Official Name: | Bukovje |
Pushpin Map: | Slovenia |
Pushpin Label Position: | left |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Slovenia |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | Slovenia |
Subdivision Type1: | Traditional region |
Subdivision Name1: | Styria |
Subdivision Type2: | Statistical region |
Subdivision Name2: | Lower Sava |
Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
Subdivision Name3: | Brežice |
Area Total Km2: | 2.41 |
Population As Of: | 2020 |
Population Total: | 61 |
Population Density Km2: | auto |
Population Blank1 Title: | Ethnicities |
Population Blank2 Title: | Religions |
Coordinates: | 46.0336°N 15.7057°W |
Elevation M: | 358.1 |
Footnotes: | [1] |
Bukovje (in Slovenian pronounced as /ˈbuːkɔu̯jɛ/; German: Buchdorf[2]) is a settlement in the hills north of Bizeljsko in the Municipality of Brežice in eastern Slovenia. The area is part of the traditional region of Styria. It is now included with the rest of the municipality in the Lower Sava Statistical Region.[3] It includes the hamlets of Graben to the west, which partially lies in the valley of Sračjak Creek, and Žalce (German: Schalze[2]), just above the Sotla River.[4]
The name Bukovje is derived from the word buk 'beech'. Like similar names (e.g., Bukovica, Bukovec, Bukovci), it originally referred to the local vegetation.[5] In the past the German name was Buchdorf (literally, 'beech village').[2]
The local church south of the settlement is a pilgrimage church dedicated to Saint Anthony and belongs to the Parish of Bizeljsko. It was built in the 17th century, vaulted in the 18th century, and extended in the 19th century, when the belfry was also remodelled.[6] It has a rectangular nave and a chancel enclosed on three sides. The altar dates from the mid-18th century and the paintings in the church are the work of Simon Ogrin (1851–1930).[7]
In addition to the Church of Saint Anthony, two other structures in Bukovje are registered as cultural heritage:
During the Second World War several farm buildings in the village were destroyed. In the fall of 1941 the Germans evicted 135 villagers in order to settle Kočevje Germans and Bessarabia Germans in their place.[4]