The Kraška gmajna Festival, during the spring awakening of nature, invited visitors to explore one of the oldest cultural landscapes in Europe and once again inspired them with unique experiences of nature, heritage, and the sustainable exploration of the region. Between April 25 and May 17, 2026, it offered a diverse range of free events that combined knowledge, movement, and an authentic experience of the Karst. In the area of the emerging cross-border Karst–Carso Geopark, the festival once again highlighted the exceptional biodiversity and rich cultural heritage of the region and, through diverse content, attracted visitors from a wider cross-border area.
Guided hikes, interpretive tours, workshops, and experiential activities attracted a diverse audience. The heritage festival, which in recent years has connected numerous small providers of cross-border experiences, under the leadership of the main organizer, the Regional Development Agency of the Karst and Brkini (ORA Krasa in Brkinov), offered visitors a unique blend of vibrant events. The festival began on April 25 with an exploration of the mysterious world of dry stone walls in the Škocjan Caves Park and a special cave exploration experience with meditation in Divača Cave. This was followed by a natural history tour of Štanjel and an exploration of the importance of water and clay on a cycling trip between the Karst and the Vipava Valley, while families were drawn to the Mitski Park Rodik by a very special detective adventure.
Experiences, carried out this year as well by numerous providers, highlighted the interplay of natural and technical heritage with a cross-border walk from Col to Dol pri Vogljah and back, a horseback ride along the Karst Edge accompanied by Brkini delicacies, a herbalist-guided hike led by a renowned expert along the Babin krog in Mitski Park Rodik, the discovery of stone inscriptions and the tradition of carving into stone, as well as creative workshops in dry stone wall construction and stone shaping. Nature and outdoor enthusiasts also once again chose from numerous hikes, cycling trips, and sensory experiences in nature, while culture lovers explored the heritage of Karst villages through Kosovel’s glasses.
The festival was further enriched by cross-border events: the exploration of microfossils in the area of Padriče and Globojner in Italy, and an experience of the world of Lipizzaner horses at the Kobilarna Lipica. The festival concluded on May 17 with a creative stone-shaping workshop in Lipa and a sensory walk along the Risnik educational trail Učna pot Risnik.
The Kraška gmajna Festival is organized within the KRAS-CARSO II project, which is co-financed by the Interreg VI-A Italy–Slovenia 2021–2027 Cooperation Programme (European Regional Development Fund). The project strengthens cross-border cooperation and promotes sustainable development as well as the preservation of the natural and cultural heritage of the Karst region.
Text: ORA Krasa in Brkinov
Photos: ORA Krasa in Brkinov archive
