Brinje

Brinje is a municipality in Lika-Senj County, Croatia, located about 35 miles from Gospić. According to 2001 census, Brinje had 4,108 inhabitants, out of which 92% were Croats. The municipality is part of Lika.

The town is formed around a castle called Sokolac, which contains one of the most well preserved Gothic chapels in Croatia, St. Marys, which dates back to the 14th century. The Sokolac Castle in the town is named after the Croatian word for falcon (sokol), which appears on the town's coat of arms.

Brinje's history dates back to medieval times, while the town was held by the noble Frankopan and Gorjanski families. Brinje was important medieval fortified city held by Frenkopan family.

In the late 19th century and early 20th century, Brinje was part of the Lika-Krbava County of the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia.

It is some 60 km north of Gospić, on once important road, the "Josephina", passing from the hinterland through the Kapela pass towards the coast in Senj. The new highway that is built brought much needed prosperity to Brinje.

The municipality is the only one in the Lika region that speaks the Čakavian dialect.

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