The area surrounding Vilenica offers numerous options for a full-day trip. Check out the ones we’ve selected for you!
LIPICA STUD FARM
Lipica Stud Farm is home to the Lipizzaner, one of the oldest cultural horse breeds. This cultural and historical monument was established in 1580, and since then, the entire spatial arrangement has been adapted to its primary activity – breeding the noble snow-white horse.
MILITARY MUSEUM TABOR, LOKEV
The Military Museum is housed in a defensive tower – Tabor, which was built in 1485 and served as a defense against Turkish invasions. The museum features an exceptional collection of uniforms, associated equipment, and armaments from World Wars I and II.
S'KRASA LOKEV PROSCIUTTO PRODUCTION FACILITY
Considered the oldest pršutarna (Slovene for prosciutto production facility) in the Slovenian Karst, this facility continues a centuries-old tradition where, starting in early November, farmers have been preparing traditional Karst meat specialties using time-honored methods in the sparsely vegetated landscape near Lipica.
SEŽANA BOTANICAL GARDEN
The origins of the botanical garden in the city of Sežana date back to 1848. It was initially established by Giovanni Scaramangà di Hiccolo Cavaliere, a native of Trieste, at the edge of his Villa Mirasasso (meaning stone admirer). A passionate botanist, he cultivated plant species from various parts of the world that still thrive here today and can be explored through a walk in the park. With its stunning palmarium and a modern interpretation center, the botanical garden offers a delightful stop during a visit to the Karst region.
KOSOVEL HOMESTEAD, TOMAJ
Located in the village of Tomaj, the Kosovel Homestead is where the renowned Slovenian poet Srečko Kosovel (1904–1926) spent part of his youth. The house displays partially preserved personal items of the poet and the residential furnishings of his entire family.
ŠTANJEL
One of the oldest settlements in the Karst region, Štanjel is renowned for its medieval old town. Most of the architectural features of its buildings date back to the 16th and 17th centuries, when the settlement was in its golden years in terms of development. The architect Maks Fabiani also left a significant mark on the architecture during the interwar period. A fairy-tale adventure trail called Škratji Kras (Goblin Karst) leads you on a journey across the Karst terrain.
MUSEUM OF SLOVENIAN FILM ACTORS, DIVAČA
The Museum of Slovenian Film Actors is located within the Škratelj Homestead, a stunning example of Karst architecture dating back to the 17th century, and the birthplace of Slovenian actress Ita Rina (born Ida Kravanja (1907-1979)). The museum features exhibitions dedicated to the celebrated actress and to other Slovenian movie actors and actresses.
ŠKOCJAN CAVES REGIONAL PARK
The Škocjan Caves are a cave system that is inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List due to its natural and cultural significance. The system consists of the Reka River sinkhole, collapse dolines, underground chambers, and a magnificent canyon.
DIVAŠKA CAVE
Divaška Cave is located between Divača and Lokev. It reaches 700 meters in length, 500 meters of which can be visited by tourists. It was discovered in 1884 by Gregor Žiberna, a native from Divača, after whom the local speleological society is named.
KARST LIVING MUSEUM
A hidden natural wonder with a treasury of karst phenomena, the Karst Living Museum covers over 700 hectares of land where we can discover and explore characteristic karst features – sinkholes, uvalas, collapse dolines, limestone pavements, abysses, and of course underground caves. It represents the natural and cultural heritage of the Karst region, stretching between Sežana, Lipica, and the former Slovenian-Italian border, along the connecting axis of the old Austro-Hungarian road from Sežana to Bazovica. Explore thematic, cross-border recreational paths and marked points of interest within the museum. The selected area of the Living Museum represents an area of the so-called classical karst with the highest density of karst phenomena and a large number of protected natural values and areas.
