Julian Alps

Julian Alps

Gorenjska 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.

Bled and its surrounding area is one of the most beautiful Alpine resorts, known for a mild healthy climate and thermal lake water. A picturesque island rises out of the lake, covered by vegetation. Several buildings hide among the plants: a church, a belltower, the provost's house, the chaplain's house and a small hermitage. Many legends surround the island; one of these legends was used as the basis of one of the greatest works of Slovenia's great poet France Prešeren. Bled is famous for its boatmen, the »pletna« boat ride to the island and the classic local food – the cream slice. Many other wonders of nature can be found near Bled, including the Vintgar gorge, the Pokljuka gorge and others.

The Bohinj municipality spreads over the southeastern part of the Julian Alps, at the base of Triglav. An impressive 66% of the municipality lies inside the Triglav National Park, and 84% of the municipality is protected as part of the Natura 2000 network. Besides countless natural wonders, many tourists are attracted by ski centers, summer water sports (kayaking, canoeing, canyoning, hydrospeed, rafting, swimming) and annual ethnographic or other events: Courtship festival, Country wedding, Majenje turšce, Otepanje, Cows' ball, Balloon festival, Summer solstice bonfire, Vodnik's days, Summer theatre, Festival Kanal, Summer of music.

The place where the freshness of the Alps, the smelling scents of the Mediterranean and the Karst come together, is a unique piece of land. The Soča River (Isonzo), for many the most beautiful European river, carves the narrowest of gorges into the live rocks and imprints its riverbed on to the white gravel. The Trenta Valley under Vršič with the Trenta Museum opens the door into the wonderful world of the Triglav National Park, and Bovec is quickly developing into an Alpine tourist centre with the immediate vicinity of the highest mountain ski resort Kanin. The Bovec Rafting Team offers a lot of opportunities for spending active holidays, as well as the place Kobarid with its surroundings.

At the wonderful emerald Soča River there are pathways that join history, nature and the people. Kobarid is world known as the place of the Soča Front from World War I, the greatest mountain battle of all times. The Kobarid Museum talks cautiously about this part of history.

The Walk of Peace intertwines the heritage of the Isonzo Front with the natural wonders of The Upper Soča Region. It is also dedicated to the memory of numerous casualties of the First World War.The Toncovcov Castle tells an antique tale and the centuries old folk tradition is preserved in the Carnival customs of Drežnice. The ancient Breginjski kot is an architectural and ethnological monument, a proof of magnificent co-existence between man and nature.
 

The centre of Zgornje Posočje is Tolmin with its old town part and a modern sports park. In the Coronini Mansion the Tolmin Museum houses. Surely a ride with the museum train on steam engine along the "Bohinj railway" is a special experience. From Most na Soči the boat Lucija will take you on a trip along the river. Between the Kanal Kolovrat and the plateau Banjšice the picturesque town Kanal ob Soči developed. To the utmost east of Slovenia there is the hilly wine-growing region of Goriška Brda.