Jesenice’s ironworking history can be experienced in several places: in a permanent exhibition, in the former ironworks settlement of Stara Sava, and at the statue of an ironworker, which symbolises this connection. The area also has historic churches and walking opportunities in Murova. Further afield in the region, you’ll find trails and landscapes on a variety of scales—from a circular route with a stated duration and difficulty level to seasonal nature-watching opportunities.
Ironworking History and Historic Sites
The Slovenian Ironworks Museum has a permanent exhibition about the owners of the ironworks and the history of ironworking in Jesenice. The Museum of Workers’ Culture in Jesenice offers a different way to explore working-class history with a workshop where visitors roast and grind barley, prepare coffee with milk, and try the typical workers’ breakfast, “kofe pa krǝh”—coffee and bread. The workshop offering may change, so check in advance whether it is available during your visit.
Remains of the former blast furnace have been preserved in Stara Sava. Visitors to the former ironworks settlement can also see a permanent exhibition about the way of life of ironworkers’ families and a reconstruction of a workers’ apartment. The Church of the Assumption of Mary there was built by the Bucelleni family and consecrated in 1606 by Tomaž Hren, Bishop of Ljubljana. Its black-marble main altar is another distinctive feature; access to the church may vary.
Kos Manor was built in 1521 by Žiga Dietrichstein, a tenant of the House of Habsburg. Art and museum exhibitions are sometimes held there; the programme may change. St Leonard’s Church in Jesenice also reflects several periods: it was first mentioned in 1460, built in the Gothic style and given Baroque features in the 18th century. Visitor access may vary.
To explore Jesenice’s oldest settlement, take a walk through Murova. The first records of Murova date back to 1469. The statue of an ironworker in Jesenice reflects the area’s industrial heritage and symbolises the city’s close connection with ironworking.
Walks, Landscapes and Hiking Trails
For a peaceful retreat in green surroundings, the memorial park in Plavž is a good place to start: it is home to more than 200 plant species and is a quiet haven for locals and visitors alike. In Zois Park in Javorniški Rovt, above Jesenice and further afield in the region, distinctive plants and tree species combine with three lakes to shape the landscape. The scenery changes with the seasons.
Part of Mežakla, further afield in the region, lies within Triglav National Park. Walks there offer different natural and cultural attractions in every season. In May, narrow-leaved narcissi cover the sunny slopes of the Karawanks; locals call them “Ključavnice”. The flowering period varies from year to year and with the weather. Two powerful waterfalls lie on the Javornik stream beside the road to Javorniški Rovt. Their flow and visibility depend on rainfall.
For a longer hike, the Trilobit nature and mining educational trail in Javorniški Rovt is a clearly described option further afield in the Jesenice region: the circular route is 10.2 kilometres long, with 873 metres of elevation gain, and is listed as taking four hours and ten minutes, with a moderate difficulty level. These details may also change if the route is altered. Another mountain hiking trail runs from Jesenice to Dom Pristava in Javorniški Rovt and offers views of the valley; no duration or difficulty level is specified.
Mežakla also has a wartime history: in December 1942, the first partisan hospital in Gorenjska was established there on the initiative of partisan doctor Dr Edvard Pohar. The terrain is challenging to access, so don’t plan to visit this historic site as if it were a walk in the park.
Local Information and Events
The Jesenice Tourist Information Centre is in the town centre, opposite Jesenice railway station. It provides information about attractions, events, active experiences, timetables and guided tours. Check its location and services before your trip. You can also book a guided tour of Jesenice with a local tourist guide; booking arrangements may change.
The Čufarjevi dnevi takes place every year in November at the Tone Čufar Theatre in Jesenice. The competition features amateur theatre groups, with six to eight performances in the programme. Exact dates and the programme vary, so check the latest event information. Recreational ice skating is available at Podmežakla Sports Hall at weekends; availability depends on the venue’s schedule.
Discover more destinations: Breznica, Rodine, Mojstrana, Žirovnica, Zgornja Radovna, Podkoren, Gozd Martuljek, Rateče.
Return to the main travel overview: Jesenice.
