When choosing Ribčev Laz, you can plan your stay around specific questions: Should the history of the first ascent of Triglav take centre stage, a boat trip on Lake Bohinj, or a hike on the Juliana Trail? Each focus has a clearly identified landmark. The Four Brave Men Monument is located in Ribčev Laz; the Church of St John the Baptist stands on a hill by the lake. Electric boats also run between Ribčev Laz and Ukanc, and the Juliana Trail reaches the village. This lets you weigh up culture, time on the water and hiking as distinct focuses.
Cultural history with two points of reference
A small park surrounds the Four Brave Men Monument in Ribčev Laz. It was erected in 1978 to mark the 200th anniversary of the first ascent of Triglav. The date and occasion give the monument a precise point of reference: it commemorates a specific anniversary in the history of mountaineering. If you are interested in the history of the first ascent of Triglav, the monument offers a clear contrast to a general view of the mountains.
The Church of St John the Baptist marks a different point in time. It stands on a hill by Lake Bohinj, was built before 1300 and is a protected cultural and historical monument. Compared with the monument from 1978, its construction dates back significantly further. The two historical points of reference therefore differ not only in their location but also in their focus: an anniversary commemorating the first ascent and an early, protected building. This makes the cultural history of Ribčev Laz interesting to travellers who want to distinguish between different kinds of historical landmarks.
Swimming area and boat trips on Lake Bohinj
The swimming area of Lake Bohinj stretches from the Church of St John the Baptist to the eastern end of the lake at the Fužinski zaliv swimming area. Its boundaries are subject to local regulations. If swimming is part of your plans, take this boundary into account: it applies to a specific area, not to the entire shoreline. This keeps your plans for a swimming day within the local regulations for the designated swimming area.
The two electric boats, Zlatorog and Triglavska roža, operate in both directions between Ribčev Laz and Ukanc. The panoramic boat boarding point in Ribčev Laz is near the bridge and the Church of St John the Baptist. A one-way trip between Ribčev Laz and Ukanc takes 30 minutes. This applies to one direction; if you want to return, allow additional time for the journey in the opposite direction. Check the current timetable before travelling, as schedules and services may change.
On foot along the Juliana Trail
The Juliana Trail follows the eastern shore of Lake Bohinj to Ribčev Laz. Near Ribčev Laz, it passes below the foothills of the Bohinj-Tolmin Mountains. The route does not follow just one type of path, but several: the trail runs along well-marked paths, forest roads and mountain trails. For planning a hike, this description of the terrain is a useful point of reference alongside the route by the lake. It helps you consider the hike as an alternative to travelling by water, without having to combine the two activities into one itinerary.
For further guidance in Bohinj, information centres offer tips on excursions and activities, maps, and information on safe hiking. Their services therefore include both ideas for planning your day and practical guidance for hikes. If you plan to include the Juliana Trail, maps and hiking information can supplement your preparations; for other plans, excursion tips and activity information may be useful.
Discover more destinations: Ljubno, Ukanc, Spodnje Gorje, Brezje, Srednja Vas, Podnart, Srednja Vas V Bohinju, Bled.
For the main travel overview: Radovljica.
