| Official Name: | Kleče |
| Pushpin Map: | Slovenia |
| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Slovenia |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Slovenia |
| Subdivision Type1: | Traditional region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Upper Carniola |
| Subdivision Type2: | Statistical region |
| Subdivision Name2: | Central Slovenia |
| Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name3: | Ljubljana |
| Population Blank1 Title: | Ethnicities |
| Population Blank2 Title: | Religions |
| Coordinates: | 46.0914°N 14.5°W |
| Elevation Footnotes: | [1] |
| Elevation M: | 300 |
Kleče (pronounced as /sl/; de|Kletsche[2]) is a formerly independent settlement in the northern part of the capital Ljubljana in central Slovenia.[3] It is part of the traditional region of Upper Carniola and is now included with the rest of the municipality in the Central Slovenia Statistical Region.[4]
Kleče is a ribbon village along the road from Savlje to Šentvid, with most of the houses on the north side of the road. Restrictions were placed on new construction due to the presence of a pumping station near the village in a grove of pines. The soil in the area is sandy, and there are tilled fields extending from the settlement to the north and south. As the land approaches the Sava River it becomes wooded, primarily with hornbeam and oak.[1] [3]
Kleče was attested in historical sources as Cletschach in 1359 and 1444 (and as Cleczach in 1363 and Kletsch in 1458, among other spellings).[5] [6] It is one of several settlements that share this name, all of which lie along rivers. The name is ultimately derived from the common noun kleč 'gravel deposit covered with shallow soil', referring to the local geography. The feminine plural form is a result of reanalysis of a demonym derived from the common noun.[6]
Construction of the pumping station for the Ljubljana water system began in Kleče in 1888 and was completed in 1890.[3] During the Second World War, the Italian–German border ran along the main road, separating Kleče from neighboring Savlje. Later, the border was shifted to fields to the north. Kleče was annexed by Ljubljana in 1974, ending its existence as a separate village.[7] Kleče has largely retained its rural character today, although urbanization is increasing in the settlement.
Cultural heritage in Kleče includes the following:
Notable people that were born or lived in Kleče include: