• »Franja« Partisan Hospital
The former »Franja« partisan hospital is located in a gorge near Cerkno in western Slovenia. Between 1943 and 1945, wounded partisans were treated in this concealed hospital.



Image: Near Dolenji Novaki, 1945, Huts fitted into the gorge, Fototeka Cerkljanskega muzeja
Near Dolenji Novaki, 1945, Huts fitted into the gorge, Fototeka Cerkljanskega muzeja

Image: Near Dolenji Novaki, 2007, Former hospital huts which now house the memorial, Fototeka Cerkljanskega muzeja
Near Dolenji Novaki, 2007, Former hospital huts which now house the memorial, Fototeka Cerkljanskega muzeja
Cerkno lies in the historic Primorska region in present-day Slovenia. After World War I, the region became part of Italy. Following Italy's surrender in September 1943, partisans began reconquering the formerly Slovene area. In October 1943, the German Wehrmacht took the Slovene territories previously occupied by Italy and tried to defeat partisan resistance.
In autumn 1943, partisans built a hospital hidden in a gorge of the Pasica stream at Dolenji Novaki near Cerkno. On December 23, 1943, the first wounded were treated in two barracks. The hospital was founded by Dr. Viktor Volčjak; it was later run by Dr. Franja Bojc Bidovec, after whom the hospital was named. The hospital was in a remote location in the gorge and it was secured by three defence lines. German units attacked the complex twice, yet they never made it through to the actual hospital and didn't cause any severe damage. On May 5, 1945, the last 98 patients of the hospital were moved to the Gorica (Italian: Gorizia) hospital.
Image: Near Dolenji Novaki, 1945, Huts fitted into the gorge, Fototeka Cerkljanskega muzeja
Near Dolenji Novaki, 1945, Huts fitted into the gorge, Fototeka Cerkljanskega muzeja

Image: Near Dolenji Novaki, 2007, Former hospital huts which now house the memorial, Fototeka Cerkljanskega muzeja
Near Dolenji Novaki, 2007, Former hospital huts which now house the memorial, Fototeka Cerkljanskega muzeja
Between 1943 and 1945, a total of 578 men and women who fought for the partisans received medical treatment at the »Franja« partisan hospital. 78 patients died and were buried on-site.
Image: Near Dolenji Novaki, 2010, Sickbay, Laurent Louis
Near Dolenji Novaki, 2010, Sickbay, Laurent Louis

Image: Near Dolenji Novaki, 2007, Huts which now house the memorial, Partizanska bolnica Franja, Fototeka Cerkljanskega muzeja
Near Dolenji Novaki, 2007, Huts which now house the memorial, Partizanska bolnica Franja, Fototeka Cerkljanskega muzeja
The partisan hospital remained intact after the war. Since 1963, the buildings have been administered as a branch of the Idrija municipal museum. In 2007, a large part of the complex was destroyed following torrential rainfalls and flooding. The partisan hospital was rebuilt in 2009; most of the buildings could be reconstructed.
Image: Near Dolenji Novaki, 2010, Huts in the gorge, Laurent Louis
Near Dolenji Novaki, 2010, Huts in the gorge, Laurent Louis

Image: Near Dolenji Novaki, 2010, Office, Laurent Louis
Near Dolenji Novaki, 2010, Office, Laurent Louis
Name
Partizanska bolnica Franja
Address
Dolenji Novaki
5280 Dolenji Novaki
Phone
+386 (0) 537 231 80
Fax
+386 (0) 537 231 81
Web
http://www.muzej-idrija-cerkno.si/
E-Mail
info@muzej-idrija-cerkno.si
Open
April to September:
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
October:
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Between March and November:
only by appointment and weather permitting