Upper Carniola

Upper Carniola

Upper Carniola is the crown jewel of any mountain road trip where you conquer the fifty hairpin turns of the **Vršič Pass**. The route takes you from the emerald **Zelenci** Springs to the highest peaks of the **Julian Alps**, passing the wooden Russian Chapel built by prisoners. You will drive along the shores of **Lake Bled** to find the iconic island church and the wilder waters of **Lake Bohinj**. The road climbs through forests of larch and pine to reach views that take your breath away at every bend. You can find the **Peričnik** Waterfall, which you can actually walk behind, or explore the narrow Vintgar Gorge on wooden walkways. The region is packed with iconic sights and the most famous mountain roads in the country, offering a world class photo opportunity at every stop. Every village offers a cozy inn serving buckwheat dumplings or **kremna rezina**, the famous Bled cream cake. You should also try **žganci** with cracklings, a traditional dish that has fueled alpine explorers for centuries. Upper Carniola is the definitive alpine experience and a highlight for anyone who finds beauty in snow capped peaks and glacial lakes.

Upper Carniola highlights

Part of these road trips

Follow the routes that cross this destination

The Scenic Route
The Heritage Drive
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History of Upper Carniola

The story of the Julian Alps is one of glacial power and the legendary peaks that have defined the national identity in Upper Carniola for over a thousand years. Slavic tribes settled in these high valleys in the early Middle Ages finding refuge in the shadows of **Mount Triglav** which they believed was the home of a triple headed god. The glacial lakes of **Bled** and **Bohinj** became sacred spaces long before they were ever tourist destinations. During the First World War these mountains became the highest battlefield in human history with soldiers carving roads and tunnels through the solid rock of the **Vršič Pass**. The Russian Chapel remains a silent witness to the prisoners of war who died building the fifty hairpin turns that are now a favorite for travelers. After the war the region became a sanctuary for the European elite who came to the lakes for the healing mountain air and the crystal clear water. The modern era has turned the region into a global center for winter sports and alpine exploration with the ski jumps of **Planica** becoming a site of world records. The ancient mountain lodges and shepherd huts still dot the high plateaus offering a glimpse into a time when life was governed by the seasons and the snow. It is a landscape that inspires awe through its sheer scale and the legends of the white ibex that guards the peaks.
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