Brežice

Brežice
Main Street in Brežice
Brežice Location in Slovenia
Coordinates: 45°54′17.23″N 15°35′32.01″E / 45.9047861°N 15.5922250°E / 45.9047861; 15.5922250Coordinates: 45°54′17.23″N 15°35′32.01″E / 45.9047861°N 15.5922250°E / 45.9047861; 15.5922250
Country	Slovenia
Traditional region	Styria
Statistical region	Lower Sava
Municipality	Brežice
Area
• Total	8.9 km2 (3.4 sq mi)
Elevation	162 m (531 ft)
Population (2002)
• Total	6,856
Climate	Cfb

Brežice (pronounced [ˈbɾèːʒit͡sɛ];German: Rann[ʁan]) is a town in eastern Slovenia in the Lower Sava Valley, near the Croatian border. It is the seat of the Municipality of Brežice. 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 whole municipality is now included in the Lower Sava Statistical Region.

Brežice prides itself on a rich historical and cultural heritage. The Lower Sava Valley Museum (Slovene: 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 water tower, as well as the double arches of the 527 m long iron bridge, which spans the Sava and Krka rivers.

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.

Brežice was affected by 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.