The landscape of Brkini
The mysterious touch of the Karst, lush green hills and picturesque villages
A satellite view gives the impression that Brkini is a green oasis in the middle of the Karst. Rising to an altitude of 400–750 m above sea level, this hilly terrain is surrounded on all sides by the karst world. The flysch soils of Brkini are geologically much younger than the rocky Karst, and the contact between these different rocks has given rise to interesting, often unique geological formations in earlier geological eras. The porous limestone – the dominant rock in the Karst – explains the mystery. When surface waters from the Brkini region flow onto the karst soil, they sink and continue their flow underground where they have formed underground tunnels and magnificent caves over millions of years. On the edges of Brkini, at the contact with the Karst, blind valleys have formed, which are considered to be among the most characteristic karst phenomena. The Matarsko podolje valley stretches to the south and attracts visitors to the Dimnice Cave, which has been open to the public for over 100 years. To the north of Brkini lies the Vreme Valley, Slovenia's largest blind valley where the Reka River flows downstream at the foothills of Brkini. This mysterious river, which carved out the world-famous Škocjan Caves in its underground course, is the living link between Brkini and the Karst. The Škocjan Caves have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.
Visitors to Brkini are amazed by the beautiful scenery that greets them. The green hills, less-travelled roads, and numerous hiking trails invite you for a relaxing escape from the urban hustle and bustle to a timeless peace. The hilltops are speckled with clusters of villages. Small churches dot the landscape all across Brkini with their characteristic architecture, surprising with interesting paintings and folk art. The meadow orchards planted on terraces give Brkini's cultural landscape a special character. Especially in spring, when the trees are in bloom, and in late summer and autumn, when the fruit is ripening, the hills of Brkini beam like a colourful canvas.
Brkini is a magical mythical landscape, rich in both storytelling tradition and archaeological sites. Stories dating back to the time of the indigenous people have been preserved in the oral tradition. The most explored place is the area around the village of Rodik, where the Mythical Park has been created. Here, visitors can relive views of the world from yesteryear both in the Visitor Centre and in nature, and recognise the parallels with the values of today. Another unique reflection of the spiritual richness and tradition of Brkini are “Škoromati”. They have been preserved for over 700 years and are the oldest carnival costumes in Europe to be mentioned in historical sources. The “Škoromatija” carnival ritual is registered in the National Register of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Slovenia.
