Magnificent tribute to the 120th anniversary of the Aljaž Tower...

Magnificent tribute to the 120th anniversary of the Aljaž Tower in Mojstrana.

The solemn academy Oj, Triglav, moj dom, the central event in a series of celebrations for the 120th anniversary of the erection of the Aljaž Tower on top of Triglav, on August 7, 2015, in front of the Slovenian Alpine Museum in Mojstrana, truly magnificently swayed into a festive evening that Jakob Aljaž would surely have proudly followed in his home region. In the afternoon, a wreath was also laid on his grave in Dovje, and the Archbishop of Ljubljana celebrated Mass in the Dovje church in memory of the former Dovje parish priest and conscious Slovenian who still unites us today with his famous tower.



After a modest morning ceremony on top of Triglav, the events in the afternoon moved to Mojstrana and Dovje, where Jakob Aljaž served. Mayor of the Municipality of Kranjska Gora Jani Hrovat, President of the Alpine Association of Slovenia (PZS) Bojan Rotovnik, President of the Mountaineering Association (PD) Dovje-Mojstrana Gregor Berce, and Archbishop of Ljubljana Stanislav Zore laid wreaths on Jakob Aljaž's grave at the Dovje cemetery, and in the parish church in Dovje, the archbishop also celebrated Mass in Aljaž's memory.



The jubilee in honor of the sturdy 120-year-old reached its peak with the solemn academy Oj, Triglav, moj dom, which attracted around 400 admirers of Aljaž's material and spiritual heritage in front of the Slovenian Alpine Museum in Mojstrana, inspiring the magnificent event. "Slovenes not only, as a mountaineering nation, like to pilgrimage to the summit of Triglav according to an unwritten commandment, but as a nation, especially in historically important, difficult moments, we look to Triglav, to the Aljaž Tower as a source of inspiration, courage, and strength," emphasized the keynote speaker Miro Eržen, Vice-President of the Alpine Association of Slovenia, also the long-time director of the Slovenian Alpine Museum and a native of Mojstrana. He looked back at history and – critically, as Jakob Aljaž knew how to do – connected it with the present, in which the symbol of Slovenian identity, a cultural monument of national importance since 1999, still seeks its land registry space under the sun and a manager who will professionally care for it.

The audience in the forecourt of the Vrata Valley was also addressed by Mayor of the Municipality of Kranjska Gora Jani Hrovat and PZS President Bojan Rotovnik. Mag. Gorazd Lemajič from the National Museum of Slovenia presented the exhibition Aljaž Tower – This metal has a soul!, PD Dovje-Mojstrana President Gregor Berce presented artworks by participants of the Vrata 2015 painting colony, and curator at SPM Elizabeta Gradnik presented the freshly published booklet Aljaž Tower. In addition to the mentioned exhibitions, which opened on the 120th anniversary of the Aljaž Tower, a temporary exhibition with original items of Jakob Aljaž also came to life in the alpine museum.



A striking and magnificent introduction to the Mojstrana celebration, interwoven with selected words by local Leona Gomboc, was given by the Jesenice-Kranjska Gora Wind Orchestra with a medley of alpine-folk songs. The cultural program was co-created with harmonious singing by Oktet Bori and Obrtniški MePZ Notranjska, the Julijana Folklore Group from Hrušica thrilled with a medley of folk dances, and baritone Marko Kobal and zither player Tomaž Plahutnik with their deeply felt performance again – as already in the morning on Triglav – gave listeners goosebumps. This time also with the premiere performance of the song by Dovje parish priest Franc Juvan, which he wrote in honor of the Aljaž Tower.



About what the 120th anniversary of the Aljaž Tower means to them, they spoke ...



Miro Eržen, Vice-President of the Alpine Association of Slovenia: "On this jubilee, it is worth looking more closely at the message of Jakob Aljaž that was intended for mountaineering and Slovenes at the time of erection and is still very relevant today. Heartiness, courage, national pride, and dedication to mountaineering were the guiding principles for Jakob Aljaž throughout his life, with which he gave enthusiasm and courage to the members of the Slovenian Alpine Association in building numerous huts, alpine trails, and general enthusiasm for mountaineering, visiting mountains, and developing tourism, which has been passed on to the mountaineering associations united in the Alpine Association of Slovenia as the successor to the Slovenian Alpine Association."



Jani Hrovat, Mayor of the Municipality of Kranjska Gora: "The 120th anniversary of the Aljaž Tower means the greatest holiday for the Municipality of Kranjska Gora to me, a memory of the Dovje parish priest, of awareness, Slovenian identity, development of mountaineering and huts in the Julian Alps, a memory of alpine poetry and alpine song, of spirituality connected with mountains, and of course a memory of village life in Dovje, interwoven with the figure of a strong, sturdy Slovenian, priest Jakob Aljaž."



Stanislav Zore, Archbishop of Ljubljana: "Certainly, it is an exceptional work of Jakob Aljaž, priest and Slovenian, who not only with the Aljaž Tower but with all his works showed foresight, courage, selflessness, and industriousness. With this, he marked his time and changed the direction – he kept our mountains Slovenian amid growing German influence. He wanted Triglav and other Slovenian mountains to remain a place where people meet and connect, not divide. This is a message also for our time."



Elizabeta Gradnik, curator for mountaineering at the Slovenian Alpine Museum: "The anniversary of the Aljaž Tower is one of the opportunities for Slovenes to stop for a moment and reflect on what it means to have our own country. Jakob Aljaž would have been happy to experience this, as he was a fervent Slovenian and patriot. This achievement is also a fortune for us, so we should respect our country more."



Miha Kuhar, Deputy Commander of the 132nd Mountain Regiment of the Slovenian Army: "The Aljaž Tower is our tradition and history, which we respect. The Slovenian Army has patriotism as its top value, symbols of which are Triglav and the Aljaž Tower, so it is normal to climb Triglav on such a day. In addition, we also have the symbol of the Slovenian Army on our uniform sleeve – the coat of arms with Triglav."



Dr. Bogomil Breznik, Acting Director of Triglav National Park: "The jubilee of the Aljaž Tower means a lot to me because we can really be proud of such a man and his deeds, and we can also be proud of the nature that surrounds us. The state should behave less stepmotherly towards the Alpine Association of Slovenia and Triglav National Park so that we can preserve nature for people seeking peace, as funds are needed for that. I wish for as many such anniversaries as possible so that we can renovate the tower, and as little vandalism as possible, which the Aljaž Tower has been experiencing lately."