The master's thesis analyses the settlement system and rural settlements in the Gorenjska statistical region. First, a typological and morphological analysis of settlements, rural areas, and villages was carried out, followed by an analysis of the current processes taking place in the Slovenian countryside. These include the transformation of traditional village structures, the expansion of rural settlements onto surrounding agricultural land, the decline of small farms, and the restructuring of the rural economy, as well as an increasing diversity of interests among rural inhabitants. Many people move from the cities to the countryside, with the most attractive locations being those that offer a high-quality living environment and good transport links. There is a trend towards the development of rural settlements close to urban centers but not spatially connected to them. On the other hand, depopulation can be observed in the most remote rural areas with poor transport links. The Gorenjska statistical region is very diverse in terms of altitude and terrain. Therefore, different trends in rural settlement development were to be expected. In the thesis, we developed a methodological approach to define the settlement system of the Gorenjska statistical region and then focused on individual rural settlements. We collected data for 409 rural settlements in the Gorenjska statistical region. Using spatial and statistical analyses, we examined changes in settlement patterns and typology, as well as the relationship between distance to highway connections and the demographic profile and morphological characteristics of individual settlements. Finally, we established guidelines for the development of settlements in the region and proposed to integrate the analysis of settlement patterns into strategic and implementing spatial planning documents.
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