The settlement was first attested in written sources as Zoll oder Podgweld and Zoll oder Podgwelb in 1763–1787. The Slovene name Col is borrowed from Middle High Germanzol (modern German Zoll) 'toll' or 'customs duty'.[3][5] Col is located on the border between the historical Habsburgcrown lands of Carniola and Gorizia and was a collection point for tolls.[3] Col was originally known as Podvelb (German: Podgwelb; literally, 'below the arch') in reference to a castle that formerly stood near Saint Leonard's Church.[2][6]
Trilek Castle
Trilek Castle stands west of the center of Col. It was used for defensive purposes against Ottoman attacks, and it was owned by the Abramsberg noble family, resident in Šturje.[6] The castle is now in ruins dating from the 16th century,[7] and only the tower is preserved. Archaeological finds at Trilek Castle include a Roman milestone that was found in the 19th century; it bears a dedication to Julian the Apostate and is held by the National Museum of Slovenia. Roman coins dating from the second century AD have also been found at the castle.[6]
^ abc"Uebersicht der in Folge a. h. Entschließung vom 26. Juli 1849 genehmigten provisorischen Gerichtseintheilung des Kronlandes Krain". Intelligenzblatt zur Laibacher Zeitung. No. 141. November 24, 1849. p. 24.
^ abcSnoj, Marko (2009). Etimološki slovar slovenskih zemljepisnih imen. Ljubljana: Modrijan. p. 91.
^ abLeksikon občin kraljestev in dežel zastopanih v državnem zboru, vol. 6: Kranjsko. Vienna: C. Kr. Dvorna in Državna Tiskarna. 1906. p. 140.