Lipsenj

Lipsenj (pronounced [liˈpseːn], German: Lipsein^[2]) is a small village between Žerovnica and Gorenje Jezero on the eastern edge of Lake Cerknica in the Municipality of Cerknica in the Inner Carniola region of Slovenia.^[3]

Lipsenj
Lipsenj Location in Slovenia
Coordinates: 45°44′43.42″N 14°25′56.8″E
Country	Slovenia
Traditional region	Inner Carniola
Statistical region	Littoral–Inner Carniola
Municipality	Cerknica
Area
• Total	2.3 km2 (0.89 sq mi)
Elevation	654.6 m (2,148 ft)
Population  (2020)
• Total	126
• Density	55/km2 (140/sq mi)
[1]

Geography

In addition to the main settlement, Lipsenj includes the hamlets of Podšteberk (in older sources Štegbrg, German: Stegberg)^[2] and Sveti Štefan (German: Sank Stefan^[2]).^[4]

Name

Lipsenj was attested in written sources in 1425 as Lubssem (and as Lubsen in 1436 and 1497, Lubzin in 1444, Lupsen in 1581, and Lypse in 1589). The medieval transcriptions of the name indicate that it developed from *Ljupsenj. This may have developed from the unattested hypocorism *Ľubosenъ, referring to some early inhabitant of the place.^[5]

Church

Saint Stephen's Church

The church in Lipsenj, located in the former village of Sveti Štefan, is dedicated to Saint Stephen. It is a chapel of ease and belongs to the Parish of Grahovo.^[6] The church was mentioned in written sources in 1526 and it was remodeled in the Baroque style in the 18th century. The church has an attached bell tower, an octagonal nave topped by a cupola, a polygonal chancel walled on three sides, and a sacristy. The interior furnishings of the church are late Baroque. There is a small cemetery next to the church.^[7]