Laze lies on the eastern edge of Planinsko polje and combines a distinctive karst landscape with trails of varying lengths. The circular walking trail in the village takes about an hour; marked cave routes and other cave trails reveal different landscapes and in some cases lead as far as Logatec. The options range from a walk around the village to routes for more experienced hikers.
Between Planinsko polje and Karst Formations
Planinsko polje is a karst field covering more than 10 km², and Laze lies directly beside it. The wooded Logaški ravnik stretches above the village, with numerous sinkholes. These indicate the underground course of the Ljubljanica. In the wider region, the Unica winds across Planinsko polje and emerges from Planinska jama. The field, wooded upland and river course provide distinct points of reference in the landscape.
The karst formations can also be distinguished by location: north of Laze, on Ravnik, lies Laška Kukava, the best-known sinkhole above the village. To the southeast is Jama pri Stari žagi, a ponor cave of the Unica on Planinsko polje. Erjavščica is a Proteus habitat in a cave near Laze. These features range from a sinkhole to a ponor cave and a cave habitat.
A Walk or a Longer Cave Route
The circular walking trail in Laze starts at the bus stop in the village, takes about an hour and partly follows gravel roads. It is suitable for walkers of all ages as well as cyclists. This makes it easy to distinguish in terms of time from the cave hikes, which take several hours.
The circular trail passes the ceramics workshop of acclaimed ceramic artist Nataša Prestor. Visitors can view and, if they wish, buy ceramic figures and other clay products there. A walk along the circular trail to a bend in the Unica and to the artificial swallow holes in the field near the village is also recommended. A dairy that produces kefir is also on the route.
Speleo Camp Laze is a caving centre in the classical Karst region. There is a marked cave route less than 1 km from the camp. It offers walks lasting 2, 3 or 4 hours, with varying levels of difficulty. Duration and difficulty are useful points of comparison when weighing up a shorter loop against a longer hike.
One cave route starts in the village of Laze, passes Vranja and Skednena jama, then returns through the forest to the karst field and the village. Another cave route starting in Laze passes Vranja, Skednena jama and other marked caves before reaching Logatec; it is suitable for more experienced hikers. The routes differ not only in duration but also in destination and difficulty.
Local History and Getting Your Bearings
The Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was built by local residents and blessed on 22 September 1907. Another historical landmark is the Laze pri Planini archaeological heritage site, where an ancient cemetery was discovered. These two places complement the nature and hiking themes with religious and archaeological history.
For geographical orientation: Laze lies below the motorway and the Ljubljana–Postojna railway line. The railway station in Laze is named after Planina, which lies on the other side of Planinsko polje.
Discover more destinations: Logatec.
Go to the main travel overview: Logatec.
