Holiday apartment in Dane: village, karst and culture

Dane is a densely built village situated on a terrace at the northern edge of Loško polje, below the road between Grahovo and Stari Trg. The cultivated fields extend uphill across the road and merge into municipal land. Southwest of the village, the forests consist predominantly of coniferous and mixed woodland. Thus, settlements, agriculturally used slopes and wooded areas stand side by side within a small space.

Landscape

Above Dane and below Škrilje lies Golobina Cave, which is approximately 200 metres long. At Golobina, the Obrh sinks underground; the cave drains the water of the Loška Valley towards Lake Cerknica. Several levels and a labyrinth of passages characterise the cave. It is accessible to visitors for most of the year, but only when accompanied by licensed cave guides from the Association of Friends of Križna Cave.

Culture and history

Sacred buildings and historical traces form part of Dane’s cultural character. The branch church of St Urban stands in the cemetery in Škrilje, a hamlet of Dane. It was first mentioned in 1526; its chancel was given a Baroque makeover in 1693, and the sacristy was added in the 19th century. In Dane itself, the branch church or chapel of St Isidore was built at the end of the 18th century. It is a rectangular, centrally designed building with an octagonal floor plan. A wooden bell turret rises above the western façade, while the stone portal bears the year 1786.

Dane is also the birthplace of Jurij Kosmač (1799–1872), who was known as a beekeeper, poet, publicist and translator. A Roman road runs through the surrounding area, making it archaeologically interesting. A single grave containing a clay vessel and metal objects was discovered there during sand extraction. It is attributed to Late Antiquity or possibly to the transitional period to the Early Middle Ages.

Tradition

The rural festival “Pesmi in igre med ostrnicami” takes place at the Kandare farmstead in Dane and has been organised for almost two decades. At this festival, the erection of ostrnice and other agricultural work involved in mowing and bringing in the hay are demonstrated. The event also presents regional cuisine and local produce.

Getting around

Dane is a thematic station on the marked Loška dolina Cultural Movement Trail circular route. At the station, an information board provides information about karst phenomena. The circular route can be completed in full or walked in sections between thematic stations, including Dane. The entire route is specified as 20.9 kilometres long, with a walking time of 5–6 hours and 274 metres of elevation gain. Around the edge of the valley, the trail follows signposts and yellow-green markings.

Other places

Other places in this selection: Stari Trg Pri Ložu, Gorenje Jezero, Markovec, Žerovnica, Runarsko, Rakek, Kozarišče, Cerknica.

To the higher-level travel overview: Cerknica.