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The Best of 2019

It was an amazing year! Our profile Igslovenia reached 100.000 followers on Instagram and 800k photos have been tagged #igslovenia during 7 years of posting! We enjoyed very much our cooperation with Visit Škofja Loka and Huawei Slovenia which gave us opportunity to travel a lot and post many photos of our own.

However, our story is based on the community of people who visited Slovenia and took extraordinary photos here and of people who live in Slovenia and take extraordinary photos! We strive to post as many different locations as possible which is sometimes difficult since most of the people visiting for a few days understandably tend to post and tag photos from the same few locations like Lake Bled, Piran, Ljubljana etc. We also try not to use too many photos from the same photographer but in 360+ posts we do in a year some photographers always stand out and 2019 is not different. But let’s start with the public “vote” – here are nine photos from 2018 which were most popular according to Instagram data:

 

I’m pretty proud  that my own photo made it to the top, even more proud of the fact that it was taken with a mobile (HuaweiP20Pro). Authors from top left to the right are by Instagram handles: zokus_gf, martin.strmiskaprimoz_senk, zokus_gfjostgantar, miss_evycookies, time_out_experience, gregor.raicevic, masabutara.

Most Featured in 2019

Second “statistics” is about the number of features in a year! Most featured author of 2019 was by far jostgantar – Jošt does a lot of work for tourist organisations and covers many parts of Slovenia which are not so popular with tourist.

Mt. Triglav above the church at Štefanja Gora

“Second” place (it is not a competition though) is split between @jaka_ivancic and @dreamypixels. Jaka Ivančič was on top in 2018 and we somehow missed his high profile activity in last year.

Vrsnik between Idrija and Žiri

Aleš Krivec aka @dreamypixels covers mostly Julian Alps and every year makes a gorgeous calendar of his photos.

Slemenova špica in Julian Alps

@jurij_pelc is next on the list – Jurij almost systematically visits places around Slovenia and does his drone magic over them. Since we love to see new places on our feed – here he is!

Kočevje

Gregor Skoberne @gregorskobernephotography mostly but not exclusively covers his home yard Lake Bohinj and mountains above it.

Stara Fužina near Lake Bohinj

His number of featured photos in 2019 equals the number of Malte Heitmüller from Austria who visits the mountains of Slovenia quite a lot.

Kobarid

There are 22 photographer who were featured twice in 2019 so we are going to mention three with three features:

Domagoj Sever @domagojsever from Croatia:

Lake Bohinj

Amadeja Knez @amyknez

Slemenova špica

and @primoz_senk (former fenrisdesignandphotography).

Zgornje Jezersko

Congratulations to all and thank you all!

 

Zoran Leban Trojar

Tolminski Lom – Široko

A great number of small rural settlements in Slovenia in positioned on the slopes of the steep hills. Narrow, steep and windy road is usually included in the effort to reach such settlements. However, such an effort usually pays off with an experience of secluded and mostly untouched nature, traditional rural architecture and sometimes really great views which only a few know about. Tolminski Lom above the Soča Valley is one of those settlements.  If your starting location is in Soča Valley north of the town of Most na Soči, this small town is the best starting point.

Just above the Široko Tourist Farm you will find some amazing views towards Julian Alps over the Baška grapa Valley and the part of Soča Valley around Tolmin.

The spot is pretty small so just follow the road on the ridge to change the views.

You can even use some framing with the object on the top.

The tourist farm is pretty popular and can be crowded on weekends. Since the parking place is very limited and not very user friendly you would probably need to find an alternative somewhere along the road. There is also a renovation project in progress,

Text and photo: Zoran Leban Trojar

Sorica

Sorica is a picturesque village on the farthest SW slopes of the Škofja Loka Hills (Škofjeloško hribovje). It belongs to the Železniki Municipality in the Škofja Loka region but it’s first inhabitants settled here much before Železniki in Selška Valley had began to develop, probably as early as 1291. They came from Tyrol and were sent here to exploit the waste woods for the benefit of the Bishops of Freising from Bavaria who used to own both territories.

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Železniki and Selška Valley are not on the beaten tourist track themselves but Sorica is even less so since it is a 20 minute drive from Železniki into the hills away.However, it is positioned at the interesting crossroads. One road from here leads to the Upper Primorska region (Tolmin) through a very narrow valley of Baška grapa. The road is very windy and extremely narrow but it is definitely worth a try. The second road is even more interesting since it connects Sorica (and Upper Primorska) with Bohinj Lake and of course also with Bled and Lake Bled.

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No, this is not a road to  Bohinj Lake, that one is an ordinary concrete road (and much better that the one to Primorska). It passes a ski resort Soriška planina which is still a pasture land during the summer.

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In fact Sorica consists of two parts, Spodnja (Lower) and Zgornja (Upper) Sorica, the later being squeezed between two slopes. In the background Ratitovec overlooks the whole of Selška Valley and surrounding hills and villages. It is the last mountain (SE) of the Julian Alps and even the last of the whole Alps.

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Over the veduta of Spodnja Sorica is a good view on Davča, village of isolated farms which takes place over 10 km in lenght and covers similar area as the capitAl of Slovenia, Ljubljana. A church marks the entrance into the village what is also specific for the settlements around here – church is not in  the centre of the village but rather on the hill near it.

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This territory didn’t have good traffic connections with others so a specific dialect developed here, in the even more distant village of Danje a few km above Sorica even Tyrolean dialect was spoken well into 20th century (1950), which had nothing in common with Slovenian language.

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Also the architecture of the houses is based on the Tyrolean architecture.

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Today Sorica is best known among bikers and gliders and being a hometown of Ivan Grohar, famous Slovenian impressionist painter and traces of the rich history are slowly giving it’s way.

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The best views can be find just below the church (bellow and the first photo with bench) and around church at the beginning of the village if coming from Železniki.

The second POV is at the coordinates given on the map which are above the village next t the road to Tolmin/Podbrdo. There is a place for a car or two at the first right bend, then enter the small path (photo with a second bench).

Zoran Leban Trojar @zokus_gf

Škofja Loka – Sv. Andrej (St. Andreas)

The wider region of Škofja Loka consists of two valleys, Poljanska dolina and Selška dolina, which are both populated with some bigger villages and towns. All around and above the valleys are pretty steep hills of Škofjeloško hribovje. On their slopes and in some small and narrow valleys are countless small dispersed settlements, lone farms and small churches. A lot of those churches are built on the top of the hills or on the places which overlook the surroundings. One can not help but think of them as a kind of communication channel – not only connecting settlements in prayer but also advertise an event or even danger, as it was the case in 15th century Turkish invasion.

St. Andreas is one of them – a really small and dispersed settlement and a church with a View, only a few minutes drive from Škofja Loka.

St. Andreas can be reached through the narrow Hrastnica valley, a side valley of Poljanska dolina, which connect Škofja Loka with Polhov gradec. It is positioned on the ridge between two narrow gorges – the area is full of gorges, which are usually called “grapa”. Great views are awaiting the visitor –  of the city of Škofja Loka, of the Karavanke mountains, Kamnik – Savinja Alps and of the king of the Škofja Loka – the mighty Mt. Lubnik.

The church is Late Gothic, dating to between 1520 and 1530. The nave was vaulted in 1831. The frescos in the sanctuary, behind the altar, and one on the exterior were painted by Jernej of Loka at the time the church was built and most of the remaining decoration is from the 17th century. (wikipedia)

 

Unfortunately we have visited it just after the meadows were cut – views are much nicer with the high grass and flowers but also in the snow and early autumn the place is worth a visit.

Nothing much can be added to the description. We have continued a few hundred meters through the woods though to find some nice rural motifs – old farm utility architecture at its best.

The views from the “back entrance” were not bad either.

Check out other locations with photogenic churches and great views: St. Thomas and Križna gora.

Text and edit: Zoran Leban Trojar

 

 

Škofja Loka – Križna gora

Križna gora is a small settlement NW of Škofja Loka. It is situated on the ridge above Selška dolina valley which together with Poljanska dolina valley constitute the Škofja Loka area. The village and its church of the Holy Cross are visible from afar what is usually a good sign for the views from the spot in question and Križna gora does not dissapoint.

Sorško polje plain is almost entirely in the view and the town of Škofja Loka lies just bellow your feet – at least when the plain is not covered with fog. To the north the peaks of Kamnik Savinja Alps and Karavanke mountain ridge mark the view.

Mt. Kočna, Mt. Grintavec and Mt. Storžič are the most remarkable among these peaks – photographers and followers of @igslovenia would remember them from the photos of the famous Sveti Tomaž (St. Thomas), which in fact lies just accross the Selška dolina valley.

However, the plain and its surroundings are already visible  from the road to Križna gora, from the village itself and from the dirt road leading to the Church of Holy Cross – all you have to do is pick your view and motif – while  photographing the village and church of St. Thomas and the hills above the Selška dolina valley demand some searching and crossing the meadows which are not to be crossed in all seasons. We recommend the short trail which leads to the watter collector which can be easily spotted from the road to the church soon after you pass this idyllic vintage rural spot.

There is about 15 minutes walk from the village to the church on the top of the hill.

The best motifs differ by the season. weather, time of the day and your taste and equipment – just make sure to go around and cover all angles!

Thel church on a hill above the settlement is dedicated to the Holy Cross and was built around 1500. It contains many well-preserved frescos from 1502 that depict the legends of Saint Ulrich, to whom the church was dedicated until 1867, and of Saint Corbinian. Some of the frescos in the nave, dating to around 1530, are believed to be by Jernej of Loka. The hill with the church and a Lodge of the Hunters Society bellow the hill is a popular destination for short outings by locals. /source: wikipedia/

Križna gora offers many photo opportunities but also great views of the area per se. A trip to the village is also a great insight into the way of life in the rural villages in the Škofja Loka area and a nice trip to the mostly unspoiled nature. It is also pretty easy to adjust the lenght and the fitness level of the trip – hiking all the way from Škofja Loka, starting just before the start of the ascent or driving to the village and just hike around.

Check out other locations in the Škofja Loka area with a photogenic church and great views: St. Andreas and St. Thomas.

Text and photos: Zoran Leban Trojar

Sveti Tomaž (St. Thomas)

Sveti Tomaž is a very small settlement in the municipality of Škofja Loka. Just like Jamnik‘s church of St. Primus and Felician has become famous among photographers in the Instagram era by its church and fabulous backdrop.

Both places are also very close to each other, some 30 minutes drive is from one point to another. Both also stand on the hill above the meadow which makes for a pretty photos just strolling around the church.

We have visited St. Thomas in early spring but it is beautiful also in the snowy winter and in the middle of autumn.

Views from the church itself are also worth considering to photograph.

Wandering around the church one should not forget that the meadows are in use by the farmers from the village so walk with care when looking for the motifs!

The settlement is really small and there is no parking place for tourists so some care is needed with that as well, especially if you would like to get a view from some distance and pass the highest farm by the dirt road above it.

Only from some distance the whole beauty of the mountain backdrop reveals.

Unfortunately you have to walk some more to the Rantovše hill to get a view like the one bellow.

You would also need a serious equipment for a shot like this although we pretty good shots from the distance with our HuaweiP30Pro when using a quality tripod. Bellow you will find a 4x zoom of the St. Thomas church as it is seen from the road Škofja Loka – Železniki less than a kilometer before the actual turn for the settlement.

There is a 20 minutes drive from Škofja Loka to St. Thomas, the last part of the road is steep, narrow and curvy so take care!

Text and photos: Zoran Leban Trojar

 

 

 

Nebesa (Heaven)

The highest hill in the municipality of Šentrupert is called Nebesa (Heaven). We have no idea why but the views there are really – heavenly.

Dolenjska region of Slovenia is characterised by the soft rolling hills mostly covered with vineyards, small villages, lazy but magnificent Krka river and many churches on the top of the hills. One can not see the whole region from Nebesa but can get some of the best views of the landscape there.

We have visited it twice, once in the autumn evening and the second time in early summer at the sunrise. Sunset photos are fantastic and available throughout the year.

Direct sunrise can be probably caught from the late autumn till early spring. In other months sun rises behind the hill and lightens up the Mirna valley and the rolling hills around but doesn’t interfere with the lenses of your gadget.

 

The morning fog is pretty common there just to make the whole scenery even more magical.

The place is easy accessible with a car. There is a small tourist farm there which is open for public only at weekends but their toilettes are available at any time. This is probably a local cooperation with paragliders who have their ramp just next to the building.

We have mentioned sunrise and sunset time to be the best times to photograph here. Season wise we would recommend a colourful autumn, a snowy winter and late spring with the blossomed orchards and ripping fields.

We strongly recommend this less known place which could serve also as an inspiration for further explorations. Otočec Castle and  Novo mesto are pretty close!

Text and photos: Zoran Leban Trojar

 

Škofja Loka – Hribec

This is probably the best spot to photograph the Škofja Loka Castle with the whole old town – and much more! It is a small church called Sv. Križ na Hribcu – Holly Cross on the Small Hill – which itself can be spotted almost from you everywhere in the city. It is overlooking the settlement on the right bank of the Poljanska Sora river, Puštal. (By the way, there is a spot on Google maps saying it is Cerkev povišanja Sv. Križa – it is the right one, just use it if you need.) Crossing the big bridge from the Lower Square (Spodnji trg) just follow the road (be careful, it is very narrow) with the sport stadium on your left and in a few minutes you will see a small chapel by the dirt road – turn on the road and follow for the next 5 minutes to reach the church. The view on the castle opens immediately after the chapel.

There are two spots on the top to take photos – first one before the stairs leading to the church and the second the walls of the church. Bellow is an original view from the first one.

Here you can play with different compositions and enjoy.

The hill overlooking the city is called Lubnik and is very popular among the people from the city. It really marks the landscape and it is accordingly steep to reach the hut at the top.

We visited it twice but didn’t have luck with the light. But it is great spot in the morning when the rising sun lit the castle and the town from behind your back and also the best place to catch sunset just behind the castle. Dark clouds can also make very dramatic scene.

In the photo above you can spot a small saddle with some objects far behind the castle – it is a famous St. Thomas church, a mecca for photographers, just a 10 minutes drive from Škofja Loka, which together with both valleys, Poljanska and Selška, form a whole small region, a destination full of history, amazing nature and experiences.

Text and photos – all made with HuaweiP30Pro – Zoran Leban Trojar

Vintgar Gorge

The gorge, a beautiful piece of wilderness with steep depths, vertical walls and rapid river lies only some  4 km north-west of the famous Bled Lake. It was discovered in the 1891 by Jakob Žumer, the Major of the village of Gorje, and the cartographer and photographer Benedikt Lergetporer. The gorge was impassable at the time but very soon was arranged for the visitors. Bled has a long history in tourism and no wonder that the gorge is still one of the main tourist attractions of Slovenia.

The guarded entrance

 

It is closed during the winter since the wooden galleries can be slippery and combined with the amount of water which flows through when snow starts to melt it could be really dangerous, hence the metal doors just after the official entrance.

Maintenance workers on the galleries

In the season can be pretty crowded but we visited it just at the beginning of June and very early in the morning. We were lucky that the maintenance workers already entered the premises and we were allowed to enter it a few minutes before the official opening hours.

Wild beauty

At the beginning we were quite shocked by the cost of visit – 10 EUR for the entrance and 5 EUR for the parking – but soon we have realised what amount of work is needed to keep the 1.6 km long gorge safe since about 90% of the path is on wooden galleries and bridges. Beside that the beautiful Radovna river can cause some problems after a heavy storm.

Nature regulates itself

Looking back

The river carved its way through the vertical rocks of the Hom and Boršt hills and graced the gorge with its waterfalls, pools and rapids. Since it is very steep, high and narrow the sun enters it randomly and adds to the beauty with the light plays.

It works in both directions – did we mention that you have to come back the same way unless you want to take a pretty long walk around?

The Vintgar gorge also includes two man-made sights. After some two thirds of the trail the gorge opens a bit and the river slows down just before the single-arch stone bridge of the Bohinj railway, constructed in 1906, which crosses the gorge 33.5 m above the river, and the dam from which the water is routed to the small Vintgar hydroelectric power plant under the Šum waterfall.

It is not easy to take very good photos there – the gorge is narrow, the light pretty difficult and the crowd is always in your way – or you in theirs. Using wide angle lens helps a bit though and in a moment with no crowd a nice LE can be taken.

But at the damm the breeze from the falling water was so intense that our HuaweiP30Pro on the tripod behaved like the sail in the wind:) hence the blurred image.

Pretty soon after the damm the other entrance is reached – if you are with your own car it is probably a good idea to start from this side, which lies just above the Šum waterfall.

Above the Šum Waterfall.

The waterfall itself lies outside of the to-be-paid-for boundaries since the gorge ends here. But it is difficult to take photos there since there was no easy access to the river bed and also no stance outside of the water.

Šum Waterfall

We assume that the circumstances here change and with less water in the bed access is easier – but then also the waterfall is smaller though.

Can you spot the rainbow in the water drops? The 13-meter high waterfall is pretty powerful and the breeze quite strong just like at the dam above.

Have a coffee just above the waterfall as we did before heading back. It is the same trail but the sights are changing here very fast and you will sure enjoy the way back almost like as it was the first time.

Clear skies in the early morning provided for the sharp pictures even in the shade. Evening light changes everything, many times the morning mist ads to the beauty, with the fog the gorge becomes misty and mystical. You can find a lot different photos from the gorge in our feed on Instagram We will sure come back to experience it in different circumstances.

Text and photos: Zoran Leban Trojar.

All photos taken with HuaweiP30Pro courtesy of Huawei Slovenija.

More information about the gorge can be found here.

Škofja Loka

Škofja Loka is positioned at the transition of the Sora Plain (Sorško polje) into the Škofja Loka and Polhov Gradec Hills (Škofjeloško in Polhograjsko hribovje). It guards the entrance into the Selška Valley and Poljanska Valley, two beautiful valleys with the rivers of the same name, Sora (Poljanska Sora and Selška Sora). The medieval town, which was first mentioned in 973, is build at the junction of both rivers into one.

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Small old city centre is considered as the most beautifully preserved medieval city in Slovenia. It had an interesting and rich history, which is presented in the museum at the Castle of Škofja Loka. Town Square is built on the higher river terrace, Lower Square lies just above the river, naturally the best connection between the two leads close to the church.

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The city centre is small but charming.

Castle was built in 12th century and dominates the city sights.

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One can easily spot the best places to take photos of the castle. Among them are all bridges, especially the lowest one where traffic enters the lower old town and the one close behind the main bus station. Probably the best spot is from the small church on the small hill above Puštal, called Hribec. The church is very visible from the town and only a few minutes walk away,  we have a special post about this spot.

The latest which is also a good place to shot the river and old houses above, with the popular local hill, Lubnik, in the background. It is also one of the two best spots for sunset chasing.

 

 

And the bridge itself:

Good views of the castle are also from the Grajska pot (Castle Path) path and from the square where it begins.

 

The Castle Park behind the castle is also worth exploring.

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But the best view on the castle with the whole old town beneath is from the church Cerkev povišanje Sv. Križa which lies above the Puštal, a a former separate settlement on the right bank of Poljanska Sora, now a part of the city.

But Škofja Loka is not only a city. Together with both valleys, Poljanska and Selška, form a whole small region, a destination full of history, amazing nature and experiences. Right behind the castle an alert eye can spot in the distance the famous church of Sv. Tomaž, a photographer’s Mecca.

Besides St. Thomas, Škofja Loka area offers many spots like this, pictoresque villages with even more pictoresque churces on the top of the hills, great views and unspoilt nature. Križna gora is one of them, just a few minutes drive from the city, as is also Sv. Andrej (St. Andreas). Some others may not offer so many views but are beautiful photo objects by themselves, as is Sv. Volbenk.

Read more about Škofja Loka.

Zoran Leban Trojar @zokus_gf