It was time for a new trip and the weather forecast was promising. My friend and I went on a trip on a lovely Saturday morning. The path led us past Ljubljana, to Notranjska. Because of Karst limestone and its low porosity, plateau Bloke developed a special and interesting world with unique geographic and meteorological characteristics that you can’t find anywhere else in Slovenia. Here you will find beautiful caves Rakov Škocjan and Križna Jama, diverse fauna and flora. A specialty is also intermittent Cerknica lake. On one day of the year, you can walk on one area, and on the other day of the year, you can paddle a boat in the same area. This part of Slovenia is also the home of the oldest skis in Europe, as they were mentioned by Valvasor. Close by, on Slivnica hill, is, as the myth says, witch’s meeting place. Not far from Bloke is also the beautiful Snežnik Castle.
We visited Snežnik Castle, which was once a beautiful summer hunting residence, and is today a fairy tale castle, hidden in Notranjska, surrounded by meadows and tree-lined alley. The castle invites you to relax outside of the hustle and bustle of the city. The drive in the tree-lined alley and the first sight of the castle will impress you. The meadow by the castle was yellow from the blooming primroses, and a white castle was reflecting in the lake. Guide Veronika welcomed us and showed us around the castle, took us in four stories and even more rooms, talked about its inhabitants, families who lived there. We quickly realized that the castle isn’t wonderful only from the outside, but hides a lot of hidden treasures, culturally and historically important. You will be able to see a lot of hunting trophies, as the last family used the castle as a hunting residence. In the wedding room, you will also see one of the five oldest pianos in Slovenia, and the first fridge in the basement of the castle. In the library, you will find the Lutheran Bible. On the wall in the dining room, there is a menu for the princes and for the servants. Salons and bedrooms of princes Herman and Ulrich with their furniture show the life on the castle and tell the story of their lives in the past. Egyptian room, the room with the furniture from Split’s oak, and the room with a pool table and theatre corner, are the most special. Noblemen were big fans of Venice, as we can tell from the pictures of the cities and the floor in the third floor, where you will find the pattern from St. Mark’s Square in Venice and the chandeliers from Murano glass. Snežnik Castle is magical. It charms the visitors with its interior and exterior. It is nice to go back hundreds of years in the past and discover the history of the place and the kings. HI membership card will bring you a 10% discount on the entrance tickets.
On the way to Cerknica, we decided to stop at the cave Križna Jama. Križna Jama is one of the most beautiful Karst water caves. Its specialty are underground lakes, bones of cave bears, dripstones in the northern part of the Blato tunnel, pillars of King Matjaž in Matjaž tunnel and wonderful halls, accessible only by a boat. 1-hour visit offers a trip in the dry part of the cave, and the 4-hour visit offers a special experience when you explore the caves by boat. The amazing sculptures, made by nature, are Pirate ship, Venice harbour, organs and lynx.
Cerknica lake is one of the biggest intermittent lakes in Europe. It appears between Javorniki, Bloke plateau and Slivnica. When it is full, Cerknica lake is 30 square kilometres large and is the biggest lake in Slovenia. It is one of the most beautiful Slovenian intermittent lakes, which invites bikers, hikers, swimmers, fishermen... We parked the car and walked by the lake. We met a lot of cyclers and hikers who left the city for some fresh air and visited Lake Cerknica. In summer, the lake is full of people, riding their kayaks, boats, surfs, paddle boards or people who just want a Sunday on the fresh air. In the spring, when Cerknica lake fills with water, the birds also return. When there’s little rain in the summer, the lake is dry, and the water animals must move. In autumn, the lake fills with water again. In the summer, you can visit the area and see the meadows, and in the spring, you can sail a boat or paddle board in the same area.
After a full day of adventures, we visited Hostel Zavod Ars Viva, which is really something special. We were convinced by the views on the nearby hills, meadows and its homeliness. The rooms are nice, and the bathrooms offer a nice relaxation after a tiring day. The hostel has kind staff, great location, it is clean and has nice atmosphere. HI membership holders have 10% discount on accommodation.
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