Jesenice – Ironworking History, Culture and Nature

Jesenice combines the history of ironworking with historic settlements, churches and a diverse landscape in the wider surrounding region.

Culture

The Slovenian Ironworks Museum presents a permanent exhibition about the owners of the ironworks and the history of ironworking in Jesenice. In the former ironworkers’ settlement of Stara Sava, visitors can also see a permanent exhibition on the lifestyle of ironworking families and a reconstruction of a workers’ apartment. Remains of the former blast furnace have also been preserved there. The statue of the ironworker in Jesenice symbolizes the city’s history, which is closely connected with ironworking.

Historic sites include Murova, the oldest settlement in Jesenice; the first records of it date back to 1469. Murova offers a walk through the oldest part of Jesenice. The Church of the Assumption stands in Stara Sava. It was built by the Bucelleni family and consecrated in 1606 by Tomaž Hren, the Bishop of Ljubljana. Its main altar is made of black marble. The Church of St. Leonard in Jesenice was first mentioned in 1460, built in the Gothic style and given Baroque features in the 18th century.

The Kos Mansion, built in 1521 by Žiga Dietrichstein, a tenant of the House of Habsburg, occasionally hosts exhibitions of visual art and museum exhibitions. The collection of the Gornjesavski Museum Jesenice includes the Jože Bedič Geological and Paleontological Collection. It is considered the largest and most important collection of Paleozoic fossils in Slovenia.

In the wider surrounding region of Jesenice, the Partisan Hospital on the Mežakla was the first Partisan hospital in Gorenjska. It was established in December 1942 on the initiative of the Partisan doctor Dr. Edvard Pohar.

Everyday Life and Food

A workshop at the Museum of Workers’ Culture in Jesenice focuses on a simple, historically inspired meal. Visitors roast and grind barley, prepare coffee with milk and try the typical workers’ breakfast “kofe pa krǝh”, consisting of coffee and bread.

Nature

The Memorial Park in Plavž is home to more than 200 plant species and provides locals and visitors with a peaceful retreat. The Mežakla, which includes part of Triglav National Park, is located in the wider surrounding region of Jesenice. Walks there offer various natural and cultural sights in every season.

Zois Park in Javorniški Rovt is located above Jesenice. Special plant and tree species, together with three lakes, form a natural landscape there. In the wider surrounding region of Jesenice, the sunny slopes of the Karawanks are covered with narrow-leaved narcissi in May, known by locals as “Ključavnice”. Two powerful waterfalls on the Javornik stream are located along the road to Javorniški Rovt.

Trails and Events

The Trilobit nature and mining trail is located in Javorniški Rovt, in the wider surrounding region of Jesenice. The circular trail is 10.2 kilometres long, has an elevation gain of 873 metres, takes 4 hours and 10 minutes and is of moderate difficulty. A mountain hiking trail leads from Jesenice to Dom Pristava in Javorniški Rovt and offers views of the valley.

A guided tour with a local tourist guide can be reserved in Jesenice. Every November, the Čufarjevi dnevi festival takes place at the Tone Čufar Theatre in Jesenice. Amateur theatre groups compete against one another, and six to eight theatre performances are presented. Recreational ice skating takes place every weekend at the Podmežakla Sports Hall.

Tourist Information

The Jesenice Tourist Information Centre is located in the centre of Jesenice, opposite Jesenice railway station. It provides information about sights, events, active experiences, timetables and guided tours.

Other places: Podkoren, Zgornja Radovna, Mojstrana, Breznica, Rodine, Gozd Martuljek, Kranjska Gora, Rateče.

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