Miško Kranjec's Homestead: The Birthplace of One of the Greatest Personalities of Prekmurje
Just a stone's throw from Lendava, embraced by the largest black alder forest in Europe, fertile fields and meadows, there lies Velika Polana. At first glance, a completely ordinary roadside settlement, but it tells a great story. It is the birthplace of the writer, editor and journalist Miško Kranjec, one of the greatest historical personalities of Prekmurje. His stories about the common people from Prekmurje plain carried the word about life beyond the Mura River all the way to the ninth village…
The great voice of the common people
Mihael or Miško Kranjec knew how to empathize with ordinary people, and his stories about common man brought him great fame. He is the only Slovenian artist to have received three Prešeren Awards and numerous other high honors. Today, a great many streets in Pomurje are named after him, for example in Murska Sobota, Lendava, Moravske Toplice and Turnišče, as well as Maribor, Celje and Ljubljana.
He was born in 1908 and grew up in a poor family of farmers and workers. After graduating from high school in Ljubljana, he enrolled in the course of Slavic Studies, but did not finish it, as he shifted his attention to creative writing. During World War II, he worked as a partisan journalist, and after the liberation, he was the president of the Slovenian Writers' Association for several years. He was also active in politics, publishing and journalism.
Kranjec was an extremely prolific writer. He wrote his first works as a high school student, and in total, he wrote more than 50 novels, short stories and novellas. He introduced picturesque images of the Pannonian Plain into Slovenian literature, interwoven with stories
of workers, farmers and other people from social margins who fight against injustice for a better tomorrow.
His most famous works include the short stories On the Waves of the Mura River and Turtle Doves, and the novels Youth in the Marsh, My Uncles Told Me and The Tale of Good People.
Miško Kranjec's Birthplace: The Central Landmark of the Place
In the heart of Velika Polana, along the road with a winding thread of houses, there stands the most famous building of Velika Polana: Miško Kranjec's Homestead. The house is a magnificent monument to a great writer, which is more than worth a visit.
The exhibition is arranged in two separate rooms. The first is the memorial area or the writer's study, where the library and gallery with Kranjec's own oil paintings and photographs are located. As a versatile artist, he also painted a lot and was even a talented musician.
In the next room, you can get to know Miško Kranjec's birthplace better, and in the courtyard of the homestead there are experiential and creative studios that offer accommodation to artists and travelers from all parts of the world – from hikers to cyclists. If you want to experience the authentic Pomurje countryside through Kranjec's works, there is no better place to visit and spend the night.
The estate, in its peaceful ambience, also hosts a variety of cultural events and literary evenings.
What else does Velika Polana have to offer?
Miško Kranjec’s Homestead is the heart of the place and its main attraction, but Velika Polana has a lot more to offer! One of the most important places is, for example, Copek’s Mill, where the Liberation Front Committee was established during World War II – the only one that the enemies never discovered!
There used to be five such mills on the Črnec stream, but today only Copek’s is preserved. It is also known as the only preserved pre-industrial mill of its kind, which is why its restoration was supported by the European Union itself. It still operates to this day, as it even has its own miller.
In the village center, you can also visit the Land of Storks, a park full of autochthonous plant and tree species. Take the storks’ educational trail and learn about the world of the white stork, with the greatest number of nesting sites found in Slovenia – this particular part of the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who was Miško Kranjec?
Miško Kranjec is considered one of the most famous personalities of Prekmurje. He was a writer, journalist and editor. In his works, he mainly focused on life in his hometown and the struggle of ordinary people for a better tomorrow. He received numerous awards for his work, including three Prešeren Awards.
2. Where is Miško Kranjec's Homestead?
Miško Kranjec's Homestead is located in Velika Polana, which lies in the municipality of the same name, not far from Lendava.
3. What can be seen at Miško Kranjec's Homestead?
The museum, as one part of the house, consists of two rooms. One is the writer's study, which displays his collection of works, translations and other documents, and is also decorated with Kranjec's paintings and photographs. The other room houses an exhibition dedicated to the presentation of Velika Polana.
4. Is it also possible to spend the night at Miško Kranjec's Homestead?
In the courtyard of Miško Kranjec's birthplace, there are experiential and creative studios that offer accommodation to artists and travelers. They are a great place for anyone who is looking for an authentic experience of the Prekmurje countryside.
