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<br>Brezno (Slovak. Brezno, German. Bries (en), Hung. Breznóbánya) is a city in central Slovakia on the Hron River in the Slovak Ore . The population is about 21 thousand people.<br>Story<br>Brezno was first mentioned in 1265 in a letter to King Bela IV as „Berezun” – a mining settlement where precious metals were mined.<br><br> Main square<br><br>In 1380, Brezno received city rights. In the 17th century, timber mining began in the vicinity of the city, which attracted a stream of immigrants – loggers from Styria. The population was also engaged in sheep breeding, making the famous „Brizian” cheese from sheep’s milk and beekeeping. A metallurgical plant was installed in nearby Grontz. Thanks to all this, the city flourished.<br><br>In 1650, the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III gave the city the rights of a free royal city.<br><br>In the 19th century, larger factories and mines appeared in Austria-Hungary, and so Brezno entered a period of stagnation that lasted until the middle of the 20th century, when the industrialization of the city began.<br>sightsThe ensemble of the main square with the church of St. MaryPersonalitiesChalupka, Jan (1791-1871) – Slovak playwright, satirist, publicist, prose writer.Ladislav Khudik is an actor. People’s Artist of Czechoslovakia. Honorary citizen of the city.SportThe Osrblje biathlon center is located 9 km southwest of Brezno.Twin cities
