Nature conservation is more important than tourist arrivals

Baska ravinethe valley that seems to be squeezed between Tolmin and Bohinj is even longer than at the end of the world and therefore especially known for its silence, solitary paths and picturesque hamlets, is the fourth Slovenian member International Mountain Village Networks. The Convention currently brings together 43 places in Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Germany in Bavaria and Slovenia, which meet the goals of the Alpine Convention and develop tourism on the foundations of mountaineering tradition, ie without major tourist infrastructure and with a sustainable approach.

The Baška ravine is a narrow, 30 -kilometer -long valley that extends from Bača near Modre to Petrovo Brdo, these are two of the seven slightly larger villages at the bottom of the valley. Unlike the world at the bottom of the valley, small hamlets are arranged on steep slopes and sun terraces, whose names, for example ScarfGrant, Sweat, Stržišče, Kal and Bača near Podbrdo, are still reminiscent of immigration from Tyrol in the 13th century. The highest above the valley rises Velika Raskovec (1967 m), Rodica (1966 m) and Črna finger (1844 m), the lowest point is Bača at Modre at 154 meters above sea level.

European Botanical Garden

Due to its location at the transition between the Alps and the Mediterranean, it is rich in the plant world and many endemic species; Among them, they particularly mention the short -haired umbilical cord, which manages only in the Baška ravine area to the black soil and the pods. It is on the slopes of black soil that extends the remarkable alpine garden, and is also called a European botanical garden, which is especially rich in the transition from spring to summer. Or as it is in the guide Bohinj Mountains wrote Tine Mihelič: « If you want to experience colorful gardens in a lush boom, go to the Black Finger in the early summer, preferably in June! »

An important heritage of these places is the famous Bohinj railway line, which connects the Alps to the Adriatic Sea, and the tunnel in Podbrdo with 6327 meters is one of the longer tunnels in the Alps. Baška grapa is also the only one of all members of the Mountain Village Network, which has a railway, she said, she said Project manager and president of the Tourist Association there, Alenka Zgaga.

In these places, in 1947 and 1948, the first Slovenian feature film feature film was made On its land France Štiglicawho deeply cut himself in memory of the residents there, and in 2012 they were arranged thematic pathwhich winds from Grahovo across the Bača River, down the hills, through Koritnica and back to Grahovo. And by all: the mountain run and mountain marathon in Slovenia were born in these places; In 1970, the first mountain run was performed from Podbrdo to Črni soil.

These sights and natural features were recorded as part of the Baška grapa, which began in 2019, together with the possibilities for winter and summer activities in the mountains, sustainable links, promotion links, tourist providers and other statistics required. « The essence of the project is also to find out what we have and what we can offer, » said Alenka Zgaga.

People are crucial

The area is intertwined with several hiking trails, including thematic on its land. Photo: Alenka Zgaga

The opportunity to enter the network of mountain villages was recognized in Baška grapa because of their way of life and natural resources: “Life is very connected to nature, nature actually dictates life. Another incentive that made us expose ourselves is recognition on the tourist map. There will never be mass tourism here, we are aware of it and we do not want it, « the interviewee explained, but they want to draw attention to their specialties, especially since they are in the hinterland of the Soča Valley, which is already overwhelmed in the summer.

Password Unspoiled nature and heartfelt peoplewho chose it, proved to be the right ones during the visit of representatives of other mountain villages. “When they walked on our hiking and thematic trails, the locals did not know who they were and what task they visited, spoke, chatted with them, offered help. The fact that people are interested in these places brings good will among the locals. « 

A linden tree standing in a scarf in front of the Gothic church of St. Lambert, is one of the largest and oldest in Slovenia. Photo: Cveto heartburn

One of the main conditions in integration into the network is the will of the people, as he pointed out Miro Eržen from the Alpine Association of Slovenia, which is Project holder in our country. The people in Baška ravine saw in this some second opportunity to finally step out of the shadow, that they are not at the end of the world, but in the center of the world, was vividly described by Alenka Zgaga. They also hope to be aware of the awareness of guests, hills who know where they came. « The visitor who comes to the mountain village must be aware that there is no ATM at every bend, that on Saturday at one store, he closes, that he or she needs to be more, having a sandwich and beverage more in the backpack, » the interviewee said. With the journey of Juliana, a visit to hikers in Baška grapa has increased, including those who expect each house to be part of the outdoor hotel.

The entire Baska ravine, which extends over 120 square kilometers, has a total population of 1700. By joining the network of mountain villages, they have, among other things, committed to remaining the place of unspoiled nature and heartfelt people.

Lake was the first

The first to join the network of 2018 Lakefollowed by Luče, Dovje Local Community – Mojstrana, the next candidate for entry is Sorica in the Municipality of Železniki. As he said Andrej Karničarthe mayor of Jezersko, has many advantages, and the first and the main one is to allow them to develop tourism by maintaining nature at the same time.

The network is, as custom, for idyllic Jezersko. That was the case, and some time ago, the brother of Andrei Karnicar, the late mountaineer Davo Karničar, thought and cut the ears. Over the years, his ideas, even with the help of PZS, have come true. “This is a recognizable sign by which we identify both inward and outwards. It is important to us by two sides: one is recognition in the German -speaking market, among the people we would like to attract, among those who respect nature, our cultural and natural tradition and which are hills. « 

First, the network of mountain villages in 2018 joined Jezersko. Photo: Leon Vidic

According to Karničar, this is actually crucial for areas that want to develop sustainable tourism: “Everything we have is nature, and we have to preserve it. The network of mountain villages requires just this: to develop tourism that will also preserve nature. This is included in the project DNA. ”He added, thus as a local community they know in which direction they are going and stick to in all areas. “So we have a bunch of fuses that we are right to have and develop so that we can preserve nature. This is significantly more important than the number of tourist arrivals and profits. « 

Because of this, they did not have to adjust the strategies, they simply lead the tourism they wanted, he added. He also sees great added value in annual meetings with representatives of other mountain villages, where they exchange experience, good and bad practices, danger. « We all have similar challenges, but especially nice things, it is the environment that surrounds us, » Karnicar concluded.

According to Mira Eržen, two species stand out among the mountain villages. In one group, there are those who would like to retain the tourism they already have, without spreading into the mass and with the desire to preserve nature, tradition, the situation for the life of the locals. In the second group, however, there are villages where tourism has not yet been developed, but they want it, but not massive. « In the territory of Slovenia, there are mainly places that want a limited volume of tourism, and especially tourism related to mountain sports, » Eržen said.

We experience the authenticity and authenticity of the landscape the most beautiful when discovering it on foot. Photo: Jože Dakskobler