Kras-Carso Cross-Border Geopark Week

Come join us on a walk from the Villaggio del Pescatore through the Karst gmajna grasslands, among Mediterranean vegetation of holm oaks and hairy inflorescences of smoke trees, to an important geological attraction – the springs of the Timava River. After a long, mysterious underground course, the river bursts to the surface and flows into the gulf after a short journey. We will explore this exceptional place where geology, nature and history intertwine to create a magical environment. The return to the starting point will take us along the paths of the cape of Bratina. The circular route, approximately 5 km long, is mostly flat and easy.

The event will be held in Italian and Slovenian.

Equipment: hiking boots, long pants, water bottle, and snacks as desired.

Registration: The event is free of charge, but the number of places is limited. Registration is required by 23 May 2025, at curiosidinatura@gmail.com or +39 340 556 93 74.

To ensure the safety of all visitors, we kindly ask you to leave your pets at home.

Meeting point: Villaggio del Pescatore/Ribiško naselje, main square; parking available near the meeting point

Organised by: Geological Service of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia in cooperation with the Curiosi di natura soc. coop.

Join us on a guided walk along the picturesque Riselce trail, which takes us through the unique Karst landscape. Along the way, we will learn about the natural features of the area and life in the Karst. The destination of the walk is the Konjsko brezno cave, where we will see one of the most beautiful collapse dolines (valleys formed by the collapse of the cave ceiling) in this part of the Karst.  

The event will be held in Italian and Slovenian.  

Equipment: hiking boots, appropriate clothing, water bottle, and snacks as desired. 

Registration: The event is free of charge, but the number of places is limited. Registration is required by 23 May 2025, at info@giardinobotanicocarsiana.it or +39 389 587 00 90.  

Meeting point: Carsiana Botanical Garden, Sgonico 55, Sgonico/Zgonik, Trieste 

Organised by: Rogos Cooperative and Carsiana Botanical Garden 

As part of the Kras-Carso Cross-Border Geopark Week, join a geologist on an exciting journey to discover the fascinating story of the Duino Cliffs, learning about their origins from prehistoric times to the present day. The Rilke Trail runs from Sistiana/Sesljan to Duino/Devin (in the municipality of Duino-Aurisina/Devin-Nabrežina) and is part of the Duino Cliffs Nature Reserve. 

The event will be held in Italian and Slovenian. 

Equipment: hiking boots, appropriate clothing, water bottle, and snacks as desired. 

Registration: The event is free of charge, but the number of places is limited. Registration is required by 24 May 2025, at the email address of the secretariat of the Miramare Marine Protected Area: info@ampmiramare.it 

Meeting point: InfoPoint Sistiana PromoTurismoFVG, Frazione Sistiana, 56/B, 34011 Sistiana/Sesljan, Trieste 

Organised by: Duino-Aurisina Municipality and Miramare Marine Protected Area 

Let’s discover the world of bees! Why are bees so important for the health of the Earth? What knowledge do bees have? How can we learn from them? We will take a walk through the garden and, through observation, integrate the wisdom of the bees. 
The event will be held in Italian and Slovenian.  

Registration: The event is free of charge, but the number of places is limited. Registration is required by 23 May 2025, at Info.carstica@gmail.com or +386 41 387 642 (Urška Frančeškin).  

Meeting point: Opatje selo 27 L, 5291 Opatje selo 

Organised by: Ekološka kmetija CARSTICA (organic farm) 

The Karst region is crisscrossed by a dense network of caves and chasms. Many caves are accessible only to experienced cavers with special equipment, but some can be visited by less experienced visitors – with appropriate footwear and caution. Geologist and AIGAE naturalist guide Luca Bincoletto invites you on an interesting family trip through the Carsiana Botanical Garden and its surroundings, dedicated to the caves of the Karst. 

The event will be held in Italian and Slovenian. 

Equipment: hiking boots, appropriate clothing, water bottle, and snacks as desired. 

Registration: The event is free of charge, but the number of places is limited. Registration is required by 24 May 2025, at info@giardinobotanicocarsiana.it or +39 389 587 00 90.  

Meeting point: Carsiana Botanical Garden, Sgonico 55, Sgonico/Zgonik, Trieste 

Organised by: Rogos Cooperative 

Geologist Jasmina Rijavec, an employee of the company Marmor Sežana, which operates the Lipica Quarry, invites you to discover the secrets of karst stone extraction and the role of quarries in the Karst. Learn about its geological history and the fossils found in Lipica limestone. 

The event will be held in Slovenian, Italian and English. 

Equipment: hiking boots, clothing suitable for the cave temperatures and a helmet are mandatory. 

Registration: The event is free of charge, but the number of places is limited. Registration is required by 24 May 2025, at rijavec@marmorsezana.com (Jasmina Rijavec).  

Meeting point: MARMOR, Sežana d.d., PE Obdelava naravnega kamna Lipica, Lipica 35, Sežana 

Organised by: Marmor Sežana d.d. 

During the construction of the second railway track on the section between Divača and Črni Kal, as many as 90 caves were discovered as part of karstological monitoring. The karstological monitoring process involved documenting the newly discovered caves and developing measures to bridge them, with experts focusing primarily on preserving the caves as much as possible. You are invited to a lecture where Dr. Mitja Prelovšek from the Karst Research Institute of the Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts will focus primarily on preserving the natural flow through water caves.  

The event will be held in Slovenian and Italian. 

Registration: The event is free of charge, but the number of places is limited. Registration is required by 22 May 2025, at tjasa.vezovnik@psj.si (Tjaša Vezovnik) or +386 (0)5 708 21 46. 

Meeting point: Promotional and Congress Center "Pr' Nanetovh", Matavun 8, Divača 

Organised by: Škocjan Caves Park Public Service Agency 

“Geocaching between myths and stones” is an innovative field experience that combines geological education, mythical heritage, and active movement in nature. The activity will take place in Mitski Park, where a classic geocaching trail will be designed with eight points distributed throughout the terrain. Each point combines a geological element (karst phenomenon, rock, layer, fossil...) with one of the stories from the book “Rodiške pravce” (fairy tales and stories from the village of Rodik), which is related to the karst world (e.g. about “Baba”, how caves were formed, the dwarf in the cave, about “Šembilja...). 

The event will be held in Slovenian and Italian. 

Registration: The event is free of charge, but the number of places is limited. Registration is required by 26 May 2025, at vesna.vodnik@visitkras.info or +386 (0) 41 849 009 (Vesna Vodnik). 

Meeting point: Car park behind the Fama grocery shop, Reška cesta 43, 6240 Kozina 

Organised by: Travellina, Katarina Valentinčič s.p. and Rodik Mythical Park 

The event will take visitors into the world of mythical stories that have, for centuries, shaped the image and experience of the Karst landscape. Through a guided experience, we will explore the connections between the geological features of the Karst and the region’s mythical traditions. Participants will listen to tales from the Mythical Park, after which we will set off on a short walk, bringing to life selected stories linked to natural phenomena such as caves, valleys, and collapse dolines. 
The experience will conclude with a creative workshop using natural materials. 

The event will be held in Slovenian and Italian. 

Registration: The event is free of charge, but the number of places is limited. Registration is required by 28 May 2025, at vesna.vodnik@visitkras.info or +386 (0) 41 849 009 (Vesna Vodnik). 

Meeting point: Rodik 6, 6240 Kozina 

Organised by: Naš mali dobri svet, zavod za razvoj in lepoto bivanja and Rodik Mythical Park 

You are invited to the presentation of the KAŠTellieri project, which aims to help redirect tourist flows to rural areas by involving local communities. The presentation will be followed by a screening of the film Hema. A story about prehistoric hillforts. 

The event is part of the KAŠTellieri project – Sustainable Cultural and Tourist Destination: Cross-Border Land of Prehistoric Hillforts – Kaštelirs of the Upper Adriatic. The project is co-financed by the European Union under the Interreg VI-A Italy-Slovenia Programme. www.ita-slo.eu/kastellieri 

The event will be held in Slovenian and Italian. 

Registration: not required. 

Meeting point: Reception Centre of the Val Rosandra Nature Reserve, Bagnoli della Rosandra/Boljunec 507, San Dorligo della Valle/Dolina, Trieste 

Organised by: San Dorligo della Valle Municipality 

An exciting adventure for children and young people who, accompanied by their parents, will embark on a geocaching adventure along a 4-kilometre route through forests, meadows, and fields. Along the way, they will discover caves, monoliths, rocks, and fossils that reveal the geological history of the Karst. 

The journey will start in the village of Zolla/Col, at the foot of the hill crowned by an ancient sanctuary, and lead to the picturesque village of Voglje. Among wells, stone-roofed houses, and stone portals with old inscriptions, participants will learn about the life and traditions of the Karst. The adventure will conclude on the fortified hilltop site. 

With the help of a map, participants will find the correct route and, guided by experts from the geopark, answer questions that will help them discover the geodiversity of the Karst. 

All children aged 7 and over are warmly invited. At the end, the young geo-explorers will receive prizes and a snack. 

The event will be held in Slovenian and Italian. 

Equipment: hiking boots, long pants and water bottle. 

Registration: The event is free of charge, but the number of places is limited. Registration is required by 29 May 2025, at curiosidinatura@gmail.com or +39 340 556 9374 or tel. no. and WhatsApp +39 320 271 7508 (Slovenian). 

Meeting point: Cemetery in Zolla/Col (Monrupino/Repentabor) 
45.7171666770372, 13.805302202122583 

Organised by: Geological Service of the Autonomous Region of the Friuli Venezia Giulia, Curiosi di natura, Škocjan Caves Park and ORA Krasa in Brkinov 

Come and enter the underground world of the Divača Cave! Walk among beautiful dripstones and discover the geological features of the contact karst, where permeable and impermeable rocks meet. Every point along the way reveals a unique story about the formation and development of the Karst landscape. 

The event will be held in Slovenian and Italian. 

Equipment: hiking boots and warm clothing. 

Registration: The event is free of charge, but the number of places is limited. Registration is required by 30 May 2025, at info@divaska-jama.info (Borut Lozej) or +386 (0) 31 522 785. 

Meeting point: car park near Divača Cave, Kraška cesta 67, Divača 

Organised by: Gregor Žiberna Divača Caving Club 

We will cycle from the community centre in the village of Križ, along cart tracks, to the village of Šmarje and join the GeoMob cycling route to Sežana. Then, following the Karst Living Museum, we will head towards the village of Orlek and continue on the Italian side through Padriciano/Padriče to the Globojner Park, from where the route will take us to the lookout point above Trieste. We will then head towards Basovizza/Bazovica and back to the starting point in Križ. The route is 37 km long, with a total elevation gain of 500 m. 

The event will be held in Slovenian and Italian. 

Equipment: mountain bikes with at least front suspension and wide-profile tyres; participants must be skilled at riding on rough terrain (trekking and gravel bikes and bikes with narrower (e.g. 700x42) or smooth tyres are NOT suitable). A helmet, water, and a snack in a backpack are recommended. 

Registration: The event is free of charge, but the number of places is limited. Registration is required by 30 May 2025, at sezana@visitkras.info or +386 (0)5 731 01 28. 

Meeting point: Križ Community Centre, Sežana 

Organised by: ORA Krasa in Brkinov 

In the centre of the village of Dutovlje, on the square in front of the Bunčetova Homestead, we will begin a pleasant and educational journey through the Karst landscape. A local tourist guide will take you on a journey through history, introducing you to the distinctive architecture and ancient culture of the Karst. The trail will take us along easy forest and village paths, which offer a different view in every season. You will certainly be impressed by the wonderful views of the unique vineyards and dry-stone walls, which bear witness to the life of the Karst people. 

The event will be held in Slovenian and Italian. 

Equipment: hiking boots and warm clothing. 

Registration: The event is free of charge, but the number of places is limited. Registration is required by 30 May 2025, at sezana@visitkras.info or +386 (0)5 731 01 28. 

Meeting point: Bunčetova domačija (homestead), Dutovlje 65, Dutovlje 

Organised by: ORA Krasa in Brkinov 

Description of the event: Discovering hillforts. A journey through time to the Bronze and Iron Ages. Take a leap into prehistory and discover the cultural heritage and hillforts from the Bronze and Iron Ages. Running ‘through time’ will take you back to ancient times and reveal the remains of once mighty fortresses, known locally as kaštelirji or gruble. You can choose between a 6 km route with a total ascent of 300 m or a 14 km route with a total ascent of 800 m. 

The event will be held in Italian and Slovenian.  

Equipment: 

Registration: The event is free of charge, but the number of places is limited. For additional information call +39 347 835 55 73. Please register HERE.  

Meeting point: Starting point in Hribenca Park in Mocco/Zabrežec, 34018 San Giovanni di Duino/Štivan, Trieste  

Organised by: San Dorligo della Valle Municipality 

A trip to the hillfort on Kraški Hrib hill as part of GRUBLA FEST – the 1st Festival of Hillforts/Kaštelirs. The event is part of the KAŠTellieri project – Sustainable Cultural and Tourist Destination: Cross-Border Land of Prehistoric Hillforts – Kaštelirs of the Upper Adriatic. The project is co-financed by the European Union under the Interreg VI-A Italy-Slovenia Programme. www.ita-slo.eu/kastellieri 

The event will be held in Slovenian and Italian. 

Equipment: hiking boots and suitable clothing. 

Registration: The event is free of charge, but the number of places is limited. Registration is required at info@riservavalrosandra-glinscica.it or +39 329 128 63 25 (Mojca Briščik). 

Meeting point: Reception Centre of the Val Rosandra Nature Reserve, Bagnoli della Rosandra/Boljunec 507, San Dorligo della Valle/Dolina, Trieste 

Organised by: Val Rosandra Nature Reserve 

Come and visit the stud farm, a truly unique experience in Lipica. Learn about the history of the stud farm, from its establishment to the present day. Ask everything you ever wanted to know about the Lipizzan horses and make friends with their dark foals.  

The event will be held in Slovenian and Italian.  

Equipment: hiking boots and suitable clothing. 

Registration: The event is free of charge, but the number of places is limited. Registration is required at events@lipica.org or +386 0 739 16 46 (Minka Dolič). 

Meeting point: entrance to the Lipica Stud Farm, Lipica 15, Sežana 

Organised by: Holding Kobilarna Lipica d.o.o. 

Over the centuries, our ancestors have shaped a unique cultural landscape by cultivating land and building walls with surplus stone. The Karst Dry-Wall Construction Partnership, which operates in the Karst on both sides of the border, is committed to preserving the skill of dry-stone walling and the dry-stone walls that are a typical feature of the landscape. Come and learn about the mastery of dry-stone walling – the know-how and technique were included on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2018. Representatives of both sexes and different generations (18+) are welcome. In case of continuous rain on the day of the event, the workshop will take place on Saturday, 7 June.  

The event will be held in Slovenian and Italian. 

Equipment: work clothes and sturdy footwear (hiking boots), work gloves, a bucket for gravel, and tools (pickaxe, shovel, hammer for stone). 

Registration: The event is free of charge, but the number of places is limited. Registration is required by 3 June 2025, at karin.lavin.art@gmail.com or +386 41 823 927 until all places are filled. 

Meeting point: car park at the entrance to the Karst Living Museum, Sežana (opposite of the Sežana Fire and Rescue Service) 

Organised by: Anima Mundi Institute and Karst Dry-Wall Construction Partnership 

Welcome to the 17th-century Oštarini homestead that once housed an inn, with village dances held in its garden. This time, the homestead invites you to the borjač, the typical enclosed courtyard, where you will discover the simplicity and charm of the karst stone. After a short introduction to the stone (its geological formation, integration into the environment, use and processing, and recognition of typical architectural elements on the building), a jewellery-making workshop using local karst limestone will follow. All pieces made during the workshop can be taken home. 

The event will be held in Slovenian, Italian and English.  

Equipment: Everything you need – tools, materials and protective equipment – will be provided at the workshop. If you have stones that you would like to drill or turn into jewellery, please bring them with you. 

Registration: The event is free of charge, but the number of places is limited. Registration is required, at ostarinifamily.info@gmail.com or +386 40 186 898 (Petra Pika Moze) until all places are filled. 

Meeting point: Lipa 21, Kostanjevica na Krasu 

Organised by: Val Frančeškin s.p. 

Come and explore three karst caves that were converted by Austro-Hungarian soldiers for military purposes (storage, shelters, hospitals, etc.). We will meet in front of the old school in Temnica and walk to the Krompir Cave. After the tour, we will continue past the village of Novelo to the Klobasa Cave and then to the nearby Lojz Cave. After the tour, we will return to the starting point in Temnica, stopping along the way to see a shepherd's corbelled hut, dry-stone walls, a cavern and more. 

The event will be held in Slovenian, Italian and English.  

Equipment: hiking boots and suitable clothing. 

Registration: The event is free of charge, but the number of places is limited. Registration is required at franc.bizjak@mahle.com or +386 51 363 701 (Franc Bizjak). 

Meeting point: old school in Temnica, Temnica 10, Kostanjevica na Krasu 

Organised by: Temnica Caving Club

Welcome to an authentic journey that will take you through space and time in a completely original way, discovering the priceless historical, cultural, and natural treasures and exceptional symbolic value of each individual garden and the entire Karst region. Indulge in a full-day experience and listen to the stories of the gardens. 

The experience includes a guided tour of the Ferrari Garden with a presentation of archival images and stories at various points in the garden, a walk through Pepa's gardens and the gmajna grasslands with a presentation of the unique features of the Karst landscape, local culture and traditions, and a guided tour of the Sežana Botanical Garden accompanied by Myrtò Scaramangà and her attendant, poetry, and storytelling. 

The event will be held in Slovenian and Italian. 

At 2:30 PM – lunch. Lunch is available at an additional cost (lunch is not included in the free guided tour).

No transport is provided between the gardens. Participation is only possible in the full-day excursion. Individual garden visits within the full-day excursion are not possible.

Equipment: hiking boots, water from your backpack. 

Registration: The event is free of charge, but the number of places is limited. Registration is required at sezana@visitkras.info or +386 (0)5 731 01 28. 

Meeting point: Štanjel, on the square in front of the castle courtyard 

Organised by: ORA Krasa in Brkinov and Sežana Botanical Garden 

Geocaching with a twist, with a map in hand and searching for new points that lead you to the treasure. 

From the village square in Slivje, we will set off in search of historical figures depicted by Tone Kralj in St Martin’s Church. Participants (the event is primarily intended for families) will be equipped with field materials and set off on a hunt, continuing on to the platform in front of the entrance to the Dimnice Cave. Together, we will enter and solve riddles along the tourist trail to the Marmitna Hall, where we will play a game called “bat-mot.” 

The route will take us along paths and cart tracks, 100 m on asphalt without a pavement, with the only major effort being the climb out of the blind valley of Mrzlica. The cave has large tunnels, and the paths are equipped with anti-slip mats and railings; the only major effort is the climb up the spiral staircase from the entrance shaft, so visitors with asthma are advised to pay attention to hyperventilation and temperature changes. 

Come and enjoy an unforgettable geocaching experience in all weather conditions. The event will be held in Slovenian and Italian.  

Equipment: hiking shoes, jacket for the cave, equipment appropriate for the weather conditions on the day of the tour; a flash light, insect repellent (against ticks) and water are also recommended.  

Registration: The event is free of charge, but the number of places is limited. Registration is required by 4 June 2025, at franci.maleckar@gmail.com.  

Meeting point: in front of St Martin's Church in Slivje, ending at 13:00 on the platform in front of the Dimnice Cave 

Organised by: PROKRAS Premančan 

The hike from the village of Zolla/Col at the foot of the sanctuary on Tabor Hill passes through some of the most beautiful geological features of the Trieste Karst. We will start by visiting the “hums”, stone monoliths over 10 m high, composed of blocks of Upper Cretaceous limestone (approximately 90 million years old). We will continue to the Percedol karren, where we will observe numerous karst phenomena on extensive limestone layers: solution pans, karren, solution flutes, karst fissures, and natural bridges. We will descend into the Percedol valley, among mighty oaks and hornbeams, and then return to Zolla/Col along a forest path, where we will see naturally formed karst rocks. The circular trail is approximately 8 km long, with an elevation difference of about 100 m, suitable for everyone, along macadam and paths.  
The event will be held in Slovenian and Italian. 

Equipment: hiking boots, long pants, water bottle, and snacks as desired. 

Registration: The event is free of charge, but the number of places is limited. Registration is required by 7 June 2025, at curiosidinatura@gmail.com or +39 340 556 93 74.  

To ensure the safety of all visitors, we kindly ask you to leave your pets at home.  

Meeting point: car park near the cemetery in Zolla/Col, Monrupino/Repentabor 

Organised by: Geological Service of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia in cooperation with the Curiosi di natura soc. coop. 

On this cycling trip, we will discover the most interesting geological points in the Miren-Kostanjevica Municipality, where the Karst Plateau extends to the west towards the Friuli Plains and to the north towards the Vipava Valley. Come and discover the area where the limestone structure of the Karst meets the flat, predominantly flysch and marl soils, where watercourses find their way to the underground kingdoms of the Karst and where the Vipava, Reka and Soča rivers merge into the most impressive water source – the Timava River. 

The event will be held in Slovenian and English.  

Registration: The event is free of charge, but the number of places is limited. Registration is required at info@gremozeleno.eu or +386 40 26 44 33 (Irena Hlede).  

Meeting point: Cerje, Miren-Kostanjevica 

Organised by: TA GremoZeleno | TakeGreenway 

An educational workshop for families and children, during which we will discover the world of fossils. A creative corner where our little naturalists will be able to use plaster to create faithful reproductions of ancient fossils and thus gain a better understanding of the richness of our territory. 

The event will be held in Slovenian and English.  

Registration: The event is free of charge, but the number of places is limited. Registration is required at info@riservavalrosandra-glinscica.it or +39 329 128 63 25 (Mojca Briščik). 

Meeting point: Reception Centre of the Val Rosandra Nature Reserve, Bagnoli della Rosandra/Boljunec 507, San Dorligo della Valle/Dolina, Trieste 

Organised by: Val Rosandra Nature Reserve