Kamnik Alps
Kamnik Alps, part of which is Velika
planina, is the most west part of European south Alps. Located north of Slovenia
capitol - Ljubljana, only 30km away, and easy accessible, is an ideal tourist region of
Slovenia.
Mountain valleys as Logarska valley,
valley of Kamniska Bistrica , are extending into the heart of
mountains. They are ideal starting point for mountain tours to their peaks. Peaks and
north slopes are rocky and very steep, whereas south slopes are gently rising and up to
1700m overgrown with woods. There are numerous mountain huts, which lighten mountain
tours. Kamnik Alps peaks /Grintovec, Kocna, Skuta...) reach to 2558m of height.
Kamnik Alps are offering normal
tourists a lot of modest mountains tours to interesting places as Krvavec, Dol, Jezersko,
Velika planina ... in fresh air, beautiful views and recreation possibilities. All these
places are easily accessible either by car or modern cableway or by foot. Velika
planina , as a waste mountain plateau,
where alpine diary is still going, represents ideal environment for a recreation through
the whole year.
Velika
planina
Kamnika Bistrica valley,
reaching into the heart of Kamnik Alps, is surrounded on the one side by Krvavec, on the
other side by Velika planina . This alpine plateau reaching
up to 1660m of height is mostly covered with a grass, partially with some pine trees and
dwarf pine trees and rhododendrons. There are also some art caves and precipices. Velika
planina is centuries used for pasturage mostly cattle, which is proven by herd's huts in
ancient architecture unique for this place. Huts are grouped into settlements, spread
throughout the plateau - places as Velika planina, Mala planina, Gojska planina, Tiha
dolina, Konjscica ... In summer, when pasturage takes place, they are used by tourist as
weekend huts.
Hut's architecture is, as already
said, unique for this region. Made of wood, with a shingle roofs, consists of a central,
square part as a dwelling place for a herd, surrounded by two round, at bigger ones
square, porches, used for a cattle and utilities.
On borders of pasturage there are new
tourist huts in the same architecture as old ones, mostly private, and available for
renting.
Tourism
Velika planina offers ideal
possibilities for tourism through the whole year. From spring up to first snow it is
offering nice walks from one settlement to the other, beautiful views on near mountain
peaks, rich flora and clear mountain air. It is also a good starting point for mountain
tours.
In winter time it is a good place for
alpine skiing using available skiing lifts and also ski running. Because of not very steep
slopes it is ideal for a families, as it not demands a very high skiing knowledge.
Beside mentioned herds' and tourist's
huts there are available during the whole year also an alpine hostels as Domzalski
dom , Dom na Mali planini ... and at the top station of the cable way hotel Simnovec.
Some private tourist huts are also available for rent as apartments, equipped partially
with running water and electricity, offering a good mountain comfort .
Access
Easiest access is by a cableway from
Kamniska Bistrica valley. It brings
visitors to the border of the plateau, where hotel is located, sitting lift brings them
further to the top of Velika planina. Cableway station is accessible by car or bus from
town Kamnik (7km), regularly connected by bus or train from Ljubljana (23km). There is
also more access points to reach Velika planina by foot. The most convenient access is
from the beginning of Kamniska Bistrica valley, place Stahovica, where a mountain path is
starting, passing a pilgrimage churches of Saint Primoz, well known by frescoes paintings,
and leading to Mala planina (about two hours), partially through woods, partly in mountain
pasturage environment, and further on to settlement of Velika planina. Path is more a
walkway, not demanding special tourist's condition.
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