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Sites of interest in the Žiri region
Church of the St. Three kings
It was built at the end of the 17th century and later added, the stone altars are said to have been brought from the monastery in Bistra near Vrhnika. It used to attract pilgrims, but today it is one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the Žiri area.
Lukač geological profile
In the Jarčja dolina valley, along the Žiri – Škofja Loka road, along the hiking trail to Mrzli vrh, lies the Lukač Geological Profile. The limestone layers in the profile represent a typical geological profile of the Permian- Triassic boundary for the entire Dinarides. Due to its great scientific value, the Lukač profile is defined as a natural value of national importance.
Matjaževe kamre (Matjaž’s Chambers Cave)
In Matjaž's Chambers, caves in a large rock above the Sora, along the Žiri – Logatec road, 'Prehistoric man' lived in ancient times. Matjaž's Chambers are a real labyrinth of tunnels on several floors, with stalactites and stalagmites and the phenomenon of cave milk on the walls. It is a natural landmark where archaeologists have found traces of Neanderthals, stone tools, and bones of cave bears, wolves, bison, deer and ice age marmots. Unfortunately, Matjaž's Chambers are not freely accessible. You can find out more about them at the Žiri Museum.
Nordic center Poclain Žiri
The Nordic Centre Žiri in Nova vas is intended for training on 8-, 15-, 26-, 35- and 60-metre ski jumps in both winter and summer. The centre attracts domestic and foreign competitors with a modern funicular railway and new plastic-covered ski jumps. In winter, there are also cross-country trails available here. All activities create excellent conditions for the further development of ski jumping in the Žiri region. The Nordic Centre is managed by the Norica Žiri Ski Jumping Club (SSK Norica Žiri), whose members have resounding rankings nationally and internationally.
The church of St. Anna in Ledinica
At the entrance to the Žiri field, you are greeted by the church of St Anna in Ledinica. A baroque church with a characteristic variegated bell tower rises on a hill clad in the basket-like canopy of trees. Here is the venue of the annual concert on Midsummer's Day. The church is also a place of interest for lovers of bats, and is a popular setting for romantic weddings. Beneath it lies the fairy-tale Maršotna Cave, and behind it the settlement of Ledinica, the name of which is said to be derived from the Slovene word for 'ice'. The path to Ledinica, which runs along the Sora riverbed, is a popular promenade for locals and a starting point for hikes towards Mrzli vrh.
Rupnik line
In the period between the First and Second World Wars, the so-called Rapallo border between the then kingdoms of Yugoslavia and Italy ran along the edge of the Žiri basin. At that time, Žiri was a border town. Both countries bolstered the border with fortifications, which are still scattered on the surrounding hills. The most impressive is the so-called Rupnik line, a system of underground fortifications and smaller bunkers in Žirovski vrh.
St. Martin’s church
In the direction of Stare Žiri by the River Sora stands the parish church of St. Martin. Built in 1912, its unique features are two bell towers, the main altar, an organ and stained glass.
Stone table
The natural stone table is hidden in the forest a little out of Ravne pri Žireh along the Žiri – Logatec road. It is a special feature created by nature. It is between three and four metres high and about five metres wide.
Matevžk's house
It is situated along the Žiri–Smrečje road. The homestead consists of a double hayrack and a residential house with a traditional Alpine ground floor. The house furniture and open-fire kitchen have been preserved. In 1999, the Matevžkova hiša, which is also the birth house of the painter Franjo Kopač and of his son Vlasto Kopač, who was an architect, was declared a cultural monument of local importance.
The Kržišnik Garden and Gallery
At the beginning of Stare Žiri along the Sora River extends the Tomaž Kržišnik Garden which, according to its size, could be classified as a park. The garden is home to various tree species from maple to birch, dogwood, willow and Japanese rosehip. The garden is also home to peonies, several species of roses, rhododendrons and azaleas. The garden creator, Juta Krulc, is a pioneer of garden architecture in Slovenia. She is driven by the desire to create gardens with a strong connection to their surroundings. The Tomaž Kržišnik Garden is open for guided tours, public events, auctions, weddings and culinary experiences.
Žiri museum
By the junction which brings together the roads of three Slovene regions, i.e. the Gorenjska, Notranjska and Primorska regions, there is the Stare Žiri Cultural Centre with a former Old School, remnants of the Štalar House and the village laundry site – Na Studencu. The former peasant mansion, the so-called Old School is home to the Žiri Museum and the Žiri Local Library. Apart from the lace by Manca Ahlin and the projection “Welcome, fortification lovers”, the museum features three other permanent collections: “Žiri and its people through time”, shoemaking collection and fine arts collection “The Painters of Žiri”.