Drežnica | |
---|---|
Location in Slovenia | |
Coordinates: 46°15′24.08″N 13°36′52.02″E / 46.2566889°N 13.6144500°ECoordinates: 46°15′24.08″N 13°36′52.02″E / 46.2566889°N 13.6144500°E | |
Country | Slovenia |
Traditional region | Slovenian Littoral |
Statistical region | Gorizia |
Municipality | Kobarid |
Area | |
• Total | 2.16 km2 (0.83 sq mi) |
Elevation | 540.7 m (1,774.0 ft) |
Population (2002) | |
• Total | 256 |
Drežnica (pronounced [ˈdɾeːʒnitsa]; Italian: Dresenza) is a village in the Municipality of Kobarid in the Littoral region of Slovenia. It is located above the Soča River on a small plateau under Mount Krn. Together with the neighboring settlements of Koseč, Drežniške Ravne, Jezerca, and Magozd, it has around 565 inhabitants.
Drežnica was first mentioned in written sources in 1178 as Dresnitz and Dresniz (and in 1291 as Dresnica, and in 1351 as Dresnize). The name is a univerbized form derived from *Dręzžьna voda (literally, 'forest creek') or *Dręzžьna vьsь (literally, 'forest village'), derived from the Slavic word *dręzga 'forest, thicket'. Place names of similar origin include Drežnik and Dresden.
In 1747, the Parish of Drežnica was founded. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, it was a prosperous village with more than 1,000 inhabitants. During that time, the current church was built on the site of a previous, smaller one.
At the outbreak of World War I, most of the inhabitants were evacuated to the interior of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In the first months after the Italian attack on Austria-Hungary, the village was occupied by Italian troops and the rest of the inhabitants were sent to internment camps in Italy, where many died of malnutrition and bad conditions. The village was almost completely destroyed during the Battles of the Isonzo, but the church remained completely intact.