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While the area around Novo mesto was settled already in pre-historic times, Novo mesto was founded by Habsburg Archduke Rudolf IV of Austria on 7 April 1365.

The town was named Rudolfswerth, but the locals soon renamed it to Novo mesto (New City).

The city was officially renamed only after World War I and the dissolution of Austria-Hungary, when it became a part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.

Records show that the area was inhabited as early as Early Iron Age and has been nicknamed the "City of Situlas" after numerous situlas, elaborate bucket-shaped vessels from the Iron Age, were found in the area.

Today the city, located on a bend of the Krka river, spreads over an area of some 30 square kilometres, and has, according to the last census, a little over 22,000 inhabitants.

Novo mesto is the regional administrative, economic, educational and cultural centre of Dolenjsko, which boasts some of the country's most successful companies such as Krka, Revoz, Adria Mobil and TPV.

It is also home to a regional museum, Dolenjski muzej Novo mesto, and one of the most progressive and avant garde theatre outfits in the country, the Anton Podbevšek Teater.

In 2006 Novo mesto also became the centre of the new Roman Catholic Diocese of Novo Mesto, which is one of the three youngest dioceses in the country, next to that of Celje and Murska Sobota.

The municipality has told the STA that the 650th anniversary of the city will be celebrated throughout the year and beyond with schools as well as various associations and institutes taking part.

The municipality in turn plans to mark the jubilee with special programmes and investments, including the renovation of the city market and the old town.

In 2014, it allocated EUR 50,000 for the celebrations, while the amount of money to be spent this year will be known after the new municipal budget is passed.

Festivities, honouring the city's archaeological heritage and milestones, will start on the date of the founding of Novo mesto, 7 April, which is a local holiday.

Especially honoured will be athletes from Novo mesto who have gained international acclaim, among them late gymnast Leon Štukelj, who won four Olympic medals and was declared Athlete of the Century in 2000.

A vision of the future development of the city will also be presented.