Solcavsko, Slovenia
| country: | Slovenia |
| location: | Solcavsko |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Why you should visit?
The Solcava district lies at the upper end of the Savinja River and has some of the most beautiful sceneries in the whole of Slovenia. The Alpine scenery is peppered with sites of breathtaking natural beauty, and the three mighty glacial valleys here are the highlight of any stay. The U-shaped valleys are filled with soft, languid meadows and snaking rivers that rise up through green-cloaked slopes to white-toothed, jagged peaks.
What can you do here?
With many of the peaks more than 2,000 metres in height, you can hike high or low at any time of the year either in Alpine meadows, misty beech forests or banks of wild strawberries. There are hundreds of walking trails here and apart from a scattering of farmhouses it is easy to find solitude. In Logarska dolina, visitors can see more than forty natural attractions, which include waterfalls, springs, rock pillars, glacial boulders and ancient trees. In fact all of the valleys offer adventure sports in summer and winter. For instance you are in striking distance of the ski slopes at Krajiska Plenina, while the high mountains are geared for snowshoeing, ski touring and ice climbing, biking and hiking are also popular.
What makes Solcavsko special?
It is a region of waterfalls – there over 20, of which Rinka, is the most spectacular. The 80-meter arch of water drops in a sinuous, willowy curve, like a sleek pony tail. It is one of the highest free-falling waterfalls in Slovenia and is a protected natural monument. The great thing is that at Logarska dolina, you cannot drive further than half a mile into the valley - nor cycle - you have to walk. Seven kilometers in you find the beautiful Rinka waterfall, surrounded by wide meadows with trees climbing up the mountain slopes. For an authentic Slovene experience, you can stay with a family and get your breakfast and dinner home-made every day. It is a great place for delicious mountain fare. For instance at the Tourist Farm GovcVrsnik – the locals flock here for lunch and the views are stunning.
What makes it sustainable?
This is a pristine Alpine environment, the local government and tourist authorities are keen on keeping it that way. But it is not just about the environment, the Slovene culture here is just as important – it is one of foresters, charcoal burners and farmers. All of them have coexisted with nature over the centuries. The farms here have traditions that go back through the ages that are still being preserved. Local guides double up as lumberjacks and people can trace their history in the region back 1,000 years. And in Logarska dolina there is a nature-ethnographic trail that takes you through the beautiful spots of the park. The trail was designed to bring peo-ple closer to nature.
What to look for in:
Spring: Larch turns green, wild flowers appear, beach leaves open Summer: The valley floor blossoms with wild flowers Autumn: The larches turn fiery yellow in this season Winter: Sparkling snowy fields, great for cross-country skiing
Highlights of Slocavsko:
A night at a local, family-run rustic hotel Waking up at a mountain lodge looking out over the Savinja Alps Hearty and delicious Slovene food Exploring the area with a local forester A ride on a hay wagon or traditional carriage
Situated in the heart of the Julian Alps, the area prides itself in one of Europe’s oldest and Slovenia’s only, national parks. Slovenia’s first alpine botanical garden and snow-covered peaks with slopes provide the opportunity to enjoy a perfect view all the way down to the sea.
The Solcava district lies at the upper end of the Savinja River and has some of the most beautiful sceneries in the whole of Slovenia. The Alpine scenery is peppered with sites of breathtaking natural beauty, and the three mighty glacial valleys here are the highlight of any stay. The U-shaped valleys are filled with soft, languid meadows and snaking rivers that rise up through green-cloaked slopes to white-toothed, jagged peaks.
What can you do here?
With many of the peaks more than 2,000 metres in height, you can hike high or low at any time of the year either in Alpine meadows, misty beech forests or banks of wild strawberries. There are hundreds of walking trails here and apart from a scattering of farmhouses it is easy to find solitude. In Logarska dolina, visitors can see more than forty natural attractions, which include waterfalls, springs, rock pillars, glacial boulders and ancient trees. In fact all of the valleys offer adventure sports in summer and winter. For instance you are in striking distance of the ski slopes at Krajiska Plenina, while the high mountains are geared for snowshoeing, ski touring and ice climbing, biking and hiking are also popular.
What makes Solcavsko special? It is a region of waterfalls – there over 20, of which Rinka, is the most spectacular. The 80-meter arch of water drops in a sinuous, willowy curve, like a sleek pony tail. It is one of the highest free-falling waterfalls in Slovenia and is a protected natural monument. The great thing is that at Logarska dolina, you cannot drive further than half a mile into the valley - nor cycle - you have to walk. Seven kilometers in you find the beautiful Rinka waterfall, surrounded by wide meadows with trees climbing up the mountain slopes. For an authentic Slovene experience, you can stay with a family and get your breakfast and dinner home-made every day. It is a great place for delicious mountain fare. For instance at the Tourist Farm GovcVrsnik – the locals flock here for lunch and the views are stunning.
What makes it sustainable?
This is a pristine Alpine environment, the local government and tourist authorities are keen on keeping it that way. But it is not just about the environment, the Slovene culture here is just as important – it is one of foresters, charcoal burners and farmers. All of them have coexisted with nature over the centuries. The farms here have traditions that go back through the ages that are still being preserved. Local guides double up as lumberjacks and people can trace their history in the region back 1,000 years. And in Logarska dolina there is a nature-ethnographic trail that takes you through the beautiful spots of the park. The trail was designed to bring peo-ple closer to nature.
What to look for in:
Highlights of Slocavsko: other EDEN destinations in Slovenia
The Soca Valley (2008) Situated in the heart of the Julian Alps, the area prides itself in one of Europe’s oldest and Slovenia’s only, national parks. Slovenia’s first alpine botanical garden and snow-covered peaks with slopes provide the opportunity to enjoy a perfect view all the way down to the sea.
how this holiday makes a difference
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Have you ever sat at your desk during a busy work day and felt your mind drift off to another place? That special spot on Monday was a beach somewhere in the Mediterranean. A few days later your mind ventured to a castle on top of a hillside. The experience was so vivid that you could almost smell the fresh mountain air.
Each day the clock ticks and you yearn for a holiday free of the hustle and bustle of city life. You want a destination that is known for its local charm, its beautiful landscapes and fascinating history. A place where the locals respect their land and will do anything to protect it from harm. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, in Europe, the possibilities are endless. The European Commission launched the European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN) a few years back with the aim of selecting special places "off the beaten path" that value economic, environmental and social sustainabil-ity. The 52 places chosen so far all represent Europe in a fitting manner. Europe is a continent of great history and lands. The continent's mystique draws tourists from around the world in search of adventure, paradise and culture. While there are many wonderful destinations in Europe, the truth is, many of them have lost their allure due to expansive tourism and a lack of regard for the environment. No longer can a region's name alone be enough to draw visitors to their majestic mountains or pristine beaches. There must be more and the European Commission has devoted numerous resources to instill the mind-set of sustainable tourism in its regions. Sustainable tourism is a practice that must run deep in the values of the local people. Whenever new accommodation is built and man-made changes are made to the landscape, eco-friendly and environmental measures must be followed. A constant respect for nature is needed to ensure that today's crea-tures and eco-systems are still around in the distant future. Sustainable tourism also plays a major role in a region's local economy. The growth of an area leads to more jobs and helps raise the quality of living in a region. The local people also take advantage of visitors eating at their restaurants, shopping at their markets and staying at their hotels. It is essential that proper investment in tourism growth has the people's best interests in mind.  The next time you go on a memorable holiday to the countryside and enjoy a bottle of the Earth's precious wine, take notice of the land and its people. These 52 selected EDEN "hidden gems" all have done their part in making their region a wonderful and memorable place to visit. Now it's up to you to decide which adventure you want to seek! |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |