Begunje na Gorenjskem: Culture, Mountain Setting and Historic Trails

Begunje na Gorenjskem lies below Mount Begunjščica. The town focuses on a significant chapter of contemporary history, the development of skiing and the musical history of the Avsenik brothers; several trails lead to churches, castle ruins and archaeological sites.

Culture and Remembrance

In the centre of Begunje, Katzenstein Mansion housed Gestapo prisons during the Nazi occupation. The building is a cultural monument of national importance. In the part of the mansion where the cells for prisoners sentenced to death were located, the Museum of Hostages is now housed. The walls of ten preserved prison cells retain inscriptions and drawings by prisoners.

The Museum of Hostages commemorates the suffering, fear, uncertainty and inhumane mistreatment during interrogation procedures in the Second World War. Begunje also holds an annual commemoration of the liberation of the prisons on 4 May 1945.

Skiing History and Music

Begunje na Gorenjskem is also home to the Elan Alpine Skiing Museum. It presents Elan innovations, competition successes and legendary products that influenced the development of skiing, as well as the most important milestones in Elan's history.

The Avsenik Museum in the centre of Begunje is dedicated to the development and history of the Avsenik brothers' ensemble. Original instruments, stage clothing and awards are on display, along with gold, platinum and diamond records. The Vaška Trail Begunje passes the birthplace of Slavko Avsenik, St Urh Church and the park of Katzenstein Mansion. The park contains works by Jože Plečnik and Boris Kalin, including the Jožamurka Pavilion and the Brezjanka Shelter.

Hiking Trails

Behind Begunje, the ruins of Kamen Castle stand at the entrance to the Draga Valley. The complex once guarded an old trade route across the Karawanks. The ruins include a 12th-century lookout tower. The Lamberg Trail passes the archaeological sites of Njivica and Zijalka, as well as Devil's Castle, and then reaches Kamen Castle. From there, the trail can continue into the Draga Valley and then return to Begunje.

Another historically themed trail is the Petrova Trail, which begins in front of the Begunje TIC. St Peter's Church lies above Begunje. It can be reached via an approximately half-hour climb from Begunje and was already an important pilgrimage site in the 17th century. The 16th-century frescoes in the church are the most extensive surviving work by Jernej iz Loke.

The fourth stage of the Juliana Trail leads from Begunje na Gorenjskem via Radovljica to Bled; the section from Begunje na Gorenjskem to Bled takes just under four hours. The challenging Pastirska Trail begins and ends in the Draga Valley and leads via Preval, the source of the Roža stream, Roblekov dom, Poljška planina and Planinca. The hiking trail is 10.2 kilometres long, takes approximately five to six hours and is classified as a challenging hiking trail.

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Further destination pages: Ljubno, Lesce, Bohinjska Bistrica, Radovljica, Ribčev Laz, Bled.

For the higher-level travel overview: Municipality of Radovljica.