Holiday Apartment in Begunje na Gorenjskem – Culture, Museums and Hiking Trails

Begunje na Gorenjskem lies below Mount Begunjščica. In the village and its surroundings, you can encounter the history of Katzenstein Mansion, Slovenian music and skiing culture, as well as trails leading to historic sites, churches and mountain landscapes.

Culture and History

Katzenstein Mansion in the center of Begunje housed Gestapo prisons during the Nazi occupation and is a cultural monument of national importance. The part of the building where the cells for prisoners sentenced to death were located now houses the Museum of Hostages. It preserves inscriptions and drawings made by prisoners on the walls of ten surviving prison cells. The museum commemorates the suffering, fear, uncertainty and inhumane mistreatment during interrogation procedures in the Second World War.

Every year on 4 May, Begunje holds a memorial ceremony marking the liberation of the prisons on 4 May 1945. The park surrounding Katzenstein Mansion contains works by Jože Plečnik and Boris Kalin, including the Jožamurka Pavilion and the Brezjanka Shelter.

Music history is present at the Avsenik Museum in the center of Begunje. The museum presents the development and history of the ensemble formed by the Avsenik brothers. On display are original instruments, stage costumes, awards, and gold, platinum and diamond records.

Begunje na Gorenjskem also has its own place in skiing history: the Elan Alpine Skiing Museum is located here and presents Elan innovations, competitive achievements and legendary products that influenced the development of skiing. It also showcases the most important milestones in Elan's history.

Nature and Trails

Behind Begunje, at the entrance to the Draga Valley, stand the ruins of Kamen Castle. They once guarded an old trade route across the Karawanks. The ruins include a lookout tower dating from the 12th century.

The Lamberg Trail passes the archaeological sites of Njivica and Zijalka as well as Devil's Castle, and then reaches Kamen Castle. From there, the trail can continue into the Draga Valley before returning to Begunje. The Vaška Trail Begunje passes the birthplace of Slavko Avsenik, St Urh Church and the park surrounding Katzenstein Mansion.

Above Begunje stands St Peter's Church, which can be reached from Begunje via a climb of about half an hour. It was already an important pilgrimage site in the 17th century. Its 16th-century frescoes are the most extensive surviving work by Jernej iz Loke. The themed Petrova Trail begins in front of the TIC Begunje.

The Juliana Trail also connects the village with other destinations: the fourth stage leads from Begunje na Gorenjskem via Radovljica to Bled and takes just under four hours from Begunje to Bled.

For longer mountain hikes, there is the Pastirska Trail. It begins and ends in the Draga Valley and leads via Preval, the source of the Roža stream, Roblekov dom, Poljška planina and Planinca. The trail is 10.2 km long, takes approximately 5–6 hours and is classified as a demanding hiking trail.

If you would like to rent a holiday apartment in Begunje na Gorenjskem, compare the individual offers directly based on the exact location, type of accommodation and possible occupancy. Also check which services are included, which components make up the total price and which booking or cancellation conditions apply. Read these details in their current version on the respective offer page before booking, and base your decision on the requirements of your travel group.

More destination pages on this portal: Ribčev Laz, Studor v Bohinju, Srednja Vas V Bohinju, Goreljek, Bohinjska Bistrica, Krnica, Nomenj and Bled.

To the higher-level travel overview: Radovljica.