Branik (; it, Rifembergo, german: Reifenberg) is a village in western

Slovenia Slovenia ( ; sl, Slovenija ), officially the Republic of Slovenia (Slovene: , abbr.: ''RS''), is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the southeast, an ...

in the Municipality of Nova Gorica. Until 2011,

Pedrovo Pedrovo () is a settlement in the Municipality of Nova Gorica, western Slovenia. It was established in 2011. Previously, it was part of the settlement of Branik. On 1 January 2012, it had an area of and 12 inhabitants. Church The church in Pedr ...

was a hamlet of Branik.

Name

The name of the settlement was changed from Rihemberk (earlier ''Rifenberg'', from German ''Reyfemberch'', attested in 1274) to Branik in 1955. The name was changed on the basis of the 1948 Law on Names of Settlements and Designations of Squares, Streets, and Buildings as part of efforts by Slovenia's postwar communist government to remove German elements from toponyms.Urbanc, Mimi & Matej Gabrovec. 2005. Krajevna imena: poligon za dokazovanje moči in odraz lokalne identitete. ''Geografski vestnik'' 77(2): 25–43. Rihemberk is still the name used for

Branik Castle Branik Castle ( sl, Grad Branik, ), also known as Rihemberk Castle (''Grad Rihemberk'', ), is a 13th-century castle above the village of Branik, near the city of Nova Gorica in southwestern Slovenia. History Fortified settlements have been presen ...

located above the village.

Climate

Branik is in the Branik Valley, which is part of the

Vipava Valley The Vipava Valley (; sl, Vipavska dolina, german: Wippachtal, it, Valle del Vipacco) is a valley in the Slovenian Littoral, roughly between the village of Podnanos to the east and the border with Italy to the west. The main towns are Ajdovš ...

, just beneath the Karst Plateau. The location provides a favourable climate for the growth of Mediterranean fruits, such as

figs The fig is the edible fruit of ''Ficus carica'', a species of small tree in the flowering plant family Moraceae. Native to the Mediterranean and western Asia, it has been cultivated since ancient times and is now widely grown throughout the world ...

and

peach The peach (''Prunus persica'') is a deciduous tree first domesticated and cultivated in Zhejiang province of Eastern China. It bears edible juicy fruits with various characteristics, most called peaches and others (the glossy-skinned, non-fu ...

es. The area is also renowned for its wines, especially Vitovska Garganja, Barbera,

Merlot Merlot is a dark blue–colored wine grape variety, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name ''Merlot'' is thought to be a diminutive of ''merle'', the French name for the blackbird, probably a reference to the ...

, and

Chardonnay Chardonnay (, , ) is a green-skinned grape variety used in the production of white wine. The variety originated in the Burgundy wine region of eastern French wine, France, but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from English wine, Englan ...

Church

The

parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activities, ...

in the settlement is dedicated to Saint Ulrich and belongs to the Diocese of Koper.

Notable natives and residents

* Nevin Birsa, poet * Rajko Bratož, historian * Ljudevit Furlani, translator and journalist *

Simon Gregorčič Simon Gregorčič (15 October 1844 – 24 November 1906) was a Slovene poet and Roman Catholic priest. He is considered the first lyric poet of the Slovene realist poetry and the most melodical Slovene poet. Biography Gregorčič (Oct ...

, poet *

Tjaša Iris Tjaša Iris is a Slovenian-born artist, known for her digital art, photographs and large paintings painted with bright colors, vivid atmospheres of gardens with lush vegetation and bright light. Color is the main concern in her painting, explor ...

, painte

References

External links