1 NATURE PARKS PARKS NATURE IN SLOVENIA www.slovenia.info 2 Slovenia is one of Europe’s most diverse states for fl ora and fauna with one of the continent’s best preserved natural environments. Having vast areas of pris- tine countryside constitutes a major advantage for Slov- enian tourism, allowing its development potential to be heavily oriented towards visitor’s desires for peaceful relaxation at close proxim- ity to the natural world. Where natural beauty takes your breath away... For a relatively small area, Slovenia off ers a unique mosaic of biological, geographical and cultural diversity, with dozens of major natural assets and items of signifi cant European cultural heritage. Around 12,6% of Slovenia’s territory is cover by protected natural areas, 36% of the territory is protected under Natura 2000, and almost 15,000 aspects of the country’s nature have been awarded the status “valuable natural feature”. By managing our country’s resources carefully we ensure that nature’s treasures are preserved for future generations, that local population development is planned responsibly, and that all economic development is sustainable. 3 Lake in Velika dolina - Škocjan Caves 02_ Introduction 14_ NOTRANJSKA Regional Park 26_ STRUNJAN Landscape Park 04_ Map NATURE PARKS IN 16_ GORIČKO Landscape Park 28_ LAHINJA Landscape Park SLOVENIA 18_ KOLPA Landscape Park 30_ ŠKOCJANSKI ZATOK Nature 06_ Nature parks in Slovenia Reserve 20_ SEČOVLJE SALINA Landscape 07_ TRIGLAV National Park Park 32_ RADENSKO POLJE Landscape Park* 10_ ŠKOCJAN CAVES Park 22_ LOGARSKA DOLINA Landscape Park 34_ KAMNIK and SAVINJA ALPS 12_ KOZJANSKO Regional Park Regional Park* 24_ LJUBLJANSKO BARJE Landscape Park *establishment under way 4 5 TRIGLAV National Park ŠKOCJAN CAVES Park KOZJANSKO Regional Park NOTRANJSKA Regional Park GORIČKO Landscape Park KOLPA Landscape Park SEČOVLJE SALINA Landscape Park LOGARSKA DOLINA Landscape Park LJUBLJANSKO BARJE Landscape Park STRUNJAN Landscape Park LAHINJA Landscape Park ŠKOCJANSKI ZATOK Nature Reserve RADENSKO POLJE Landscape Park* KAMNIK and SAVINJA ALPS Regional Park* *establishment under way 6 Nature Parks in Slovenia Nature parks are those areas of Slov- Visitors to nature parks have various enia where the level of natural and aids to help their experience includ- cultural preservation is highest and ing plentiful information available consequently they form a key part of at information centers, on signs, on the nation’s tourism infrastructure. marked park trails, through guided Spending free time amongst unspoilt tours etc. Hiking trails, cycle routes nature is on the rise in today’s modern and wine-tourism roads off er links society. Nature parks off er the perfect between natural beauty and cultural setting for peace and relaxation; en- monuments and attract visitors in Triglav National Park joying natural beauty, observing wild- more specifi c ways. life, experiencing unique landscapes, learning about local culture and his- For visitors who wish to get to know tory, participating in activities (from the most beautiful pockets of our na- hiking to skiing and photography). ture parks more intimately, profession- ally guided tours are available from our Slovenia’s protected natural areas are park rangers. Numerous events, both divided into diff erent categories ac- traditional and modern, exhibitions, cording to the international IUCN cat- workshops and concerts, throughout egorization. Th e basic division is into the calendar will add to any tourist’s large and small protected areas. Larger overall experience. Our nature parks areas are those generally referred to as are suitable for many diff erent types of “nature parks”. Th e following protect- holiday length (from daytrips to over- ed areas exist in Slovenia: nights to multi-day family excursions) and holiday variety (from cultural her- Large protected areas or nature itage to outdoor leisure to adventure parks: sports). • 1 national park (IUCN: II/V) • 3 regional parks (IUCN: V/II) Much of what’s on off er is detailed in Logarska dolina • 44 landscape parks (IUCN: V) the present publication although for reasons of space it has not been possi- Small protected areas: ble to include everything. For further • 52 nature reserves (IUCN: IV and I) details in any specifi c area, please do • 1217 natural monuments (IUCN: III) not hesitate contact us. Enjoy our parks and the all the new experiences they bring you. Editorial board Snakke’s head Fritillary 7 TRIGLAV TRIGLAV NATIONAL PARK away breath Where beauty takes your natural ABOUT THE PARK Th e troughs of the Soča river Location: northwest Slovenia, near the borders with Austria and Italy; covers almost the entire area of the Slovenian Th e Triglav National Park is the only national park in Slovenia and it protects an part of the Julian Alps. area of pristine nature within the Alps. Th e name itself comes from Triglav, Slov- Surface area: 207,524 acres (839 km2) enia’s highest mountain and an important national symbol that appears on the Establishment of the park: 1924, ex- fl ag and elsewhere. Set amongst the spectacular peaks in the Julian Alps, the panded in 1981 and 2010 park is home to jagged ridges and vertical rock faces, deeply-carved valleys and Natural signifi cance: Valuable natural hard-to-access gorges, stunning glacial lakes and dense forest, rolling carpets of features: 1013, the entire park is an eco- logically important area, Natura 2000 alpine fl owers and mountain patches of green grass – all combined with a lavish (SPA) site for 17 bird species, Natura profusion of biodiversity. 2000 (SCI) site for nine animal and fi ve Management: Triglavski narodni park Info center Dom Trenta: Na Logu plant species and 23 habitat types. Ljubljanska 27, SI - 4260 Bled Trenta, SI - 5232 Soča International signifi cance: Phone: +386(0) 4 57 80 200, fax: +386(0) 4 578 02 Phone and fax: +389(0) 5 388 93 30 (031 671 675) • European Diploma of Protected Areas 01; email: [email protected], web- email: [email protected] 2004 site: www.tnp.si Open: May to October, 10 AM to 6 PM • UNESCO – MAB biosphere reserve Info center Triglavska roža Bled Pocar Homestead in Zgornja Radovna 2003 Ljubljanska cesta 27, SI - 4260 Bled Zgornja Radovna 25, SI - 4281 Mojstrana Phone: +386(0) 4 5780 200, +386(0) 4 5780 205; fax: Phone: +386(0) 4 5780 200, fax: +386(0) 4 5780 201 +386(0) 4 5780 201; email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Open: May to September, Tuesdays through Sundays, Open: May 16 to June 24 and in September, Saturdays 10 AM to 6 PM; October to April, Tuesdays through Fri- and Sundays, 11 AM to 6 PM; from June 25 to August days, 12 PM to 4 PM and Saturdays and Sundays 10 AM 31, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 11 AM to 6 PM to 6 PM Th ere is no charge to enter the park. 8 On the Soča trail, Trenta Apart from preserved natural and cultural • Beautiful gorges and valleys, e.g. “fossilized” landscape, the Triglav National Park is a space Pokljuka gorge (trail from Krnica or Zatrnik, 2 for research, education, leisure and experienc- to 3 hours), Tolminka troughs and Zadlaščice ing nature. Mountain peaks, wild and deep on the marked circuit trail from the parking gorges, the riches of the plant world, cultural area above Zatolmin, can be combined with landscape with mountain pastures and pictur- a visit to the village of Čadrg (1.5 hours, in- esque villages with their rich cultural heritage cluding visit to Čadrg, 3 hours), Martuljščica all invite you to visit. troughs, Martuljek waterfalls and Za Akom basin (starting from Gozd Martuljek, 4 hours), Vintgar gorge on the Radovna river, WORTH SEEING Mostnica troughs (starting from the parking • Th e amazing alpine world. North Face of area above Stara Fužina). Mostnica river gorge Triglav, the second highest rock face in the • Natural assets, e.g. Zelenci nature reserve Eastern Alps, numerous natural windows (the spring of the Sava Dolinka river between (one of the largest being Veliko okno in • Architecture – the typical Bohinj, Tolmin, Rateče and Podkoren), Goreljek peat bog Prisank, Okno in Zadnji Prisank, Hornovo Bovec-Trenta and Gornjesavska hous- (starting from Mrzli Studenec). okno in Jalovec), Ajdovska deklica (pagan es, shepherds’ settlements, picturesque girl) – a stone face nature has carved in the • Picturesque pasture meadows, e.g. Bohinj churches of St. John and Holy Spirit on north face of Prisank. pasture meadows (starting from the park- Lake Bohinj, memorial chapel on Javorca, ing area above Stara Fužina – Hudičev most Russian chapel under Vršič, fortresses • Th e diverse plant world, remains of virgin – Mostnica troughs – mountain cabin at Voje Kluže in Predel. forests, dwarf pines above the tree line, bogs – Voje gable – Planina Grintovica – Planina at Pokljuka, alpine fl owers and numerous Below are the principal marked park trails Krstenica – Planina Blato – Stara Fužina), plant species. that guide visitors through many key points sheep pastures Za Skalo (starting from Na of interest in the park. • Multiple rivers, in particular the emerald skali village, Soča). green Soča, considered by many the most • Triglavska Bistrica trail in the Vrata val- • Visiting TNP info points, e.g. Stari Tamar beautiful river in the Alps; waterfalls and ley Experience one of the most beautiful on the way to Vršič, and ascending from Vršič karst springs (Savica, Peričnik, Spodnji Mar- glacial valleys in the Alps (starting from through Vratca to Slemenova špica (3 hours). tuljkov slap and Zgornji Martuljkov slap, Šum Mojstrana (at Ros), 4 to 5 hours). in Vintgar, waterfall of Ribnica, Nadiža in the • Cross-country skiing on established tracks • Soča trail combines exceptional natural (Upper and Lower Bohinj valley, Zgornje Tamar valley, the spring of the Soča river, beauty and typical cultural heritage, and ex- Gorje, Zgornja Radovna, Gorjuše, Pokljuka, waterfalls in the valley of Koritnica, water- tends from the Soča spring along the valley Gorjuše, Zgornja Radovna, Planica with Tam- falls under Planina Zapotok and numerous of Trenta and Soča to the border of the park ar, Trenta valley).