POSAVJE MUSEUM (POSAVSKI MUZEJ)

The regional museum is housed in the Renaissance castle of Brežice. Originally a fortress designed to resist Turkish attackers, the castle became a palace in the Baroque period. Its frescoed hall, the largest in the country, is a masterpiece. The painter is said to have painted himself. The chapel and staircase are also painted. Scenes from Greek and Roman mythology abound. Classical music concerts are held here in summer.

The museum boasts an interesting archaeological collection, including a number of skeletons, such as that of an Illyrian soldier (500 B.C.) found in his tomb, complete with equipment and horse harness ornaments. In Dobova, 420 graves have been identified. In Roman times, Drnovo, near Brežice, was an important Roman settlement (4,000 inhabitants).

In the ethnological section, visitors can discover the life of the people of Posavje and their style of dress, thanks to the furniture, pottery and glass paintings on display. One room is devoted to viticulture. In the middle stands a klapotec, used to ward off birds. More recent history, too, is recounted at length through the deeds of the resistance. The museum also boasts the first translation of the Bible into Slovene by Jury Dalmatin in 1584, and a sledge belonging to Empress Maria Theresa. One room is dedicated to the work of Franjo Stiplovšek, who launched the museum in 1949.