Mountaineering Village Baška Grapa - a place of unspoiled nature and warm-hearted people.

Mountaineering Village Baška Grapa - a place of unspoiled nature and warm-hearted people.
Baška Grapa is one of the few pristine corners of Slovenia, and with the solemn signing of the accession declaration on May 24 in Stržišče under Črna prst, it officially joined the international network of Mountaineering Villages as the fourth Slovenian member. With its natural beauty, the perseverance of the locals, and commitment to sustainable development, it has become an important member of the family that unites 43 members in the Alpine region, while committing to remain a place of unspoiled nature and warm-hearted people.

Baška Grapa is a charming valley in the Julian Alps along the Bača River between the places Bača pri Modreju and Petrovo Brdo at the end of the valley, above which numerous picturesque villages and hamlets are scattered on steep slopes and sunny terraces. Due to its location at the transition between the Alps and the Mediterranean, it is rich in diverse plant life and several endemic species thrive there. On the slopes of Črna prst, an exceptional alpine garden spreads out, known as the European botanical garden. Carpets of mountain flowers are most beautiful in spring and early summer, especially in June. The Bohinj railway line is a heritage from the Habsburg era that connects the Alps with the Adriatic Sea, and the Bohinj tunnel near Podbrdo with 6327 metres is one of the longer tunnels in the Alps. In these areas, the first Slovenian sound feature film was shot - Na svoji zemlji, here the first mountain run and the first mountain marathon in Slovenia were born.

The international community of Mountaineering Villages (Bergsteigerdörfer) has been uniting Alpine places since 2008 (currently 43 places in Austria, Bavaria, South Tyrol, Italy, Switzerland, and Slovenia) that fulfil the goals of the Alpine Convention and develop their tourism based on mountaineering tradition - without large tourist infrastructure and with a sustainable approach. Baška Grapa is the fourth Slovenian member alongside the municipalities of Jezersko and Luče and the local community of Dovje-Mojstrana, the next candidate for entry is Sorica in the Municipality of Železniki. In addition to Baška Grapa, in 2025, the Swiss municipalities of Lauenen (canton Valais) and Campo Vallemaggia (canton Ticino) are joining the mountaineering villages.


The charter expressing commitment to the network's values, primarily development based on the quality of life of local residents, hiking as the leading activity, and connecting natural and cultural landscape, was signed on May 24 during the event 3rd Stržišče Day of Črna prst Flowers in Stržišče by the mayor of Tolmin Alen Červ and Jože Rovan, president of the Alpine Association of Slovenia, which is also the carrier of the Mountaineering Villages project in Slovenia. The gathered were also enthusiastically addressed by Swiss Thomas Rose, member of the international committee of Mountaineering Villages, and Nataša Bratina, general director of the Directorate for Space and Construction at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Space.

"Baška Grapa is a valley like few others - remote, wild, and therefore all the more authentic. Its geographical remoteness has given it something precious: preservation. Here it seems as if time is slower and life more closely connected to the rhythm of nature. However, it is not cut off from the world. The railway has long connected the valley on one side with Bohinj and on the other with Posočje, thus placing it in the heart of events - in contact with visitors, hikers, cyclists, and explorers of the mountain world. A narrow road also winds through the grapa, from which wonderful views open to the river below and hamlets on steep slopes. This unique blend of remoteness and openness is an important value of today's time. Baška Grapa is not just a place to retreat to, it is a place that opens a view to a different, more balanced way of life," highlighted PZS president Jože Rovan at the ceremony and added: "I am convinced that Baška Grapa as a mountaineering village in the international family will contribute to the richness of experiences, good practices, and above all to preserving the primordiality of the mountain world that we all love so much."

Baška Grapa is part of the Municipality of Tolmin, which gladly supported the efforts of the locals and inclusion in the Mountaineering Villages, as emphasized by mayor Alen Červ: "We believe that the future of our places is in seeking balance between man and the natural environment. In tourism, we are guided by the principle 'less is more', so we want to offer visitors authentic, sustainably oriented experiences that do not burden the space but enrich it. With the inclusion of Baška Grapa in the international network of Mountaineering Villages, we want to further strengthen these principles and transfer them to this precious but often overlooked part of our municipality. We are glad that through the preparation of the candidacy, the connection of the local community has strengthened. This process has activated numerous individuals and organizations, blurred boundaries between settlements, and created a strong sense of belonging. In this, we see one of the greatest successes of the project already now."

The dedicated project team carried out a series of activities between 2019 and 2025 that led to the official inclusion in the network. First, it is worth highlighting the connection of all local communities in the area of Baška Grapa, among other things, they also prepared promotional material. An important step was obtaining twelve local project partners who received special plaques with the 'mountaineering village' logo at the event. On the solemn occasion, they issued the brochure Baška Grapa - unspoiled nature and warm-hearted people in four languages, which offers visitors useful tips for hiking and viewing cultural and natural attractions.

"Baška Grapa with its wild, untamed beauty, rich cultural and natural heritage, and authentic people represents an undiscovered gem of the Slovenian tourist map. Obtaining the title Mountaineering Village confirms our efforts for sustainable development, nature protection, tradition preservation, and promoting responsible visiting of this special valley and its many scenic peaks," emphasizes deputy mayor of the Municipality of Tolmin and president of the Mountaineering Club Podbrdo Tomaž Štenkler.

Štenkler led the project together with Alenka Zgaga, member of the management board of PD Podbrdo and president of KTT Association Baška dediščina, who was satisfied with the exceptional atmosphere at the event: "The locals on this occasion really felt that they are in the centre of events and not at the end of the world. A special atmosphere was felt, the mass attendance from other mountaineering villages, both from abroad and all Slovenian ones, meant a lot to us. With a good programme and numerous guests, excellent ideas for future cooperation were sparked."

The cultural programme of the ceremonial meeting with 350 visitors, representatives of the community, (deputy) mayors, and guests from Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Germany, South Tyrol, and Slovenia was shaped by Manca Špik, Vocal Group Snežet, Kariške čečje, children's choir of OŠ Simona Kosa Podbrdo, and moderator Marjana Grčman. The catering and socializing with typical home-cooked dishes and presentation of local offer at stalls was enriched by the music of the ensemble Damačica. Many visitors arrived in Podbrdo by train and participated in a guided hike to Stržišče. The entire event was organized by the Municipality of Tolmin in cooperation with KS Stržišče, PD Podbrdo, KTT Association Baška dediščina, TD Podbrdo, and PD Bohinjska Bistrica.