Prtovč is small mountain village in Upper Carniola, located west of Železniki, with altitude 1008.1 meters and in total with 20 inhabitants. The village stands on a grassy ridge with a view on Kamnik-Savinja Alps and part of Škofja loka-Cerklje hills. Acording to older sources the village was also named Prtovič, its German name is Pertoutsch, also am Prietagkb, which is by faithfully preserved German phonetics in Slovene Pretok (en. Flow) or Pretoč, which means diversion, what the village in truth is.

Village also serves as a starting point for ascent on mountain Ratitovec, which is located behind the it. At the beginning of the village is church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it was built in year 1870 with extention of the existing chapel. A bit higher stands a memorial plaque for the Partisan hospital Ratitovec and memorial for fallen locals.

VILLAGE DURING WORLD WAR

Village Prtovč has very favorable geographical and political location, because of that they established important courier and strategic routes from Upper Carniola to Primorska and back. Because courier connections became more and more frequent, they established courier station G-1. At that time bigger hospital was set up at Ratitovec, which was lead by doctor Edvard Pohar. The hospital was attacked by Germans for several times and in the end it was destroyed.

Since year 1943, the headquarters of Upper Carniola detachment have been kept in vicinity of the village Prtovč. Once, when people were at mass in local church, the headquarters carried out the mobilisation. This action was already agreed upon with locals and men from nearby hamlets, othewise the Germans would retalitate on relatives and locals. 52 men joined partisans, 5 were against it. In autumn offensive in year 1942 they started with partisan photography, the most recordings were made by Franc Tolar, but there are just few preserved. Later, Tolar run photographic section of 9th corpus, and for some time his headquarters were in Prtovč.

The village suffered the most in November offensive in year 1943. At that time Prešeren brigade left in houses a larger number of wounded, main part of the brigade moved to Ratitovec. Right at that time transport company of Upper Carniola detachment came into Prtovč, when Germans surprised and attacked them and burn the village. All houses, except three, which were saved by high level of snow, were burned down. With that they killed local man named Miha Kuščer, the father of seven dependent children, others scattered away. Most of the villagers came to neighboring Podlonk.

Due to bigger partisan visits in Prtovč, they established stage kitchen, where activits, couriers, fighters of operational units and others got food. Refreshment room was also known to the majority members of transport company while on their way between Upper Carniola and Primorska. The village even had a golden reserve, lonely homestead in Bresnice pod Jelovico, where at every time they could get something to eat.

In spring 1942, before everyone in Selška region, residents of Prtovč and Podlonk organised the work of field detachment of LF (Liberation front). Later, various other commissions and ogranisations CP (Communist Partisans), ACY (Association of Communist Youth) and SAWA (Slovenian Anti-Fascist Women’s Association) operated here. Prtovč suffered 22 casualties of NLS (National Liberation Struggle), among them 17 fighters, who had fallen in various places of our land.

PRTOVČ IN PICTURES

See the other smaller villages and their attractions!

Church of Our Lady of Mercy
Church of Our Lady of Mercy is located at the beginning of mountain village Prtovč with a beautiful view on Kamnik-Savinja Alps and part of Škofja loka-Cerklje hills. It was built as votive little church in year 1870 with the upgrade of the existing chapel. Inside is a large altar of Brezjan Mary [_Read more_]

Memorial to the fallen in NLS
It is public memorial object in village Prtovč. Memorial is in shape of pyramid, made from concrete, with bronze reliefs, which depict wartime life. It contains the names of the fallen fighters and other victims. Memorial was designed by Iva Šubic, who designed relief, and Tone Logonder, who designed pyramid. [_Read more_]

Memorial plaque to partisan doctor Edvard Pohar
Memorial plaque was in Prtovč set up by Community of the fighters of Upper Carniola partisan detachments and units on July 4th 2009. It is black square plaque, which stands on the NLS memorial, above the listed names of fallen. Memorial plaque was set to partisan doctor Edvard Pohar. [_Read more_]