en
Slovenščina
ItalianoInvitation to the Opening of the Exhibition Partisan Hospital Franja – A Hidden Gem of Europe and the Presentation of the Volume Franja: Memory and Reminder
Science and Research Centre Koper (ZRS Koper),
in cooperation with
Partisan Hospital Franja and Idrija Municipal Museum,
cordially invites you to the opening of the exhibition
“Partisan Hospital Franja – A Hidden Gem of Europe”
and the presentation of the volume
“Franja: Memory and Reminder.”
The event will take place on 20 May at the Centre for Humanities of ZRS Koper (Kreljeva 6, Koper, Slovenia), beginning at 7:00 p.m.
The following guests will participate in the book presentation and exhibition opening:
- Dr Miha Kosmač, Director of the Idrija Municipal Museum (MMI);
- Milojka Magajne, author of the exhibition;
- Tjaša Jurman, who will read selected excerpts from the book;
- Pavel Magajne, who will perform on the accordion from Franja;
- Marjeta Purgar Hvala, who will sing three partisan songs accompanied by accordion music.
About the Exhibition
Hidden in the remote Pasica Gorge in the Cerkno region, Partisan Hospital Franja was one of the most important secret partisan hospitals in Slovenia during the Second World War. Between December 1943 and May 1945, fourteen wooden barracks were built in the gorge, where approximately 600 wounded soldiers and patients of various nationalities were treated. These included Slovenians, Italians, members of the nations of the former Soviet Union, Croats, Serbs, Poles, French citizens, and even Americans. The hospital was named after Dr Franja Bojc, who directed its operations and, together with the medical staff, cared for the wounded under exceptionally difficult wartime conditions. Franja became a symbol of courage, humanity, solidarity, and resistance against fascism and Nazism.nica je dobila ime po zdravnici dr. Franji Bojc, ki je vodila njeno delovanje in skupaj z osebjem skrbela za ranjene v izredno težkih vojnih razmerah. Franja je postala simbol poguma, humanosti, tovarištva in boja proti fašizmu ter nacizmu.
Through six thematic sections, the exhibition introduces visitors to the hospital’s operation, organization, and daily life. Photographs, video materials, personal belongings, and testimonies of staff members, patients, and local residents illustrate medical care, food and medicine supply, and the numerous security measures that helped keep the hospital’s location secret. Particular attention is devoted to the ingenuity and improvisation that were essential for treatment and survival under extraordinary circumstances. The exhibition has been designed as an interactive experience, enabling visitors to explore additional content through touchscreens featuring audio and video materials in several languages.
The support of the local population was crucial to the hospital’s existence and successful operation. Local residents helped transport wounded patients and supplied food, medicines, and other necessities. Great care was also taken to ensure secrecy: hidden routes along the streambed led to the hospital, and wounded patients were blindfolded during transport to prevent the location from being revealed. Despite constant danger and the proximity of enemy forces, the hospital was never discovered.
After the war, Franja was transformed into a museum and became an important cultural monument. Today, it is regarded as an outstanding symbol of solidarity, humanity, and international cooperation. In recognition of its exceptional significance for European history, the European Commission awarded it the European Heritage Label.
About the Volume Franja: Memory and Reminder
In addition to the exhibition opening, the event will also feature the presentation of the volume Franja: Memory and Reminder.
More than forty years ago, the Idrija Municipal Museum published the first collection of studies on Partisan Hospital Franja, which remains an important source of information about its history and operation. On the occasion of the hospital’s 80th anniversary, a new publication was conceived to reassess its historical significance and values from a contemporary perspective. Although publication was delayed by the natural disasters of 2023, Franja: Memory and Reminder was finally published in December 2024 as the tenth volume in the Merkuriateka series.
The book brings together contributions from twelve authors, with introductory essays by Dr Samo Zver and Dr Miha Kosmač. The chapters are organized into three thematic sections: the broader historical context of the Slovenian Littoral and partisan healthcare, the operation of Partisan Hospital Franja, and its memorial and symbolic significance. Particular attention is devoted to medical care, the individuals who shaped the hospital’s story, and efforts to preserve the site as a monument.
Partisan Hospital Franja remains a powerful symbol of humanity, solidarity, and care for others in times of war. Its story reflects key aspects of Slovenian history during the Second World War and reminds us of the enduring importance of fundamental human values. Today, the memory of Franja serves as a reminder to present and future generations that, above all, it is essential to remain human.
We warmly invite you to join us.
