Above the Clouds with Slovenia’s Shepherds
Leave the city behind for open Alpine pastures, traditional shepherd huts, mountain views and one of Slovenia’s most distinctive living cultural landscapes.
Above the Clouds with Slovenia’s Shepherds
Leave the city behind for open Alpine pastures, traditional shepherd huts, mountain views and one of Slovenia’s most distinctive living cultural landscapes.
Velika Planina: A Living Alpine Tradition
Velika Planina is not simply a mountain viewpoint. Its character comes from the historic shepherding landscape spread across the plateau, where distinctive huts with low pine-shingle roofs form one of Europe’s most recognizable pastoral settlements.
The settlement comes alive during summer, when herdsmen return with their cattle and visitors can encounter traditional dairy products, sour milk, buckwheat dishes and the heritage of trnič, the decorated cheese associated with Velika Planina.
Exploring Velika Planina: Four Stops to Experience
1. Cable Car into the Mountains
The ascent itself quickly changes the atmosphere from the Kamnik valley floor to open highland scenery. From the upper cable-car area, walking routes lead toward the shepherds’ settlement.
2. Shepherds’ Settlement
Walk between traditional herdsmen huts whose distinctive low roofs are covered with pine shingles. In summer, cattle return to the plateau and the settlement becomes a living pastoral community.
3. Preskar Museum
The Preskar Hut preserves an older form of Velika Planina architecture. Rebuilt after the Second World War in its traditional oval form, it now provides a glimpse into the simple life of generations of local shepherds.
4. Snow Mary Chapel
Just above the shepherds’ settlement stands the small Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows, rebuilt in 1988 after the original was destroyed during the Second World War.
Things to see and do
Shepherds’ Settlement: Walk through Velika Planina’s signature collection of traditional huts.
Preskar Museum: Step inside a preserved shepherd dwelling.
Snow Mary Chapel: Visit the simple mountain chapel above the settlement.
Traditional Food: Try sour milk, buckwheat mush and seasonal local products.
Trnič: Discover the decorated shepherds’ cheese unique to this cultural tradition.
Mountain Walks: Follow easy paths across broad pastures and ridgelines.
Alpine Views: Enjoy open views toward the Kamnik–Savinja Alps.
Meet the Herdsmen: During the summer grazing season, experience a culture that is still genuinely
Velika Planina: A Living Alpine Tradition
Velika Planina is not simply a mountain viewpoint. Its character comes from the historic shepherding landscape spread across the plateau, where distinctive huts with low pine-shingle roofs form one of Europe’s most recognizable pastoral settlements.
The settlement comes alive during summer, when herdsmen return with their cattle and visitors can encounter traditional dairy products, sour milk, buckwheat dishes and the heritage of trnič, the decorated cheese associated with Velika Planina.
Exploring Velika Planina: Four Stops to Experience
1. Cable Car into the Mountains
The ascent itself quickly changes the atmosphere from the Kamnik valley floor to open highland scenery. From the upper cable-car area, walking routes lead toward the shepherds’ settlement.
2. Shepherds’ Settlement
Walk between traditional herdsmen huts whose distinctive low roofs are covered with pine shingles. In summer, cattle return to the plateau and the settlement becomes a living pastoral community.
3. Preskar Museum
The Preskar Hut preserves an older form of Velika Planina architecture. Rebuilt after the Second World War in its traditional oval form, it now provides a glimpse into the simple life of generations of local shepherds.
4. Snow Mary Chapel
Just above the shepherds’ settlement stands the small Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows, rebuilt in 1988 after the original was destroyed during the Second World War.
Things to see and do
Shepherds’ Settlement: Walk through Velika Planina’s signature collection of traditional huts.
Preskar Museum: Step inside a preserved shepherd dwelling.
Snow Mary Chapel: Visit the simple mountain chapel above the settlement.
Traditional Food: Try sour milk, buckwheat mush and seasonal local products.
Trnič: Discover the decorated shepherds’ cheese unique to this cultural tradition.
Mountain Walks: Follow easy paths across broad pastures and ridgelines.
Alpine Views: Enjoy open views toward the Kamnik–Savinja Alps.
Meet the Herdsmen: During the summer grazing season, experience a culture that is still genuinely
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