New Guide Slovenian Istria and Karst

New Guide Slovenian Istria and Karst - on a hiking trip to Primorska.

Hikers are delighted by the updated and expanded edition of the guide to Slovenian Istria, Karst and the border area, which is the work of local expert and excellent connoisseur of the region Milan Vinčec. The Planinska založba guide is distinguished by concise, precise and vivid descriptions of hiking trails and excursions with a touch of history and culture - a total of 45 excursions in Primorska, seasoned with a touch of magic.

Slovenian Istria and Karst (regions we define as Primorska) are inviting destinations that nature lovers gladly return to time and again. The varied hilly landscape, mild climate, moderate summers and mild winters attract numerous visitors, excursionists and hikers all year round. Every season offers something new and interesting, every visit is - according to the author Milan Vinčec - seasoned with a touch of magic: "The landscape surprises, changing its appearance from step to step, now strewn with stones, the next moment soft vibrant green grassy meadows open up, a forested embrace, desolate bare expanses, low shrubbery, and finally forest clearings carpeted with colorful flowers."



The updated and expanded edition of the Slovenian Istria and Karst guide complements Vinčec's original book from just under a decade ago, which was also published by Planinska založba. In addition to updated descriptions and a renewed photographic presentation, the guide invites to numerous new trails, as there are 14 more destinations in the new edition. The guide is intended for all who enjoy easier and marked hiking trails and excursions with a touch of history and culture. It is given a seal by the vivid presentation of places and people, natural and cultural heritage, added value are clear maps of the described trails, rich photographic content and QR codes of starting points and trails.

In the 2016 guide, Vinčec invited visitors to the Šavrinsko hribovje with picturesque villages, to the mysterious riparian area of the border river Dragonja, to the scenic edge of the flysch cliff at Strunjan and from the climbing Osp to the scenic Tinjan. Away from the sea, the long trail around Movraška vala beckoned, which can be shortened by ascending to Lačna or viewing interesting rock shelters at Sočerga. Even longer is the circular Pot gradov, an open-air cultural-historical and natural history classroom. The author also invited to the border area, to the famous Glinščica gorge, then across vast grassy plains of Lipnik, Kavčič, Golič and Kojnik and to the thousand-meter scenic balcony Slavnik, from there to lesser-known peaks above Matarsko podolje, beyond which the fertile Brkini beckon. Their northern slopes descend into the valley of the Reka river and along its narrowest part to the Škocjanske jame and further to Vremščica. At the end, he listed some peaks of the Tržaško-Komenski kras and the highest peak of the Črni hribi, Trstelj.

As stated by the editor of the new guide Gorazd Gorišek, the updated and expanded edition of Vinčec's guide to Slovenian Istria and surroundings invites to numerous new trails, for example to Kettejeva pot between Ilirska Bistrica and Prem, where the Slovenian poet was born, and to the scenic grassy Žbevnica near the southern neighbors. Across the southern guardian of the Glinščica valley, Mali Kras, it invites to the Veli vir waterfall and to picturesque Istrian villages. Visitors are awaited by the ancient settlements Korte and Koštabona, each village with its own circular trail. The Slovenian Mountain Trail to the area covered by the guide enters below Vremščica, ascends to Slavnik, crosses to Socerb and descends via Tinjan to the sea. Finally, the author takes to peaks beyond the Slovenian-Italian border: to scenic Volnik and Veliki Medvedjak, Sveti Lenart, where the foundations of the former church stand, and Grmada, across which the Austro-Hungarian defensive line ran in World War I. Above the Tržaški zaliv, Rilkejeva and Napoleonova pot beckon, and to the Adriatic Sea leads the Ribiška pot from Nabrežina.

When exploring Primorska with the new guide, the map of the Alpine Association of Slovenia Slovenian Istria, Karst and Surroundings at 1:50,000 scale will also be welcome, covering the area between Sečovelje and Žbevnica in the south, Sabotin and Lokve on the Trnovska planota in the north, between Predmeja, Senožeče, Košana and Podgrad in the east, and Sabotin, Doberdobsko jezero, Trst and Sečovelje in the west.

"From the tops of these modest hills I gazed into the distance, before me the wonderful world of Slovenian Istria opened up as on a palm. I directed my gaze there, where the sun was already caressing the sea surface and concluding its circuit in shades of glowing fire; for the last time in farewell, good night, it kissed this magical land and sank into the other world. These are those unforgettable moments when Slovenian Istria captures and enchants you, these are the moments when you fall in love with the colors and scents of this mysterious land and words well up from the bottom of your heart by themselves: Slovenian Istria indeed has no mighty mountains, not even hills that could proudly bear that name in abundance, but it is full of small peaks and hills where the traveler feels good and finds his peace. These are the mountains of the Istrian man, these are the holy temples where the joys and beauties of Istria are revealed to the traveler and truly enrich him and make him better," Vinčec poetically paid homage to his elevations.