Brezje, Cerknica

Brezje (pronounced [ˈbɾeːzjɛ]) is a small village south of Begunje in the Municipality of Cerknica in the Inner Carniola region of Slovenia.[2]

Brezje
Brezje is located in Slovenia
Brezje
Brezje
Location in Slovenia
Coordinates: 45°48′33.46″N 14°22′57.99″E
Country Slovenia
Traditional regionInner Carniola
Statistical regionLittoral–Inner Carniola
MunicipalityCerknica
Area
 • Total1.39 km2 (0.54 sq mi)
Elevation
628.6 m (2,062.3 ft)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total29
 • Density21/km2 (54/sq mi)
[1]

Name

Brezje was attested in written sources as Vrersa in 1275, Bresiach in 1422, Pirk in 1438, and Bresie in 1498, among other spellings.[3] The name Brezje literally means 'birch woods', derived from the common noun breza 'birch'. Like similar toponyms in Slovenia (e.g., Brezova, Brezovec, Brezovci), it originally referred to the local vegetation.[4]

History

A water main was installed in Brezje in 1911; prior to this, the villagers would drive their animals to Cerkniščica Creek northwest of the settlement to water them and would also transport water from the creek for household use. A sawmill jointly owned by several farmers operated on Cerkniščica Creek until 1950.[5]

Mass grave

Brezje is the site of a mass grave associated with the Second World War. The Kovač Shaft Mass Grave (Slovene: Grobišče Kovačevo brezno or Grobišče Kovačev brezen) is located southeast of Brezje, on the northwest slope of Big Mount Slivnica (Velika Slivnica, 1,114 m). The cave entrance is at the bottom of an 18 m deep sinkhole. The bones of an unknown number of victims and a grenade were found in the shaft.[6]

Church
Church cornerstone, dated 1775

The local church in the settlement is dedicated to Saint George and belongs to the Parish of Cerknica.[7] It dates from 1775.[5]

References
  1. Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia
  2. Cerknica municipal site
  3. "Brezje". Slovenska historična topografija. ZRC SAZU Zgodovinski inštitut Milka Kosa. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  4. Snoj, Marko (2009). Etimološki slovar slovenskih zemljepisnih imen. Ljubljana: Modrijan. p. 79.
  5. Savnik, Roman (1968). Krajevni leksikon Slovenije, vol. 1. Ljubljana: Državna založba Slovenije. p. 41.
  6. Ferenc, Mitja (December 2009). "Grobišče Kovačevo brezno". Geopedia (in Slovenian). Ljubljana: Služba za vojna grobišča, Ministrstvo za delo, družino in socialne zadeve. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  7. Družina RC Church in Slovenia Journal website


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