EDEN Slovenia

kozjaNSkI PaRk,Finalist, 2009

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6 SELECTED DESTINATIONS FOR HEAVENLY EXPERIENCES

EDEN in SLOVENIAWINNERS aND FINalIStS oF tHE EXCEllENCE PRojECtas part of the EDEN initiative, the title of European Destination of Excellence is conferred by the European Commission in conjunction with participating countries – with a different theme every year.

www.slovenia.info/eden

FINALIST 2008: Idrija

EUROPEAN DESTINATION OF EXCELLENCE 2008:

SOČA VALLEY

EUROPEAN DESTINATION OF EXCELLENCE 2009:

SOLČAVSKO

FINALIST 2009: Tolmin, Kobarid

FINALIST 2008: Kranj

FINALIST 2009: Kozjanski park

2008: Tourism and local intangible heritage

INTANGIBLE?vERY mUCH alIvE!

Traditions and customs, countless forms of knowledge and belief, historical consciousness and geographical horizons, mythology and folk creativity, traditional skills and crafts: there is so much variety hidden in intangible heritage!

Attractive areas of Europe capable of weaving these intangible elements – that are nevertheless very much alive – into original tourism experiences, competed for the title of European Destination of Excellence in 2008.

The title (in connection with the selected theme) is awarded by the European Commission in conjunction with the participating countries.

In Slovenia the winner of the prestigious title was the SOČA VALLEY with its stories on the theme of peace. The other intangible heritage finalists were IDRIJA with the FESTIVAL OF IDRIJA LACE and KRANJ with the PREŠEREN FAIR.

EDEN '08: The Soča Valleywww.dolina-soce.com

StoRIES oF tHE SočaaloNG tHE PatH oF PEaCEEvery year the mighty KLUŽE FORTRESS is the venue for STORIES OF THE SOČA: a re-creation of times past in the valley of the river Soča, from ethnological curiosities to the remains of the heritage of a cruel war. Stories of the surprising valley draw visitors to the Path of Peace, which connects the beauties of nature with memories of the First World War and the Soča (Isonzo) Front. The message of peace echoes among the Alpine peaks above the emerald river and into every corner of the TRIGLAV NATIONAL PARK. No one who walks the Path of Peace from Log pod Mangartom in the Bovec area to Drežnica in the Kobarid area and to Mengor in the Tolmin area will forget the obligations of peace! The Stories of the Soča event takes place in spring but the valley draws visitors seeking active experiences all year round. One of the best conserved areas in Europe, it is popular with hikers, cyclists, lovers of water sports (canoeing, rafting, canyoning), anglers, hillwalkers and climbers, paragliders, skiers and others seeking an active holiday. +++ Don’t miss Fairy-tale beauties of the river Soča :: Triglav National Park with all the special features of the Alpine world :: Experiences of stories of the Soča (Isonzo) Front along the Paths of Peace

Kranj www.tourism-kranj.si

tHE PREŠEREN FaIRThe town of the famous poet Dr France Prešeren was once an important centre for agricultural fairs and markets. You can feel the pulse of the past on Slovenia’s national cultural holiday (8 February) at the PREŠEREN FAIR. Cultural associations and folk groups in traditional costumes and the clothes of Prešeren’s day conjure up a nostalgic atmos-phere. Scenes from the life of Dr France Prešeren are acted out and his poems come to life on a stage in the middle of Glavni Trg, Kranj’s main square. Visitors can try their hand at Brin (a traditional game where players use a spinning-top to knock down figures placed on a board), print their own copy of Prešeren’s censored poem The Toast, or have their hair done and have their photograph taken dressed in the fashions of the 19th century. They can ride through Kranj in a horse-drawn car-riage and fortify themselves with traditional dish-es and beverages. The sound of numerous barrel-organs adds to the original spirit of the age! The town on the gorge of the river Kokra is also attrac-tive for its natural and cultural sights and events, notably the Carniola Festival in the summer. +++ Don’t missTunnels under Old Kranj :: Pirc’s dyeworks and the heritage of textile manufactories :: Iron Thread exhibition in the Town Hall

Idrijawww.idrija-turizem.si

FEStIval oF IDRIja laCEIdrija, a town of mysterious underground tunnels, white water and unique works of art, is known throughout the world for its snow-white lace. Every year, at the end of June, the town and its extraordinary tradition of handmade lace come alive at the FESTIVAL OF IDRIJA LACE. The fes-tival combines the tradition of the skilful lacemak-ers and the miners from the mercury mine, which dates from 1490. This internationally famous event is just one of the attractions of the town, whose mining traditions give it an important place in the technical heritage of Europe. Today, Antho-ny’s Shaft allows tourists to learn about the work of the miners, while numerous monuments of technical and cultural heritage such as the ‘Kamšt’ water wheel, the ‘Frančiška’ shaft, the dams on the Idrijca, Belca and Kanomljica, the Rake canal, and so on, teach visitors about the creativity and inge-nuity of bygone days. The stories of miners and lacemakers can also be discovered in the exhibition spaces of Idrija Municipal Museum in Gewerk-enegg Castle and at the Idrija Lacemaking School and the International Idrija Lace Centre.+++ Don’t missThe oldest part of the mine – Anthony’s Shaft :: Gewerkenegg Castle with the Municipal Mu-seum :: Divje Jezero (Wild Lake) near Idrija: Slovenia’s first open-air museum

2009: Tourism and protected areas

NATURAL.vERY HoSPItablE!National parks, regional parks and nature parks; nature reserves and natural monuments; areas of outstanding biodiversity – all of these are examples of nature conservation. Over a tenth of Slovenia falls into specially protected areas, while more than a third of the national territory is protected as part of the Natura 2000 network, which protects the habitats of endan-gered plant and animal species important for the European Union as a whole. Tourist areas that concern themselves with sustainable development in connection with areas of this kind are the subject of special attention from the European Union within the context of the EDEN 2009 project.In Slovenia the title of European Destination of Excellence, on the theme of tourism and protected areas, was won by SOLČAVSKO: THREE VALLEYS IN HARMONY. The other finalists were LAND OF LIVING WATER and KOZJANSKI PARK.

EDEN '09: Solčavskowww.logarska-dolina.si

tHREE vallEYS IN HaRmoNYSolčavsko is a district of three valleys below the peaks of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps and the Kara-vanke range. LOGARSKA DOLINA is one of the most beautiful glacial valleys in Europe; ROBA-NOV KOT is the valley of large mountain farms; MATKOV KOT, the smallest of the three valleys, is full of surprises. The Solčavsko Panoramic Route leads to the Church of the Holy Spirit, the starting point for the route to the POTOČKA ZIJALKA cave below Olševa. Twenty thousand years ago Ice Age hunters lived here! The exten-sive Natura 2000 area is evidence of the excel-lent state of conservation of the natural envi-ronment, a cause for admiration and respect and an invitation to discovery and enjoyment. In summer the valleys are the starting point for hillwalking tours, hikes and mountain biking. In winter, for ski touring, cross-country skiing and tobogganing. In this land of big old farms, vener-able trees, waterfalls, mountain huts and moun-tain peaks, you can experience ancient stories and spoil yourself with typical local specialities made with organically produced ingredients. +++ Don’t missThe alpine valleys of Logarska Dolina, Robanov Kot, Matkov Kot :: The Solčavsko Panoramic Route and the permanent exhibition on Potočka Zijalka :: The Solčava Yew

Tolmin-Kobaridwww.lto-sotocje.si

laND oF lIvING WatERThe TOLMIN GORGES are one of the most beautiful points of entry into the Triglav Na-tional Park, and at the same time one of the most accessible. One particularly memorable experience is the nature trail running along the deep narrows of the crystal-clear Tolminka and Zadlaščica rivers, past a hot spring and the wedge-shaped rock known as the Bear’s Head, to Dante’s Cave, the inspiration for the description of the Inferno in Dante’s Divine Comedy, and then back across the Devil’s Bridge, 60 metres above the river. The wild gorges, roughly 200 metres long and between 5 and 10 metres wide, are an outstanding natural monument that you can discover by following this circular trail. The trail has been planned with special respect for nature. Around the gorges, the Land of Living Water tourist attraction has been developed ac-cording to sustainable principles. Together with the Soča Valley it offers an extraordinary histor-ical and cultural heritage, unique monuments of nature, summer festivals and opportunities for sports of all kinds in a natural environment.+++ Don’t miss The Church of the Holy Spirit in Javorca, an EU heritage site :: Kobarid Museum :: Kozjak Wa-terfall

Kozje - Bistrica ob Sotli - Krškowww.kozjanski-park.si

kozjaNSkIPaRkThe KOZJANSKO APPLE FESTIVAL is just one of the attractions of this area in which sub-Al-pine hills meet hilltop vineyards and the plains along the river Sotla meet the traditional mead-ow orchards that enrich the attractive appear-ance of the landscape. The traditional festival takes place every year on the second weekend in October. The Kozjansko Regional Park (Koz-janski Park) protects a rich cultural heritage in a well-conserved natural environment. Walks along the network of footpaths constantly re-veal new details about the life of nature. The or-chards of Kozjansko are the habitat of rare and endangered birds: here you can watch them, lis-ten to them and photograph them. Sustainable orchard management provides apples and other fruit and an abundance of apple juices, vinegar, perry, traditional dried apples and pears and other good things.Other attractions in the park, besides the meadow orchards, include a diversity of natural sights, ethnological features, castles, old mills, and so on.+++ Don’t missSlovenia’s most castle-like castle – Podsreda Cas-tle :: The international Kozjansko Apple Festival :: meadow orchards

SolčavSko,European Destination of ExcelleNce, 2009

kozjaNSkI PaRk,Finalist, 2009

IDRIja,Finalist, 2008

Soča vallEY,European Destination of ExcelleNce, 2008

tolmIN,kobaRIDFinalist, 2009

kRaNj,Finalist, 2008

The Soča Valley: Stories of the SočaLTO - TIC Bovec, Trg golobarskih žrtev 8,SI-5230 BovecTel.: +386 (0)5 38 96 444E-mail: [email protected]

Paths of Peace in Posočje Foundation,Gregorčičeva 8, SI-5222 KobaridTel.: +386 (0)5 38 90 166E-mail: [email protected]

www.dolina-soce.com

Kranj: The Prešeren FairTIC Kranjska hiša, Glavni trg 2, SI-4000 KranjTel.: +386 (0)4 23 80 450E-mail: [email protected]

Idrija: Idrija Lace FestivalTIC Idrija, Vodnikova 3, SI-5280 IdrijaTel.: +386 (0)5 37 43 916E-mail: [email protected]

Solčavsko: Three Valleys in HarmonyTIC Logarska dolina, Logarska Dolina 9, SI–3335 SolčavaTel.: +386 (0)3 83 89 004E-mail: [email protected]

Tolmin-Kobarid: Land of Living WaterLTO Sotočje, Petra Skalarja 4, SI-5220 TolminTel.: +386 (0)5 38 00 480E-mail: [email protected]

Kozje - Bistrica ob Sotli – Krško:Kozjanski parkJZ Kozjanski park, Podsreda 45,SI-3257 PodsredaTel.: +386 (0)3 80 07 100E-mail: [email protected]

EDEN Project

Slovenia: www.slovenia.info/eden

European Commission: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/tourism/eden

Slovenian tourist board Dunajska 156 | 1000 ljubljana

tel.: +386 1 589 18 40Fax: +386 1 589 18 41

e-mail: [email protected]

Publisher: Slovenian Tourist Board / Design and layout: AV Studio / Text: Ines Drame / Translation: Amidas d.o.o. / Photographs: Tomo Jeseničnik, Aleš Fevžer, Bojan Okorn, Matevž Lenarčič, Barbara Polštajner, F.A. Bobo / Printed by: Satelit d.o.o. / Number of copies: 3000; June 2009

www.slovenia.info/eden

The project was partly funded by the EU.

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