Triglav National Park

The North face of Triglav observed from Tominšek trail, Triglav National Park

Triglav National Park (TNP) is Slovenia's only national park. It is named after Mount Triglav, the highest mountain in the heart of the park, which is also the highest summit in Slovenia (2864 metres). Triglav is also a national symbol which can be found in Slovenia's coat of arms and on its flag.

Triglav National Park extends along the Italian border and close to the Austrian border in the northwest of Slovenia, that is, in the southeastern section of the Alps. Its territory is nearly identical with that occupied by the Eastern Julian Alps. The park covers 83,807 ha, or 3 % of the territory of Slovenia. It is relished for its pristine nature with beautiful trekking paths into the high mountains, glacier lakes, cosy lodges and shelters and a lot of historic ethnographical and natural monuments. TNP was among the earliest European parks; the first protection by law dates back to 1924 when the Alpine Conservation Park was founded, but the first serious idea for protection came from seismologist and natural scientist Albin Belar already in 1908.

Administration

Triglav National Park is managed by the Triglav National Park Public Institute, based in Bled, which operates under the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning. The professional and common services of the TNP Authority permanently employ 24 people, while the Professional Ranger Service employs 20 people and another 7 people work at the Trenta Lodge TNP Information Centre and Museum.

Protecting and conserving the TNP's ecosystem

The principal task of the Triglav National Park Public Institute is the protection and conservation of the pristine nature of the park, but it also carries out specialist and research tasks.

TNP has a very diverse ecosystem from the lowest point of Tolminka River 180 metres above sea level with narrow gorges to hills with vast forests and meadows to high mountain rocky landscape with rare protected plants and wild life. From 2003 the Alps and TNP have been protected by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve as part of the Sevilla strategy.

Rich autochthonous cultural heritage

Triglav National Park Public Institute is also responsible for preserving the autochthonous cultural heritage as the basis for sustainable development.

The cultural heritage of the park is very diverse and picturesque, because the park lies at the meeting point of various climates as well as various cultures, each of which have left a mark on the cultural heritage of the area. The Alpine cultural heritage connects Slovenes with the family of Alpine nations. In the past, 4 major economy branches prevailed in the region: iron foundries, charcoal-burning, forestry and Alpine dairy-farming. These economies also shaped the customs of the people living there. Today agriculture with its pastoral economy, crafts (wood and wool products) and tourism are the major economical activities in the park, with some 2,400 inhabitants and 1.6 million visitors per year.

The register of immovable cultural heritage with the Ministry of Culture contains 300 units within the area of the Triglav National Park; secular architectural heritage prevails, followed by memorial heritage, settlement heritage, religious architectural heritage and archaeological heritage.

Museums in TNP

A number of museums are located within the borders of the Triglav National Park, including the Slovenian Alpine Museum in Mojstrana, Upper Sava Valley Museum, Jesenice, the Kobarid Museum, Oplen House, the Museum of Alpine Dairy Farming, Stara Fužina and the Tolmin Museum.

The park authority directly manages the following museum institutions Pocar Homestead, Mojstrana, Trenta Lodge TNP Information Centre and Museum and Triglavska Roža Information Centre. The latter is also the administrative centre of the Triglav National Park. A new information centre is scheduled to open in Stara Fužina near Bohinj Lake.

International collaboration

TNP is a member of the ALPARC, the international Alpine Network of Protected Areas. Within the European Union funding mechanisms (mostly Interreg programmes) TNP has been active in various regional projects such as Palpis (Cross-border cooperation and cross-border management plans for conservation important areas in the southern Julian Alps with the Italian National Park Prealpi Giuliae; 2000–2006), the Info centre of TNP at Bled (with National Park Hohe Tauern; 2005–2006), Alpencom (ALP ENvironmental COMmunication with the French Les Ecrins as a lead partner; 2005–2008) etc.

External links

Triglav National Park official website (in Slovenian, English and German)
Information Centre TNP Bled (in Slovenian, English and German)
Triglav National Park on Wikipedia
Triglav on Wikipedia
Panoramas of Triglav National Park on Virtual Guide to Slovene Museums and Galleries

International projects

Palpis (Cross-border cooperation and cross-border management plans for conservation important areas in the southern Julian Alps) (in Slovenian and Italian)
Alpencom (ALP ENvironmental COMmunication)
ERA - Eko region Alpe Adria
AV.IS (Alps Visitors – InfoSystem – Natural Hazards) (in Slovenian, English and German)

Gallery

The Animal Dance Macabre painting by the Domestic Research Society at the Rebro World War I cemetery, Triglav National Park, 2015

Trenta Lodge TNP Information Centre and Museum, part of the Goriška Museum, introducing additional artefacts relating to the natural and cultural world of the Triglav National Park, 2014

Aljaž Tower (Aljažev Stolp) at the top of Mount Triglav. Named after priest, mountaineer and patriot Jakob Aljaž.

Soča River, Triglav National Park

Triglav National Park, Triglav is the highest mountain in Slovenia, Julian Alps. Iconic in Slovene national identity and contemporary art.

Gate entrance to Triglav National Park

Javorca, Memorial Church of the Holy Spirit (sv. Duh), built by Austrian soldiers in the year 1916, the only memorial church of the Austro-Hungarian army in the area of the Isonzo front preserved until today. Triglav National Park

Chapel, Mary of the Snows (Kapela Marije Snežne), Kredarica, Triglav National Park. First chapel built in 1886 by Jakob Aljaž, rebuilt in 1992.

Stojan Batič's Monument to four courageous men, Ribčev Laz commemorating the first ascent to Mount Triglav in 1778, Bohinj, Gorenjska. Erected in 1978. Triglav National Park

The North face of Triglav observed from Tominšek trail, Triglav National Park

The Savica Waterfall in the Triglav National Park, the source of the Sava River

A statue of Julius Kugy with the orientation toward Jalovec Mountain. Julius Kugy (1858-1944) was a mountaineer and researcher of Julian Alps, Triglav National Park, 2014

Kluže Fortress, the seat of the Austro – Hungarian garrision close behind the front line during the Battles of the Isonzo, World War I, Triglav National Park, 2014

Open air theatre at Kluže Fortress, Triglav National Park, 2014

Kluže Fortress, rebuilted in the years from the 1881 to 1882, Triglav National Park, 2014

Krn Lake, Triglav National Park, 2014

Krn Lake lodge, Triglav National Park, 2014

Trenta village at night, Triglav National Park, 2014

World War I Military Cemetery in Soča village. More than 1.400 soldiers are buried in this Austro-Hungerian cemetery. Triglav National Park, 2014

World War I Military Cemetery near Bovec. More than 1.400 soldiers from the Battles of the Isonzo are buried in this Austro-Hungerian cemetery Triglav National Park, 2014

Mine from the Battles of the Isonzo druing the World War I at Krn Lake lodge, Triglav National Park, 2014

Triglav National Park flag in front of Trenta Lodge TNP Information Centre and Museum , 2014

Water hurst of Šunik, Triglav National Park, 2014.

Water hurst of Šunik, Triglav National Park, 2014

Triglav National Park

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