Seven and a half farms
According to folk tradition, the Dobrava area was originally an uncultivated, tree-covered mountain area belonging to the nearby villages of Muže and Zasip. Through clearance and felling, it was eventually turned into farmland and pasture. In 1253 – according to entries in the land register – “seven and a half farms” stood here, the property of the Diocese of Brixen (in present-day South Tyrol, Italy), with annual feudal dues consisting of fourteen pigs and a seventh of all sheep.
The rebel’s penny
In 1515, following constant increases in the taxes and tributes imposed by the self-willed stewards of Bled Castle, a peasant revolt broke out. It was bloodily suppressed. A tax known as the rebel’s penny was imposed on the peasants who had taken part in the revolt, although this was entered in the land register against the name of the farm and not against the name of the rebel’s family. As a result, the new owner of a farm was required to pay the tax even if his ancestors had had no part in the revolt.
Miserly visitors to Dobrava’s church
With the coming of the railway, the village became the main point of entry to Vintgar. Visitors would spend considerable amounts of money here, though not all of them. A newspaper article from 1939 tells of the miserly and mischievous nature of three visitors from Scotland, who visited the church in Dobrava while a service was going on. As the collection plate was passed among the congregation during the offertory, one of the Scots pretended to faint. The other two carried him from the church and thus all three got away without giving any money.