Lesce, a small town near the Bled Lake

Lesce began to develop only after the construction of the railway line. Near it is a sport airfield of the Alpski letalski center (Alpine Aviation center), and in the nearby Sava valley is the first-class Šobec campsite.

Begunje is a small village nestled below the Karavanke Mountains. Its main attraction is the Katzenstein Castle, decorated with frescoes from the 17th century. It was used as a prison during the Second World War. In the close vicinity are numerous tombstones of executed Slovene patriots. The former prison has been transformed into a museum. The Avsenik Gallary in Begunje displays a collection of objects related to the world-famous Slovene polka musicians – The Avsenik Brothers Ensemble (Oberkrainer). At the entrance of the Draga valley are the remains of Kamen Castle, built by the Ortenburgs. Perched on a hilltop above Begunje is Saint Peters Church with frescoes dating from the 16th century. The Draga valley is a starting point for alpine tours to Begunjščica (2063m).

In the direction of Jesenice, below the Karavanke mountains, are a number of interesting villages: Rodine, Doslovče – birthplace of the writer Franc Finžgar, Breznica – birthplace of the pioneer of Slovene apiculture, Anton Janša, Žirovnica – where Prešerns mentor, Matija Čop was born, and Vrba – birthplace of the greatest Slovene poet, France Prešern. A memorial museum has been set up in his house of birth.

Leaving Radovljica the road descends into the Sava valley towards Lancovo. From here it rises across the saddle and takes us through the Lipnica River valley past Kamna gorica, whose cluster of large houses reveals it’s no peasant origin, to Kropa, which already obtained market rights in the 15th century. The Blacksmiths Trade Museum in Kropa presents the development of mining, ironworking and blacksmithing in Kropa and Kamna gorica from the middle Ages until the end of the 19th century.

Kropa is a picturesque settlement wedged between the steep slopes of Jelovica in a ravine formed by the Kroparica River. The decline of manual forging at the end of the 19th century brought stagnation to Kropa and forced many of its inhabitants to settle elsewhere. Kropa has thus remained unique, unchanged, old; a living museum of the past and certainly worth visiting.

Now this was a look at the small town of Lesce and the villages surrounding it. We hope you have enjoyed it, as much as we did.

From Lesce back to Upper Carniola