IRON PATH

The extraction and processing of iron was the reason for the population of Gorenjska region and emergence of picturesque villages and towns at the foot of Julian Alps and Karawanks. The narrow streets and water canals that once powered the mills and bellows are today still full of rich cultural heritage. Tržič, better known as the shoemaker’s town under the Karawanks, boasts a rich blacksmith’s heritage.

After that our journey will lead us under Jelovica mountain to the cradle of blacksmithing, a village of Kropa. The blacksmith’s museum, the old and mighty houses of blacksmiths and the only preserved vigenjc (meaning old blacksmith’s shop) in Slovenia are what makes Kropa so unique.

Also interesting is the village of Kamna Gorica, located in the Lipnica Valley. The canals, crabs and the preserved village core take us to a time when hammer blows echoed through the village.

Our trip begins with a beautiful view of the Karawanks and Grintovec mountain in the town of Tržič. On a walk through the old town, we will learn about the history of the city, which is intertwined with blacksmithing and shoemaking.

We will take a look at the old ironworks and continue towards the village of Kropa, which lies in a deep hollow below Jelovica mountain, where the sun does not shine at all in winter. We will walk past the pond, the blacksmith’s museum, to Fovšaritnica, where we will get to know the life of its past inhabitants, blacksmiths.

We will finish our trip with a tasting of the most typical dish of Kropa blacksmiths and get to know the specialty of the Kropa dialect.  With that we will finally walk through the village center of Kamna Gorica, which is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Gorenjska region.

For St. Gregory’s Day the program will be adjusted. Around 5 pm we will join the lowering of the St. Gregory’s boats or. in slovene gregorčki into the water.