Gorenjska (former Upper Carniola) is a region of high peaks, sharp mountain ridges, deep Alpine valleys and clear waters. Narrow gorges with the noisy voice of the waterfalls add to the typical picture of the Alpine world, the quiet lakes of the valleys reflect the blue sky, and in the lakes the dark green woods from extensive plains, the cleared woodland of the mountain pastures and the flowers of colourful meadows can also see its reflection.
The kingdom of the mythological Goldenhorn, which tends a flock of chamois amongst the white edelweiss flowers, is nowadays a national protected area of the
Triglav national park with Mount Triglav (2864 m), the symbol of the Slovenian nation. The best way to start exploring the magnificent park is to visit one of the tourist offices in
Trenta,
Kranjski gora,
Bovec or
Ribičev Laz in Bohinj.. By following the information boards in the park, you can take a journey back to the times of the first mountaineers, the hard-lived shepherds and through the earth layers up to the deep karst underworld. There are several forest-learning paths and other thematic paths, leading the traveller to the river channels of Tolminka, Zadlaščica, Mostnica, the Gorge of Pokljuka or to
Zelenci, where the central Slovenian river Sava springs.
On the slopes of the Karavanke Mountains, the mountain Golica, strewn with daffodils, and the ancient Ajdna invite you in the spring, on the plateau Velika Planina there are cows pasturing
just like in former times, in
Dovžan Gorge near
Tržič you can visit the well-known archaeological site of stones from the Permic Period, whereas the Smith's
Museum in Kropa exhibits the remains of smith's trade. Of course, you cannot leave Gorenjska without having visited its famous tourist places:
Kranj with a picturesque old town part on the pier above the confluence of the Sava and Kokra rivers,
Škofje Loka with its renowned castle,
Kranjske Gore,
Radovljic, and
Kamnik, which is close to the
Arboretuma Volčji Potok. And then there is Bled – with an island and church in the middle of the lake. The lake is protected by a steep wall with a castle on the top and in the background the peeks of the Julian Alps can be seen.
Bled is the centre of rowing, congress and social events, as well as the starting point for trips to the mountains or skiing places – »the image of paradise«, as described by the greatest Slovenian poet France Prešeren.
