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Branik means a fortress. Defense. Defended place. The Branik village was developed under the castle hill and was defended by the castle.

The castle Rihemberk is first mentioned in year 1230.
The Rihemberk family who built it came from South Tirol, from today castle of Reifenstein near Sterzing (Italy). The family received from the Counts of Gorizia an immense estate, in the valley of Vipava, near Gorizia, the Carsic part of Slovenia, and some more remote estates (a rather big part of today’s Slovenia). The last person of Rihemberk family died in 1371. In 14th and 15th century, the property became smaller. In 1500 the last Count of Gorizia died and the estate became property of the Austrian Habsburg family, where it remained until 1528, or, according to some sources, until 1649 when the castle became property of the Lanthieri family. And so it was until the night of 22 July 1944 when partisans burnt it to prevent it of being a fortress in the hands of German much German ammunition stored in it was exploded. The castle was seriously damaged, but is under reconstruction.
The castle, in some places, still shows the Romanesque elements. The main round tower is from 13th century.
The wall is from Renaissance time. And the corner round towers were added in 16th century.
The castle residence is shows evidence of beautiful baroque elements. And the castle chapel has gothic characteristics. The final look of the castle is from 17th and 18th century, a beautiful baroque residence, it also had a baroque garden outside the castle’s South wall.
Today the castle is property of the Slovenian state, and in 1999 it was declared a Slovenian Heritage Monument. The castle and the surrounding area are, since then, strictly protected area.
The castle is visitable and evening concerts and performances are organized during July and August.