Kranjska Gora

A vacation in Kranjska Gora, known in German as Kronau, combines winter sports with mountain summers in the tri-border region of Slovenia, Austria, and Italy. World Cup races are held here, ski jumpers fly farther in Planica than anywhere else, and the Vršič Pass leads straight into Triglav National Park.

Location and Landscape

The municipality lies in the upper Sava Dolinka Valley in northwestern Slovenia. To the south, the rugged limestone walls of the Julian Alps rise up, with peaks such as Prisojnik and Razor; to the north are the gentler Karawanks along the Austrian border. West of town lies the Zelenci nature reserve, an emerald-green spring pool where the Sava River begins. The small Lake Jasna south of town, on the road to Vršič, is a popular photo stop, with a bronze statue of the ibex Zlatorog on its shore. Around town, flat bike paths wind through the valley, for example along the old railway line toward Jesenice.

Sights in Kranjska Gora

Kranjska Gora hosts the men's World Cup giant slalom and slalom races on the Vitranc slope; in winter, several lifts and cross-country trails are available. In the Planica valley, a few miles to the west, stands the large Gorišek brothers' ski flying hill, where world records have been set again and again; a modern Nordic Center complements the facility. The Vršič Pass road, at about 1,611 meters (5,285 feet) the highest road pass in Slovenia, was built by Russian prisoners of war during World War I. The wooden Russian Chapel by the roadside commemorates the victims of an avalanche. Over the top of the pass, you reach the Soča Valley and the town of Bovec.

Food, Getting There, and Best Time to Visit

Mountain huts and inns serve Carniolan sausage, ričet (a barley stew), jota (a bean and sauerkraut soup), and štruklji (rolled dumplings). Kranjska Gora is about 19 miles (30 km) from Villach and can be reached via the Wurzen Pass or the Karawanks Tunnel; buses run from Ljubljana. The best time to visit is December through March for skiing and June through September for hiking; the Vršič is closed in winter. In fall, larches and beeches turn golden, and the hiking trails are quieter; many huts stay open until the end of September.