A Day with the Bear

A plain that can turn into the largest Slovenian lake after a mere three days of heavy rain; a lake that can all but disappear just as quickly in the summer draught. The surface of the lake undergoes small changes every day. In extreme cases, it can stretch over more than 30 km2, and shrink to only 0.1 km2 in the summer time. Regardless of the water levels, Lake Cerknica offer wonderful vistas and a variety of ways to spend your free time, which include cycling, hiking, swimming, paddling, and hay cart rides.

One of the world’s most spectacular water caves, famous for its underground lakes, cave bear bones, and unspoiled beauty. Cross Cave is one of the few tourist caves without electricity, lighting or concrete paths. Visitors are given only lanterns and a pair of boots, after which they can paddle the emerald cave waters in the company of a guide.

Postojna Cave is the most popular Slovenian tourist attraction. The cave’s first visitor was Ferdinand I, the heir to the Austrian throne, who toured it in 1819; since then, more than 38 million people have done the same. Given that approximately a million people visit Postojna Cave each year, the next round jubilee cannot be far away. The main attractions of the cave are its stunning formations, the train that takes visitors through the first part of the cave, and of course the proteus, a peculiar cave animal that can be viewed from up close at the Vivarium, along with…

Lake Cerknica changes every day: the water level fluctuates constantly, as does the depth of the river bed, which is generally between 1 and 5 m, occasionally exceeding even these limits. To really understand the lake, you should observe it at least once a week. Alternatively, you can visit the Lake Cerknica Museum in Dolenje Jezero. The focal point of the museum is the scale model of Lake Cerknica, which demonstrates how water flows into the lake and fills it up, and how it disappears underground on dry summer days. You can also view footage of the lake in all…

The Cerknica encampment represents one of the largest and strongest Slovenian defence complexes that survive to this day. It once consisted of five fortresses, of which only two remain: one is now a Tourist Office, while the other is the birth house of writer and poet Jože Udovič (1912). The encampment wall is right beside another famous building, the birth house of composer Fran Gerbič. Within the walls stands the Church of the Assumption of Mary. Interesting fact: Cerknica was named after this very church – originally appearing as ‘cerkvica’ (‘little church’), the name changed into ‘Cerknica’ through the years.

Thanks to its strategic location, the town of Pivka has a rich military heritage, which can be seen at the Park of Military History. Situated in an old army barracks, the park is both a museum and an adventure complex designed for learning and exploring. You can see weapons, vehicles, and equipment from different historical eras, walk through the period of the Slovenian battle for independence, look into a diversionary submarine, and more.

The meeting point of the mysterious Kočevje Forest and the characteristic Karst forms. The Log stream meanders through Travnik Plain, an area encompassed by forests and home to many animals. Apart from the three main European beasts (the bear, the wolf, and the lynx), these include stags, deer, wild cats, wild boar, and many others. This part of the world is heaven for forest enthusiasts and nature lovers in general.

Babno Polje is the coldest place in Slovenia, and is commonly referred to as »the Slovenian Siberia«. The absolute lowest temperature is believed to have been -39.6 °C (1929), although official records show an all-time low of -34.5 °C, which was measured in 1956. Babno Polje is not only the coldest, but also one of the most charming villages in the municipality of Lož Valley. The care and effort that the locals devote to keeping their environment beautiful can be seen at the very entrance to the village, where they built a giant »Crone of Babno«. Legend has it that…

Completely unspoiled nature only 30 km from Slovenia’s capital city. The extraordinary natural beauty of Vid Plain can be attributed to its limited accessibility. The crystalline rivers Iška and Zala, which flow along the plain, have carved their beds into the picturesque ravine, amidst pools, waterfalls, and cliffs. They attract visitors looking for adventure and summer relaxation in the many pools and untouched forests.

A Karst plain on which forests meet colourful meadows; a rugged-road paradise for cyclists where cars are a rare sight; a forest lover’s sanctuary. If you venture into these woods, make sure you remember your way back, and keep an eye out for the forest’s wildest dwellers – bears, wolves, and even lynxes.

The largest water cave in Slovenia, famous for the unique underground confluence of two rivers: Pivka, which flows in from Postojna Cave, and Rak, which flows in from the Rak Škocjan Valley. Together, they surface as Unica, which winds its way down Planina Plain. You can visit Planina Cave by walking to the underground river confluence or by taking a boat trip to Paradiž, the most beautiful part of the cave.