Triglav National Park

Triglav National Park in Slovenia: History and Attractions 2025

Did you know that mountains occupy more than 40% of the entire area of Slovenia? Pohorje, Karavanke ridge, Kamniško-Savinjskie and, of course, the Julian Alps.

The Julian Alps, named after the Roman emperor Gaius Julius Caesar, is a mountain range that occupies a significant part of the territory in the north-west of the country. The highest point of the Julian Alps, and indeed of all of Slovenia, is Mount Triglav (2864 m).

Coat of Arms of Slovenia

But Triglav is not just a mountain. First of all, it is the national symbol of the country, which is depicted on its coat of arms and flag. And secondly, this is the center and heart of its national park. Actually, there are plenty of parks in Slovenia, but there is only one national park.

Vintgar gorge round trail

Geographical features of Triglav National park

Triglav National Park is located on the north-west of Slovenia, specifically covers the area of the Julian Alps, and is one and only national park in Slovenia. The park is dominated by high-mountain karst (karstic landscapes). The vegetation in the park is typically alpine, but due to the proximity of the Adriatic Sea and the influence of the Mediterranean climate, plants of this area are also present in the southwestern part of the park. The park covers an area of 88,000 hectares, with the highest point is Triglav mountain at an altitude of 2864 m. Mountain Triglav, being one of Slovenian Symbols also has the name to the park

Bohinj lake

History of Triglav National Park

In 1920, the Department of Nature Conservation and Natural Monuments of the Museum Society presented the famous monument to the provincial government of Slovenia, which demanded the creation of nature reserves following the example of other countries. The Alpine Reserve was created in 1924 (area 1400 hectares) by the Department of Nature Conservation and Natural Attractions and the Slovenian Mountaineering Society for only 20 years.

The name Triglav National Park was first used in 1926. The credit for this goes to Professor Fran Yesenko, who spoke about the sights of the Triglav National Park in the Utro newspaper. On May 26, 1961, the People's Assembly of the People's Republic of Slovenia adopted a Decree declaring the Triglav Lakes Valley a national park called Triglav National Park (area 2000 hectares). The expansion of Triglav National Park was adopted on 27 May 1981 by the Triglav National Park Act (area: 83,807 hectares or 838.07 km2, or 4% of the surface of Slovenia).

The nature of the park is very picturesque and diverse: snow-white peaks, endless forests, mountain rivers, wild gorges, mirror lakes, stormy waterfalls, glacial valleys - you can’t count everything.

This beauty is complemented by the extraordinary richness of flora and fauna with numerous rare and specially protected species of plants and animals.

Thousands and thousands of tourists, attracted by the pristine alpine nature, spend their holidays here every year. Triglav National Park (TNP) is an amazing place of fairy tales and legends, where people live in complete harmony with nature.

Attractions of Triglav National Park

Aljažev tower (Aljažev stolp).

Aljazev Stolp. Photo: David Edgar, source: wikipedia

The metal tower with a flag on the top of Triglav was installed by the parish priest and mountain lover Jakob Aljaž in 1895, before purchasing the peak itself for 1 forint from the municipality of Dovško.
The tower was made by master Anton Belets from Šentvid. Aljaž later donated the peak of Triglav to the Slovenian Alpine Association. The Aljazeva Tower can only be seen by climbing Triglav.

In lake Bohinj area

Lake Bohinj (Bohinjsko jezero)

Lake Bohinj

Lake Bohinj is located at an altitude of 526 m above sea level and is surrounded on three sides by the Julian Alps. Of glacial origin, the lake gets its name from the Slovenian word “Boh”, meaning God. Its length is 4 km, width 1.2 km, and depth reaches 45 m. More information about lake Bohinj is here

Church of St. John the Baptist in the village. Ribchev Laz (cerkev sv.Janeza Krstnika)

Lake Bohinj and St. John church

On the edge of the small village of Ribčev Laz, which is located at the entrance to Lake Bohinj, there is a church right behind the bridge. At one time, archaeological finds from the period from the 1st to the 5th century AD were discovered here, so not only the church, but also the place itself has a rich history.

Vogel – mountain near Lake Bohinj

Vogel cable car. Source: bohinj.si

In just a matter of minutes, a cable car will take you to an altitude of 1535 m above sea level, from which you can enjoy stunning views of the ridge of the Julian Alps. Official website: vogel.si/

Savica waterfall (slap Savica)

Savica waterfall

Savica Waterfall is the most famous and visited Slovenian waterfall. It is located in the Bohinj Valley, just a few minutes' walk from the start of the route to the Triglav Lakes. More information about Savica waterfall is here

Voje Waterfall and Mostnica River Canyon (slap Voje in korita Mostnice)

This is a wonderful and unforgettable trip near Lake Bohinj. The crystal clear stream of the Mostnica River rushes through a two-kilometer gorge located directly above the village of Stara Fuzina. Climbing up the gorge, you find yourself in an alpine valley, at the end of which is the Voje waterfall.

Lake Bled area

Blejski Vintgar Gorge

Vintgar gorge

Due to its natural beauty, Vintgar Gorge is considered one of the most important tourist attractions in Slovenia. The length of the route through the gorge is only 1.6 km, but how beautiful it is here! More information about Vintgar gorge is here

Church of St. Katarina (cerkev sv. Katarine nad Zasipom)

St.Catherine (Sv. Katarina)

In an amazingly beautiful place in the village of Khom stands the Church of St. Katharina, to which the old pilgrimage route leads. Built around 1400, this Gothic church boasts both an early 16th-century stone extension and various frescoes.

Pokljuka high plateau (Pokljuka) and Pokljuka gorge (Pokjuška soteska)

Not far from Bled there is a wild fantastic gorge, a neighbor of the popular Vintgar. Dense forest, steep walls, natural bridges, pits, caves and narrow passages between 50-meter walls attract many visitors.

Between Bled and Kranjska Gora

Peričnik waterfall

Pericnik waterfall

The amazingly beautiful waterfall is located on the way to the Glacier Valley Gate. The approach to Perichnik is quite simple. Moreover, here you have a unique opportunity to bypass this stream of mountain water from all sides.

Glacier valley Vrata and the northern wall of Mount Triglav

The Alpine valley is one of the starting points for climbing Mount Triglav. But with its beauty, the valley attracts not only climbers, but also simply lovers of virgin nature.

Martulka waterfalls

Martulka Falls is a very popular tourist destination. They are located in the Martuljek forest (Gozd Martuljek) in the Upper Sava Valley.

Kranjska gora

Even those who are not yet familiar with Slovenia have probably heard this name. And no wonder: here, on Kranjska Gora, the Alpine Ski World Cup is regularly held. And the resort itself is so good that thousands of tourists occupy all the available places in local hotels, apartments, hostels, apartments and just rooms.

Between Kranjska Gora and Soca River Through Vrsic Mountain Pass

Lake Jasna

Jasna lake

Lake Jasna is one of the pearls of Slovenia, located next to the resort town of Kranjska Gora. The clear sky is beautiful at any time of the year. There is a walking path around the lake, and a leisurely walk along it will give you the opportunity to enjoy both the beauty of the lake itself and the beautiful views of the Julian Alps.

Russian chapel (Ruska kapelica)

Russian chapel

The Russian chapel was built in 1916 by Russian prisoners of war, in memory of their comrades who died during the construction of the road through the Vršić pass, under an avalanche that came down from the mountains.

The highest point of the Vršič pass (prelaz Vršič)

Triglav park road to Vrsic

The Vršić Pass, whose highest point is 1611 m, is by far the highest mountain pass in the eastern Julian Alps.

Source of the Soča River (izvir Soče)

They say that once upon a time, in this grotto, the Alpine gods walled up the evil giant Vodobrukhets. A stream of water still pours out of his mouth, but now in order to irrigate fields and delight the human eye with its beauty.

Grand Canyon of the Soča River (Velika korita Soče)

Canyon of Soca river

At this point, part of the river bed, bounded by stone walls, ends, and the Soča River cascades down into natural baths. The sight of the turquoise water is so mesmerizing that after a few moments you feel like you are in a fairy tale.

Alpine Botanical Garden Julijana

Juliana is the oldest alpine botanical garden in a natural environment in Slovenia. The garden was founded in 1926, and today it contains about 600 different plant species, including some that grow only in Slovenia.

Glacier Valley of Trenta

The Magic Valley offers travelers a peaceful and unforgettable holiday away from the bustle of the city in nature untouched by civilization. Here the human mind calms down and the energy that our body needs so much in this hectic age is released.

Between Kranjska Gora and Soca River Through Predel Mountain Pass

Lake Zelenci

Zelenci preserve

Being part of the already disappeared Korenskoe Lake, formed after the glacier disappeared, Zelenci simply attracts the eye with its magical, unnaturally bright green color. It is from this color that the lake gets its name.

Glacier Valley Tamar

The Tamar Valley is a picturesque glacial valley in the Julian Alps region and is a continuation of the Planica Valley. Like a giant from a fairy tale, Mount Yalovets (2645 m) rises above the valley.

Mountain pass Predel and fort Predel (prelaz in fort Predel)

From the Kranjska Mountain through the Italian town of Tarvisio (formerly the Slovenian town of Trbiz), surrounded by majestic Alpine peaks, there is an old military road through the Predel Pass. Along the road there are military forts, each of which has its own history.

Road to the saddle of Mount Mangart (Mangartska cesta)

The road to Mangart is considered the most beautiful mountain road in Slovenia and it will rise to a height of 2055 m above sea level. The beauties that appear before your eyes cannot be described in words. You should come here at least once!

Kluže Fortress

Fort Kluze

In the narrowest part of the Julian Alps, before descending into the Bovec Valley, stands the Cluze Fortress. Also known as the "Gateway to Bovec", the fortress long protected the once important road between Cedad (Cividale del Friuli) and the Austrian interior.

Tolmin area

Gorge Tolmin shells (Tolminska korita)

Tolmin Gorge

Tolmin gorge is a stunningly beautiful canyon about a kilometer long, which is one of the main attractions of this region. The lowest place in the gorge is located at an altitude of only 180 m above sea level, which is the lowest point of the Triglav National Park.

Church of St. Spirit on Mount Javorce (cerkev sv. Duha na Javorce)

High above the Tolminka River, on the rocky slope of Mount Javorets, a wooden temple proudly rises. The Church of the Holy Spirit is a small island of peace during the First World War. More than 300,000 people died on the Italian front (1915-1917) in the Soča River valley.

Where to stay in Triglav National park

As Triglav national park is a huge territory and there is a number of options, how and from which side to explore it, there are also a lot of spots where you can stop to walk or drive the area.

One of the most common choices is to stay somewhere near lake Bohinj, and see the beauty of the lake itself, neighbouring gorges and waterfalls. One starting points of the routes to mount Triglav is also not so far. One can stay in hotel Bohinj, hotel Majerca or pension Cerkovnik

Another good option is to stay in the town of Bled. It's not Triglav park itself, but located very close to it's border. Decent hotels in Bled are hotel Park, hotel Rikli Balance, hotel Triglav

Kranjska Gora and the area offers lots of activities throughout the year, making it one of the best choices to stay when you want to see the natural beauty and combine it with some winter or summer activities. Among the nice hotels there are hotel Kranjska Gora, boutique hotel Milka, hotel Spik

There is also town of Bovec on the other side of Julian Alps and this area is well known for activities on Soca river: rafting, canoeing, canyoning etc. If you want to experience such activities in Slovenia - that is one of the best choices. The hotels in Bovec are Dobra Vila Bovec, hotel Soca, hotel Sanje ob Soci (Dreams by Soca)