Rifnik

Rifnik
Rifnik

Location in Slovenia

Coordinates: 46°12′12″N 15°24′31.48″E / 46.20333°N 15.4087444°E / 46.20333; 15.4087444Coordinates: 46°12′12″N 15°24′31.48″E / 46.20333°N 15.4087444°E / 46.20333; 15.4087444
Country Slovenia
Traditional region Styria
Statistical region Savinja
Municipality Šentjur
Area
  Total 1.54 km2 (0.59 sq mi)
Elevation 330.8 m (1,085.3 ft)
Population (2002)
  Total 162
[1]

Rifnik is a settlement in the Municipality of Šentjur in eastern Slovenia. It lies on Rifnik Hill just south of Šentjur. The area is part of the historical Styria region. The municipality is now included in the Savinja statistical region.[2]

Name

Rifnik was first attested in written sources in 1326 as Reichenekk (and as Reiheneck in 1335 and Reihnek in 1343). The name originally referred to the castle at the site, a compound formed from the Middle High German personal name Rîcho + egge 'hill, castle'. The name therefore originally meant 'Rîcho's castle'.[3]

Archaeological park

On the hilltop above the settlement there is the Rifnik archaeological park with the permanent exhibition about the local prehistoric and ancient findings curated by the Celje Regional Museum.

Castle

The settlement is best known for its 13th-century castle. The castle was abandoned in the 17th century, but the remains of the residential part and the fortifications are still visible.[4]

References

  1. Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia
  2. Šentjur municipal site
  3. Snoj, Marko. 2009. Etimološki slovar slovenskih zemljepisnih imen. Ljubljana: Modrijan and Založba ZRC, p. 355.
  4. Slovenian Ministry of Culture register of national heritage reference number ešd 7923

External links

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