Velike Bloke
Velike Bloke (, ) is a village in the Municipality of Bloke in the Inner Carniola region of Slovenia. Name. The name "Velike Bloke" literally means 'big Bloke' and originally distinguished the settlement from "Male Bloke" (literally, 'little Bloke'). However, after the parish church was built in Male Bloke, that settlement became known as "Fara" (literally, 'parish'). The name "Bloke" itself was first attested in written sources in 1230 as "Oblach" (and as "Oblukch" in 1260, "Oblakh" in 1360, and "Obloc" in 1581). These early transcriptions indicate that the name was originally "*Obloke", probably derived from the prepositional phrase "*ob(ь ) lǫky" or "*ob(ь) lǫkaxъ" 'next to the flood-meadow(s)'. Less likely theories connect the name to the meanings 'next to rough terrain' or 'arc, arch'. Church. The local church in the settlement is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary and belongs to the Parish of Bloke. Cultural heritage. A stone bridge over Bloščica Creek northwest of the center of Velike Bloke is known as the Napoleon Bridge () and is registered as cultural heritage. However, it was built in 1858 and has no connection to Napoleon; the reason for its name is unknown.