SLOVENIA 433Velika Planina u
30 km (19 miles) NE of Ljubljana.
http://www.velikaplanina.siLiterally meaning “Big
Mountain”, Velika Planina is
one of the most popular des-
tinations in the Kamnik Alps.
Reached by cable car from
the Kamniška Bistrica valley,
at 1,666 m (5,466 ft) it is a
rela tively smooth mountain,
covered in highland pastures
where dairy herds graze dur-
ing the summer. Scattered
across the mountain are
wooden huts topped by broad
shingle roofs and sur rounded
by wooden stock ades. A
unique form of traditional
archi tecture, they were built
by local shepherds as sea-
sonal sleeping quarters.
In winter, Velika Planina is
a popular out-of-town desti-
na tion for skiers, offering a
choice of downhill and cross-
country runs. It is also busy
during summer, when its
well-marked paths become
busy with hikers. Many choose
to walk up the mountain with -
out taking the cable car, an
exhilarating hike that begins
in the village of Stahovica.Logarska Dolina i
100 km ( 62 miles) NE of
Ljubljana. ª from Ljubljana.
http://www.logarska-dolina.siHidden away on the northern
side of the Kamnik Alps, the
Logarska Dolina valley is
one of the most beautiful
spots in northern Slovenia.
It is a typical example of a
glacier-carved valley, with a
level green valley floor dotted
with dairy farms and steep
sides where dense forests
give way to bare cliffs. The
relatively isolated valley can
be entered via the village of
Solčava, which is accessed by
road from the regional centre
of Velenje, a mining town
located 50 km (31 miles)
northeast of Ljubljana. Solčava
itself is famous for the splen-
did 13th-century Solčava
Madonna, a Romanesque
statuette housed in the local
parish church.
About 2 km (1 mile)
beyond Solčava is the start-
ing point of the Logarska
Dolina hiking route, which
runs for 6 km (4 miles) along
the valley floor to reach the
charming Rinka Waterfall,
surrounded by grizzled grey
mountain peaks.
Running parallel to Logarska
Dolina to the west is Matkov
Kot, another stunning glacial
valley. The main target for
hikers here is the famous
Matk’s Tub (Matkov Škaf),
a dramatic circular hollow
gouged out of bare rock
by a seasonal waterfall.Triglav National
Park ySee pp436–9.Bled t
See pp434–5.Inside is a wonderful display
of folk crafts and tradi tional
furnish ings includ ing wooden
beds, wardrobes, folk-painted
trous seau chests and grand-
father clocks painted with
bright floral designs.
In summer, Kranjska Gora
is a popular base for hiking
in Triglav National Park (see
pp436–9). Start ing at
Mojstrana, 13 km (8 miles)
east of Kranjska Gora, the
Triglavska Bistrica walking
trail runs up the ruggedly
beautiful Vrata valley before
reaching the forbidd ing north
face of Mount Triglav,
Slovenia’s highest mountain.
For visitors wishing to
explore the area by car,
Kranjska Gora stands at the
intersection of several scenic
mountain routes. North of the
town, a road winds dramat-
ically across the Würzen pass
towards the city of Villach in
Austria. To the south are the
hairpin bends of the Vršič
pass, high among the peaks
of Triglav National Park. A
major feat of engineering, the
road over the pass was built
by Russian Prisoners of War
during World War I, to send
supplies to Habsburg armies
defending the Soča Front.
To the west of Kranjska
Gora lies Planica valley, the
site of the world’s highest ski
jump. Built in 1935, it is a
powerful symbol of Slovene
prowess in winter sports and
annually hosts the famous ski-
jumping World Cup. Distinctive conical, shingled wooden huts on Velika Planina
The world’s highest ski jump at
Planica, Kranjska Gora