SLOVENIA's HERITAGE SITES

 TRIGLAV NATIONAL PARK

The Triglav  National Park is the only national park in Slovenia.  It lies along the Italian border to the west, the Austrian border to the north and incorporates the Julian Alps. The park falls into three areas – Kranjska Gora in the north, Bohinj to the west and Bovec and the  Soca  Valley with the only road running through the park to the east.

The park is home to – the chamois - a mountain antelope of  Europe, brown bear and mountain goats. Golden eagles soar overhead, whilst poppies and purple bell flowers grow in abundance. A beautiful park with stunning scenery, enjoy a variety of pursuits either on your own or in guided tours.

THE SOCA TRAIL and TRENTA VALLEY

   The Trenta  Valley is a U-shaped valley formed by a glacier. The  Soca  River is the main waterway through the valley.  Its stunning turquoise, green colour has given rise to its nickname –“The Emerald River”.  A nature trail 20km long, follows the  Soca  River, from its source, through the Trenta valley to Bovec takes you through some of the most stunning countryside in . The source of the river is a permanent spring, fed from an underground lake gushing forth as a waterfall into the river below. The upper river is wild and irregular through a deep, narrow gorge tumbling over huge boulders, rapids, whirlpools and waterfalls. Joining the Soca is the Mlinarica, a torrential stream which has carved a gorge 1km long and 100m deep with its 8m high waterfall. Along the trail can be found the remains of old iron ore forges dating back 200 years when iron forging was an important industry in the valley.

The path gives stunning views of the mountain peaks rising above the valley following the course of the river, through deep gorges and over wooden bridges.

Marble trout - a native fish of the  Soca  River, has a large head and characteristic marbled pattern on its surface, is the official logo of the Soca Trail.

THE SALT-PANS OF SLOVENIA

  Near the border with Croatia, along the coast are the Secovlje salt-pans, now a regional park covering some 6.5 square kms. The northern part – Lera, along with its counterpart the nearby Strunjan salt-pans, still produce salt, albeit with up-dated salt-making procedures, but still preserving the traditional ways of salt harvest.   

The southern part – Fontanigge, stopped salt production in the 1960’s, but is now home to the Museum of Salt-making, housing traditional salt making equipment and demonstrating the old traditional methods. This has been proclaimed a cultural monument of national importance by the Slovenia Government. In 1989, because of the exceptionally varied natural and cultural heritage, the Secovlje saltpans were declared a landscape park which was divided into four smaller areas or natural reserves which are of exceptional botanical or ornithological importance. Having gained its independence in 1991, Slovenia ratified several international conventions which it inherited from Yugoslavia. In 1993 the Secovlje saltpans became the first Slovenian wetlands to be put on the Ramsar list because of their exceptional landscape and ecological value.

SALT HARVESTING

  Salt harvesting has been an industry of since the 13^th century, but on a far smaller scale now than at its peak in the early 1900’s. Salt-fields are fed with seawater along deep channels directly from the sea. This is allowed to settle in large “pans” lined with clay, gypsum and algae. The water is slowly removed and the salt crystallizes. 

The salt-fields are home to more than 270 species of birds and the only regular nesting site in Slovenia for the Black-winged Stilt and the Little Tern.  The Yellow-legged Gull and the Kentish Plover also favour the salt-pans as a breeding ground.  Herons can be seen all year round.

Many migrating birds use the salt-pans as a stopover in the Spring and Autumn on their way to and from  Europe  and  Africa.

Salt loving plants are in abundance – most typical the Marsh Samphire, Sea Purslane, Annual Sea-blite and the violet Common Sea-lavender.

ALPINE BOTANICAL GARDEN

The “Juliana” Alpine garden in the Trenta  Valley  was created in 1926.

 The garden covers some 2,500 square metres and depicts a walk through the valleys to the mountains of the Julian Alps.  The plants come from the  Julian Alps, the  Friuli  Mountains, Karavanke, Kamnik-Savinja Alps and the meadows of the Karst. There are some 600 plant species growing in the garden.

FRUIT DRYING

 DRYING HOUSES

The oldest type is a Smoke House – a typical house design with four walls, a roof and a fireplace. The fruit was put on a frame above the fire and it dried as it got hot, but it did have a smokey flavour! As time went, by smokeless drying houses appeared with an oven floor downstairs and a drying room above. There are still working fruit-drying houses in the Velike Lasce and are well worth a visit. 

In September each year there is a Dried Fruit Festival in Gradez to celebrate the construction of the drying house. You can sample home cooked dishes and discover the traditional methods of drying in the working oven.

LACE-MAKING

 Lace-making is still taught in the school to pupils aged between 6 and 14 years old.

The lace patterns range from simple flower designs to very complicated intricate motifs depicting peasant life of old.

The Lace Festival in the last week of August includes lace-making competitions, craft exhibitions and also the opportunity to buy some of the beautiful handmade lace.