Žirovnica – Accommodation, Cultural Trails and Mountain Views

Žirovnica can be explored via marked cultural trails, historic houses and tours on Stol. Ajdna is a Late Antique archaeological site on the southern side of Stol. The ascent to Ajdna is possible only on foot; from there, the view extends to the Julian Alps and Lake Bled.

Trails and Views

The Žirovnica Cultural Heritage Trail is a 10-kilometre circular route. Signposts are installed in both directions. You can explore the route on foot, by bicycle, by car or by bus. The Juliana Trail also passes through Žirovnica. Its third stage begins in Jesenice, leads across the Dobravško polje and over the Sava Dolinka River to the villages below Stol, and runs there mostly along the Žirovnica Cultural Heritage Trail.

Above Žirovnica lies Vodostan, which was built in 1914 to supply the Završnica hydroelectric power plant and later the Moste hydroelectric power plant. Today, it is also an excellent viewpoint. The Karawanks Trail includes Žirovnica Stage 5 from Begunje na Gorenjskem to Dom Pristava.

The Žirovnica visitor portal provides information about travelling by car, bicycle, train or bus.

Cycling Routes on Stol and in the Surrounding Area

For cyclists, the Žirovnica E5 stage of the Juliana Bike is part of the offering: it leads from the Žirovnica TIC into the Završnica Valley. The Žirovnica–Valvasorjev dom–Žirovnica cycling loop is a mountain-biking tour below Stol. Another cycling loop connects Žirovnica with Begunje na Gorenjskem and then returns to Žirovnica. It is a pleasant excursion across the lowlands, where you can explore the rich cultural heritage.

The Žirovnica–Smokuški vrh–car park below Tinčkova koča–Žirovnica cycling loop is also a mountain-biking tour. It leads through unspoilt nature and includes two high points.

Culture and History

In the old village centre of Žirovnica is the Čopova rojstna hiša. The house has been open to the public since December 1994 and now serves as a museum, venue and headquarters of the Žirovnica Institute of Tourism and Culture. At the same time, it serves as the tourist information centre for Žirovnica. The Čopova rojstna hiša houses the memorial room of Matija Čop and the Ajdna museum room.

In Vrba, the Prešernova rojstna hiša was declared a monument of national importance in 2011. The restored Prešernova rojstna hiša there comprises a museum complex with a central exhibition on the poet’s life and work, a hall for cultural events and a museum shop. Also in Vrba is the branch church of St Mark, first mentioned in 1468, which combines traces of Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque styles.

In the Studenčice cultural landscape, more than 4.5 kilometres of the Cesarska cesta have been preserved in their original form. There, it is an important landscape monument and an attractive cultural heritage route. The Završnica hydroelectric power plant has now been converted into a technical museum. Visitors can learn about generating electricity from water and compare the historical equipment with the modern equipment of the Moste hydroelectric power plant.

In Doslovče, the Finžgarjeva domačija, together with its hayrack and barn, has been preserved as an open-air museum. The Finžgarjeva rojstna hiša in Doslovče was open to groups of 10 or more by prior arrangement. Guided tours and tastings of beehive products at Janšev čebelnjak are available by arrangement.

Other local destinations: Rateče, Gozd Martuljek, Mojstrana, Kranjska Gora, Jesenice.

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