Discover Slovenia's Lesser Known Alpine Paradise

According to local legend, dragons once roamed Slovenia. Born inside the mountains, one of the dragons grew so large that he cleaved Košuta mountain in half, and the people who lived below fled the storm of falling rocks. When they ran out of breath, they stopped and built the town of Tržič.

Nestled among the alpine peaks of northern Slovenia near the Austrian border, Tržič is an outdoor sanctuary where nature is part of daily life. Thick forest, rolling pastures, and gorgeous mountain trails intersect with traditional farms and villages. From the fossil-covered, 300 million-year-old Dovžan Gorge to the red roofs of the old city, echoes of the region’s natural and cultural history can be found around every bend.

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Blaž Vogelnik, a retired textile factory worker, has a close connection to nature. In addition to caring for sheep, he has been maintaining mountain hiking trails around Tržič for 35 years.

Photograph by Ciril Jazbec

Ciril Jazbec is a National Geographic photographer based in Slovenia. Follow him on Instagram @ciriljazbec.