals are very proud of it and have even documented it in a dictionary.
The oldest known depiction of the center of Cirkulane, Varež, can be found on the arch under the choir loft of St. Barbara’s Church. It was created in 1819 by Johann Lederwasch, who also painted the church nave at that time.
The Municipality of Cirkulane was founded in 2006. It consists of 13 villages, six of which border Croatia. Its current population is around 2,200. The place names are interesting, as each one is related to the natural features of the hilly landscape: Paradiž, Pohorje, Medribnik, Brezovec, Dolane, Mali Okič – Slatine, Meje, Pristava, Veliki Vrh, Gruškovec and Cirkulane.
The municipality of Cirkulane’s coat of arms features an inverted golden anchor on an elongated blue shield, designed in the late Gothic style. The inverted anchor is a heraldic symbol that appeared in the coat of arms of the Lords von Treun, who owned the Borl Castle between 1160 and 1200.
INTERESTING HISTORICAL FACTS
· 1780: a two-grade elementary school is established in Sveta Barbara v Halozah
· 1872: the first post office opens
· 1878: the first bridge over the River Drava is built near Borl
· 1899: organized cultural activities begin in the village with the establishment of the Naprej Reading Society
· 1924: a bus connection with Ptuj is introduced
· 1936: the Cirkulane post office gets a telephone
· 1938: the first wine cooperative in Haloze is formed
· 1947: electricity comes to Varež
· 1951: the Borl Castle Resort opens
· 1956: a health center with a dental clinic opens in Cirkulane
· 1972: the Borl–Cirkulane road is paved with asphalt
· 1978: a new concrete bridge over the River Drava is built near Borl
· 1978: the first industrial plant is built in Dolane
· 1979: the first water supply main pipe is laid from Borl to Cirkulane
