Brinje
Brinje is a settlement and a municipality in Lika-Senj County, Croatia. It is located about east of Senj and north of Gospić.
Geography
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, which appears on the town's coat of arms.Climate
Since records began in 1997, the highest temperature recorded at the local weather station was, on 3 August 2017. The coldest temperature was, on 13 January 2003.History
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 1507, the monk Bartol of Brinje left a graffito on the wall of the Sv. Antona church in Bale.
In the 16th century, Brinje became a part of the Austrian Military Frontier Known commanders of Brinje in that period include:
- Juraj Gusić
- Franjo Mudrovčić
- Gašpar Starešinić
- Tomica Holjevac, burgrave
- Andrija Semenić
- Gabro Aichelburg
- Franjo Aichelburg
- Ivan Mihael Floriančić
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.
Population
In 2021, the municipality had 2,563 residents in the following 12 settlements:- Brinje, population 1250
- Glibodol, population 7
- Jezerane, population 270
- Križ Kamenica, population 173
- Križpolje, population 392
- Letinac, population 95
- Lipice, population 94
- Prokike, population 63
- Rapain Klanac, population 6
- Stajnica, population 164
- Vodoteč, population 33
- Žuta Lokva, population 16
Culture
The municipality is one of several in the Lika region where Čakavian dialect is spoken.Attractions
Gravestone of Matijaš Čubranić
There is a Glagolitic gravestone dated 15 May 1518, commemorating Matijaš Čubranić. According to its first publisher Ivan Kukuljević Sakcinski, there was a tradition that it was originally in the Sv. Vida church before being brought to the current parish church, Blažene Djevice Marije. The gravestone was destroyed in World War II and now only a fragment remains, found in 1958 by parish priest Ivan Kranjčec.In the inscription, ⰃⰓ is written as a ligature. Branko Fučić published a reproduction of the inscription in 1982.