The Juliana Trail, as you know, is one of the most popular multi-day hiking trails, where you can circumnavigate the beautiful Julian Alps in 16 stages, or if that’s not enough, you can extend it by 5 more approach stages, where the world of Goriška Brda will open up to your eyes, feet and taste. The greatest charm of the Juliana Trail is that it is not a difficult or overly strenuous route. No no, on the contrary, it gives you more than enough opportunities to breathe, to observe, to remember.
More than just rhythmic steps
Juliana Trail
In addition to the spectacular views of the Julian Alps from around the bends, you’ll also discover small Alpine villages and towns that breathe outdoor activities along the way. A glimpse into the past and a deep continuity of life, not to say a deep content, will be provided by the historical and cultural sites you’ll stop at along the way.
The Slovenian Mountain Museum in Mojstrana, for example, is a must-visit stop, as you’ll get a glimpse of how inaccessible and difficult the mountains are that you wander through, and the stories behind their discovery. You will also encounter history in the Museum of the History of Bohinj, in the small museum Jakovkna hiša in Podbrdo and, of course, in the museum of the Planica Nordic Centre.
History is not only enclosed in the indoor exhibitions, history will be alive all around you. Pastoral life is still alive on the mountains and mountain pastures you will cross. There you can learn about traditional cheese and milk production, for a more detailed insight look the Pastoral Museum in Stara Fužina. The Soča Valley is marked by the emerald water of the Soča River, but also by the First World War. You will encounter it on your way through open-air museums and the remains of former military outposts.
Above all, Juliana Trail gently whispers ancient stories and myths in your ear as you walk, if only you are willing to listen. The most famous tale originated in the heart of the Julian Alps, but it cannot be placed in any time. It tells of the miraculous gardens in the valley of the Triglav Lakes. Its stirring message speaks of the devastating consequences for both nature and man when the boundaries of reason are unscrupulously crossed in the name of self-interest and self-love.
Without exception, they all speak of a fairy-tale world formed beneath Triglav, where clear waters swirl, waterfalls from the mountains spill playfully from rocky cliffs, and spruce, larch, beech and rowan trees carpet the mountainsides. On the mountain pastures above, the wind sways the heather, the mountain pines and the gentians, while flocks of sheep graze on the steep lawns. A remote fairy-tale world where precipitous cliffs glisten in the sun and peaks touch the sky. A place where mountains shake hands and beauty takes your breath away.
When the going gets tough, you’ll imagine the story of the joyful and light-footed Kekec, a brave and friendly mountain shepherd, always with a smile on his face and a cheerful mind. The story will help you to banish tiredness and make your journey more enjoyable. You can immerse yourself in his world at Kekec’s Land, which you will find in Kranjska Gora.
Along the way, you will be accompanied by old churches in every square, each with its own special story and myth about why it was built. The Church of St. John the Baptist and the Church of the Virgin Mary of the Assumption, or, for example, the Church of St. Michael in Dovje…they are not just buildings, they are the bearers of history.
Through myths and legends, you will slowly get to know your surroundings, and the mighty mountains will become your close friends, as you will feel like you have known them all your life.
