View source for Brežice

{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Brežice
| other_name =
| native_name = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
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| settlement_type = [[List of cities and towns in Slovenia|Town]]
| motto =
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| image_skyline                   = {{Photomontage|position=center
|photo1a = Panorama of Brežice (14147598506).jpg
|photo2a = German House (Brežice).jpg
|photo2b = Brezice, St. Roch's filial church 01.jpg
|photo3a = Church of Brežice.jpg
|photo3b = Brezice, view of Water Tower 01.jpg
| photo4a = View of Brezice Castle 06.jpg
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| image_caption   = <small>From top, left to right: Brežice from above, German House, St. Roch's Church, St. Lawrence's Church, Water Tower, Brežice Castle</small>
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| pushpin_map = Slovenia
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Slovenia
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flagicon image|Flag of Slovenia.svg}} [[Slovenia]]
| subdivision_type1 = Traditional region
| subdivision_name1 = [[Lower Styria|Styria]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Statistical regions of Slovenia|Statistical region]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Lower Sava Statistical Region|Lower Sava]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Municipalities of Slovenia|Municipality]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Municipality of Brežice|Brežice]]
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| area_total_km2 = 8.9
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| population_as_of = 2020
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| population_total = 6843
| population_density_km2 = auto
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| coordinates = {{coord|45|54|24|N|15|35|46|E|region:SI|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 162
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| postal_code = 8250 Brežice
| area_code =
| registration_plate = KK
| blank_name = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info = [[Oceanic climate|Cfb]]
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| footnotes = <ref>[http://www.stat.si/eng/index.asp Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia]</ref>
}}
'''Brežice''' ({{IPA|sl|ˈbɾèːʒitsɛ|pron|Sl-Brezice.oga}};<ref>{{cite web|title=Slovenski pravopis 2001: Brežice|url=http://bos.zrc-sazu.si/c/SP/neva.exe?name=sp&expression=Bre%C5%BEice&hs=1}}</ref> {{langx|de|Rann}}<ref name="Leksikon">{{cite book |title=Leksikon občin kraljestev in dežel zastopanih v državnem zboru, vol. 6: Kranjsko |date=1906 |publisher=C. Kr. Dvorna in Državna Tiskarna |location=Vienna |pages=6, 10}}</ref> {{IPA|de|ʁan|}}) is a town in eastern [[Slovenia]] in the [[Lower Sava Valley]], near the [[Croatia]]n border. It is the seat of the [[Municipality of Brežice]]. It lies in the center of the Brežice Plain ({{langx|sl|Brežiško polje}}), which is part of the larger Krka Flat ({{langx|sl|Krška ravan}}). The area was traditionally divided between [[Lower Styria]] (territory on the left bank of the [[Sava]] River) and [[Lower Carniola]] (territory on the right bank of the Sava River). The entire municipality is now included in the [[Lower Sava Statistical Region]].<ref>[http://www.brezice.si Brežice municipal site]</ref>
Brežice prides itself on a rich historical and cultural heritage. The [[Lower Sava Valley Museum]] ({{langx|sl|Posavski muzej Brežice}}), housed in [[Brežice Castle]], contains archaeological and ethnological exhibits, exhibits on the [[Croatian and Slovenian peasant revolt]], and a modern history collection. It is one of the largest regional museums in the country. A more recent landmark addition to the town is its [[Brežice Water Tower|water tower]], as well as the double arches of the 527 m long iron bridge, which spans the Sava and Krka rivers.
==History==
Celtic graves from the 2nd century BC have been discovered in Brežice, and it has been continuously settled since prehistoric times. A Slavic settlement called ''Gradišče'' was established at the site soon after the arrival of the Slovenes in the area. The castle in Brežice was first mentioned in 1249. The current structure dates to 1529.<ref name="Savnik">{{cite book |last1=Savnik |first1=Roman |title=Krajevni leksikon Slovenije, vol. 3 |date=1976 |publisher=Državna založba Slovenije |location=Ljubljana |pages=24–27}}</ref>
Brežice was affected by [[Ottoman wars in Europe|Ottoman raids]] several times during the 15th and 16th centuries. Peasant uprisings took place during the 16th century; in 1515 peasants attacked the castle in Brežice, burned it, and killed the nobility sheltering in it. The new castle was able to withstand the peasant uprising of 1573.<ref name="Savnik"/>
The first school was established in Brežice in 1668, taught by Franciscan friars at the friary. From 1774 to 1780 instruction took place at Baron Moscon's residence, and from 1780 to 1820 at the rectory. A separate school building was built in 1875.<ref name="Savnik"/>
A general hospital was established in Brežice in 1872. Its facilities were expanded in 1889.<ref name="Savnik"/>
During the [[World War II|Second World War]], Brežice and the adjacent countryside to the north and west were known as the [[Rann Triangle]] ({{langx|de|Ranner Dreieck}}), an area intended for the resettlement of [[Gottscheers|Gottschee Germans]] that had been evicted from the [[Gottschee]] region in the territory annexed by Italy.<ref>Stieber, Gabriela. 2005. ''Consolidated Intelligence Reports: Psychological Warfare Branch, Military Government Kärnten, Mai 1945 Bis April 1946: Eine Quellenedition Zur Geschichte Der Britischen Besatzungszeit in Kärnten.'' Klagenfurt: Verlag des Kärntner Landesarchivs, p. 209.</ref><ref>Petschauer, Erich. 1980. ''Das Jahrhundertbuch der Gottscheer.'' Klagenfurt: Leustik.</ref>
Brežice expanded after the Second World War by annexing the neighboring villages of Brezina ({{langx|de|Bresina}}),<ref name="Leksikon"/> Črnč ({{lang|de|Tschernz}}),<ref name="Leksikon"/> Šentlenart ({{lang|de|Sankt Leonhard}}),<ref name="Leksikon"/> Trnje ({{lang|de|Ternje}}),<ref name="Leksikon"/> and Zakot ({{lang|de|Sakot}}).<ref name="Leksikon"/>
==Churches==
Saint Lawrence's Church in Brežice was first mentioned in written sources in the 12th century. It stood on the bank of the Sava (now an old side channel). It and the adjacent cemetery were heavily damaged by flooding in 1781, which also changed the course of the river, and the current church was built in the town center in 1782. Brežice has been the seat of a parish since 1641. Another church in the town, built in the second half of the 17th century, is dedicated to [[Saint Roch]].<ref name="Savnik"/>{{historical populations|25=1948|26=1349|27=1953|28=1823|29=1961|30=2641|31=1971|32=3271|33=1981|34=4043|35=1991|36=6862|37=2002|38=6510|39=2011|40=6573|41=2021|42=6888|footnote=Population size may be affected by changes in administrative divisions.}}
==Main sights==
[[File:Brezice (12) (3981867866).jpg|thumb|right|Brežice Castle]]
=== Brežice Castle ===
[[Brežice Castle]] is the dominant feature of the town, standing above the left bank of the Sava. It is now a museum housing several collections and exhibitions. In the castle chapel there is an altar by [[Luka Mislej]].
===Water Tower===
{{main|Brežice Water Tower}}
The Brežice Water Tower is the most prominent structure in the town, and is regarded as its symbol. Built in 1914, it was a key part of the town's water supply system until it was replaced by a new reservoir in 1972, after which it had an auxiliary role until 1983.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.rtvslo.si/lokalne-novice/breziski-vodovodni-stolp-je-bil-zgrajen-pred-100-leti/336985 |title=Brežiški vodovodni stolp je bil zgrajen pred 100 leti |language=sl |trans-title=The Brežice Water Tower was built 100 years ago |date=2014-05-16 |publisher=[[Radiotelevizija Slovenija]] |access-date=2017-05-09}}</ref>
==Education==
=== Brežice Upper Secondary School ===
The Brežice Upper Secondary School ({{langx|sl|Gimnazija Brežice}}) opened in 1945,<ref name = "Savnik"/> is built on the site of a Franciscan friary. The school was renovated in 1966, when an extension was also added. 690 students attend the school.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Gimnazija Brežice|url = http://www.gimnazija-brezice.si|website = www.gimnazija-brezice.si|access-date = 2015-12-11}}</ref>
=== Brežice Faculty of Tourism ===
The Faculty of Tourism was founded in December 2009<ref>{{cite web|title=About us - Faculty of Tourism|url=http://www.ft.uni-mb.si/en/about-us|access-date=2014-05-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518174429/http://www.ft.uni-mb.si/en/about-us|archive-date=2014-05-18|url-status=dead}}</ref> and is part of the [[University of Maribor]], Slovenia's second-largest university. It is located in the center of the town on the main street, ''Cesta prvih borcev''. In the 2012–2013 academic year it enrolled the first class of students in two three-year undergraduate programs in tourism: a vocational program and a bachelor's program. The faculty will also offer a master's program in tourism starting in the 2014–2015 academic year.
==Notable people==
Notable people that were born or lived in Brežice include:
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
* [[Jurij Rovan]] (born 1975), pole vaulter
* [[Ivo Benkovič]] (1875–?), politician<ref name="Savnik"/>
* [[Albin Bregar]] (?–1894), religious writer<ref name="Savnik"/>
* [[Vojko Černelč]] (born 1934), editor and journalist<ref name="Savnik"/>
* [[Mirjan Damaška]] (born 1931), jurist
* [[Vanda Gerlovič]] (1925–2001), opera singer<ref name="Savnik"/>
* [[Anton Gvajc]] (1865–1935), painter<ref name="Savnik"/>
* [[Vera Horvat]], (1906–?), painter<ref name="Savnik"/>
* [[Primož Kozmus]] (born 1979), Olympic and world hammer throw champion
* [[Anton Krošl]] (1905–1945), historian<ref name="Savnik"/>
* [[Jože Krošl]] (1894–1978), theologian and sociologist<ref name="Savnik"/>
* [[Franc Kruljc]] (1873–1954), theologian<ref name="Savnik"/>
* [[Dušan Kuščer]] (1920–), geologist<ref name="Savnik"/>
* [[Boris Lipužič]] (1930–), geographer<ref name="Savnik"/>
* [[Janez Mencinger]] (1838–1912), writer, translator, and lawyer<ref name="Savnik"/>
* [[Avgust Munda]] (1886–1971), ichthyologist<ref name="Savnik"/>
{{col-break}}
* [[Tomaž Petrovič]] (born 1979), football manager
* [[Leopold Poljanec]] (1872–1944), natural history expert<ref name="Savnik"/>
* [[Ljudmila Poljanec]] (1874–1948), poet<ref name="Savnik"/>
* [[Miloš Poljanšek]] (born 1923), Slavic studies specialist<ref name="Savnik"/>
* [[Karel Přibil]] (1877–1944), education expert and translator<ref name="Savnik"/>
* [[Georgius de Rain]] ({{langx|sl|Jurij iz Brežic}}) (14th century – 1416), religious writer<ref name="Savnik"/>
* [[Radoslav Razlag]] (1826–1880), poet and politician<ref name="Savnik"/>
* [[Željko Ražnatović]] (1952–2000), Serb paramilitary leader, also known as "Arkan"
* [[Lavoslav Schwentner]] (1865–1952), publisher<ref name="Savnik"/>
* [[Marjan Sidaritsch]] (1895–1925), agricultural geographer<ref name="Savnik"/>
* [[Boris Sikošek]] (born 1922), geologist and tectonics expert<ref name="Savnik"/>
* [[Gvidon Srebre]] (1839–1926), lawyer and politician<ref name="Savnik"/>
* [[Franjo Stiplovšek]] (1898–1963), painter and graphic artist<ref name="Savnik"/>
* [[Viktor Tiller]] (1878–1961), local historian and geographer<ref name="Savnik"/>
* [[Andrej Urek]] (1836–1904), poet<ref name="Savnik"/>
* [[Jaka Žorga]] (1888–1942), politician<ref name="Savnik"/>
{{col-end}}
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Brezice town, Slovenia.jpg|Brežice
File:Brezice, Slovenia.jpg|Brežice
File:Church of Brežice.jpg|Church
File:Street of Brežice.jpg|street
File:Brežice Castle.jpg|part of the castle
File:Brežice Water Tower.jpg|Water Tower
</gallery>
==See also==
*[[Brežice railway station]]
==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links==
*{{commons category-inline|Brežice}}
*[https://www.geopedia.world/#T12_L362_F2473:2663_x1737025.0940974813_y5767051.91861332_s14_b2345 Brežice on Geopedia]
{{Brežice}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:Brežice| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Municipality of Brežice]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Styria (Slovenia)]]