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Where the time stops…
Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and take refuge in the mountains, where you can make a genuine connection with nature and tradition. Visit the herdsmen’s huts, listen to cowbells and try out the dairy delicacies that taste entirely different here than they would in the valley. Fresh mountain air will fill you with peace and make you relax, connecting you with the herdsmen that look after the cattle in the mountains in the months of summer.
Feel the pastoral symphony on Velika planina
A true „princess“ of the mountains can be found in the embrace of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. Velika planina is enchanting in all seasons – in spring, it will impress you with its purple carpet of blooming saffrons, in summer, with the jingling of cowbells, in autumn, with its wide range of colours, and in winter, with its snowy delights spilt like milk over the landscape. Among the numerous herdsmen’s huts, you can find your corner of paradise, in the peace and quiet of the mountains, where the friendly herdsmen will offer your delicious dairy dishes in the warmer months of the year.
My way of experiencing the magic of Velika planina
Go among the herdsmen of Velika planina and let all of your senses feel the magnetism of mountain, pulling the people from the valley into the embrace of Alpine tranquillity.
Get familiar with the homeliness of the herdsmen's huts
Velika planina is the largest herdsmen's settlement in Europe with about 140 herdsmen's huts. The pretty huts with roofs covered in spruce shingles act as an antidote to the stressful life in the city. Get a taste of authentic sour milk and mush (žganci) that the herdsmen offer to their visitors. If the beauty and tranquillity of Velika Planina will make it difficult for you to leave, you can spend the night in one of the herdsmen’s huts.
MoreTaste the „cheese of love“
Taste the „cheese of love“
When in Velika planina, it is a must to try out the traditional cheese called Trnič. The cheese has a distinctive pear-like shape and is decorated with various ornaments. The herdsmen used to give this cheese to their sweethearts as a token of their love. Let your heart rejoice at the tender taste of the „cheese of love“. Trnič is also used in modern cuisine. You can even surprise your loved ones with a tasty ice cream made of Trnič.
MoreTurn back time
Turn back time
Among the huts of Velika planina, you will find a unique museum that will thoroughly introduce you to the herdsmen’s tradition and the life of herdsmen on the mountain. Preskar’s museum will let you discover how the Trnič cheese is made, what the collection of herdmen’s clothes and tools looked like and what helped them to catch mice and to stay awake during the pasture.
MoreActivities on Velika planina
Activities on Velika planina
If you feel you have tasted enough of the Velika planina’s delicacies, you can burn the calories by spending active time in the mountains. In summer, get your lungs full of fresh mountain air walking, hiking or cycling. In winter, experience an unforgettable adventure night sledging or snowshoeing across the snow-covered landscape. To enjoy skiing, visit the family slope offering 2.8 km of ski slopes with natural snow.
MoreExperience the world of shepherds in the valley
Experience the world of shepherds in the valley
A tranquil site near the Kamniška Bistrica river is home to a shepherding settlement with modern wooden houses, the Slovenia Eco Resort. Spend the night in a family house or try out glamping for couples. Unwind in the swimming pond and private Finnish sauna. Pick home-grown vegetables in the self-sufficient garden. The mini farm lets children get to know the indigenous animals of Slovenia, as well as the typical life of a shepherd.
MoreFollowing the herdmen’s trails in Triglav National Park
Bohinj also has a rich history of herdsmen’s tradition. The nearby mountains and their natural alpine pastures offer a real treat to the cattle in the summer months, which is well reflected in the characteristic flavours of the Bohinj cheeses. The mountaineering tradition above the lake of Bohinj has been placed on UNESCO's tentative list of world heritage. The authentic alpine nature at the heart of the Triglav National Park brings the magic into these mountains. The mountains of Bohinj are popular hiking spots.
In Bohinj, everything revolves around cheese
The story of herdsmen and cheese will follow you on every step in Bohinj. Discover the secrets of Bohinj cheese and join the festive activities that celebrate the herdsmen’s traditions.
Production of Bohinj Cheese
Bohinj is a land of excellent cheese. Learn about the characteristic Bohinj cheeses – the Mohant cheese, a unique cheese with distinctive smell and taste and a European Protected Designation of Origin, and the Bohinj cheese. On the Bohinj Cheese Trail you will learn about the history of cheese and the methods of cheese production. You can also try making cheese from the delicious milk from the Bohinj mountains in line with the Bohinj tradition.
MoreThe world of cheese flavours
The world of cheese flavours
Get acquainted with the typical cheeses of Bohinj that reflect the purity and originality of alpine nature. If you prefer gourmet cheese flavours, then trying out Mohant cheese is a must. It might not seduce you with its smell, but your taste buds will definitely succumb to its flavour. Mohant has a protected designation of origin. To find Bohinj cheeses in traditional and in modern forms, look for the designation Bohinjsko/From Bohinj.
MoreFollowing the trails of the herdsmen’s tradition
Following the trails of the herdsmen’s tradition
Are you wondering why the herdsmen’s tradition is so deeply rooted in the hearts of the Bohinj people? Enter the Alpine Dairy Farming Museum in Stara Fužina to learn everything about the making of the best Bohinj cheeses on the mountains, about the life of herdsmen and their tools.
MoreJoin the herdsmen’s holiday
Join the herdsmen’s holiday
Bohinj is particularly festive in mid-September when the herdsmen return from the mountains with the cattle. Every year, they organize the Cow’s ball, an event with more than 60 years of tradition, which is a tribute to the alpine dairy farming in Bohinj. You can also try out a combination of different cheeses and wines at the Cheese and Wine Festival, which is an introduction to the herdsmen’s weekend in Bohinj.
MoreHorse Riding on Bohinj Alpine Pastures
Horse Riding on Bohinj Alpine Pastures
Go on a trip on horseback to the mountains of Uskovnica, Praprotnica and Zajamniki, where you can learn in greater detail about the alpine dairy farming tradition. Horse riding through the Pokljuka plateau forests, wonderful views of the surrounding mountain-tops, the tasting of local delicacies and pleasant company combine into an unforgettable experience.
MoreDiscovery the cheesy treasures of the Soča Valley
Experience the Soča Valley differently. Combine your hiking and biking adventures with a visit to the mountains above the emerald beauty, the Soča River, and obtain fresh energy to further explore the valley by tasting its most recognizable cheeses. Stroll along the extensive cheese paths that lead you across the mountains to tourist farms and to small cheese shops, where you can get a comprehensive insight into the origin of the cheeses of the Posočje.
Bovec cheese
Bovec cheese
Highland pastures above the emerald Soča River have been home to the indigenous Bovec sheep for centuries. Sheep's milk is used for the making of the excellent Bovec cheese, characterized by a full, slightly spicy flavour, with a protected designation of origin.
MoreTolminc cheese
Tolminc cheese
Like Bovec cheese, Tolminc cheese also has a protected designation of origin and has been used in the past also as a means of payment. It is made from cow's milk obtained from the mountains around Tolmin and is distinguished by a characteristic sweet and spicy taste that you will remember for a long time.
MoreCheese tradition in the palm of your hand
Cheese tradition in the palm of your hand
In Kobarid, visit the unique ethnological collection From Mountains to Dairies to take a look at the history of herdsmen’s activity in the Soča Valley.
MoreExplore the world of the Jezersko-Solčavska sheep
Jezersko and Solčavsko are connected by a series of peaks that are over 2,000 m high. They have another common point – the area is home to an indigenous Slovenian sheep breed, the Jezersko-Solčavska sheep. The sheep tradition and the close coexistence of nature and man can still be seen at both ends of the mighty rock barrier.
Find traces of sheep farming in Solčavsko
Find traces of sheep farming in Solčavsko
Even nowadays you can still encounter sheep on the colourful meadows of the picturesque valleys of Solčavsko. Visit the alpine dairy farms in Logarski kot and in Robanov kot to enjoy homemade delicacies. Children can help the brave shepherd boy Krištof to find his lost sheep. Visit the Bicka Fest in September to purchase a warm product made of wool for cold days.
MoreSheep Ball in Jezersko
Sheep Ball in Jezersko
Get to know the sheep-breeding tradition at the oldest ethnographic event in Slovenia – the Sheep Ball. Here, you can witness sheep shearing, sock knitting, old shepherd’s customs and taste the typical dishes of the shepherds.
MoreVisit the alpine dairy farms in the heart of the Karavanke
Visit other small alpine dairy farms to try out sour milk and mush (žganci) or other homemade dairy dishes. In the Košuta area, drop by the Kofce alpine dairy farm, where you can listen to the sound of cowbells while feasting on a delicious local snack and resting your eyes on the surrounding peaks. The alpine dairy farm Dolga njiva is also a popular shelter for hikers, cyclists and day-trippers. You can spend the night there on a hayloft, and children can enjoy the company of domestic animals.
From mountains to peaks
The mountains are also a great starting point for climbing the surrounding peaks. Explore the beauty of the alpine world on foot or by bicycle, relax and experience the homeliness at the stops along your trails, and regain your strength with delicious local meals.
