Discover Triglav

First impressions of Triglav

Triglav National Park is the spiritual centre of Slovenia — 838 km² of pristine Julian Alps wrapped around Mount Triglav, the 2,864m three-headed peak that gives the park its name and is depicted at the very centre of the Slovenian flag (climbing it at least once is considered a national rite of passage for Slovenes). The northern half of the park revolves around the magical glacial Lake Bohinj — Slovenia's largest natural lake, 4km long and 1,114m up in the mountains, far less developed than the more famous Lake Bled and considered by many the most beautiful single body of water in the Alps; the small village of Ribcev Laz on its eastern shore has the lovely 13th-century Church of St John the Baptist with its UNESCO-listed medieval frescoes. The southern half of the park follows the impossibly turquoise Soča river through the spectacular Soča Valley — the centrepiece of WWI's brutal Isonzo Front (the Kobarid Museum is essential) and now Europe's best whitewater-rafting and kayaking destination. Don't miss the dramatic Triglav Lakes Valley hike (Dolina Triglavskih jezer, 7 hours), the Vintgar Gorge and the Mostnica Gorge wooden boardwalk walks, and the spectacular Vršič Pass road (50 hairpin bends climbing to 1,611m, only open mid-May to October).