Awareness
of the significance of natural phenomena as an essential
part of one's heritage can be gained through appropriate
education and the well-planned presentation of key
significant sites. The Škocjan Caves Park carries great
responsibility in this respect. In its presentation,
we rely on historical
facts, the rich local culture
and the unique nature of the Karst. Century-old paths
running throughout the Škocjan Caves system represent
part of our technical heritage that is well worth preserving
and presenting to visitors.
An overview of the history
of trail construction in the Škocjan Caves
Numerous local inhabitants
from nearby villages, especially Škocjan
and Matavun, participated in the construction
of trails, exploration and study of caves.
They were guides, escorts and workers. Among
those deserving special mention are: Jurij
Cerkevnik - G’mboč with his sons Toni and
Jože, as well as the famous Jožef Cerkvenik
– V’ncek and Miklov France Cerkvenik, who
was the leader of workers and cave guides
after the First World War and after whom
the renovated bridge across the Hanke's Channel
is named (the tourist trail crosses the underground
Reka River across the bridge).
The trail chiselled through
the rock walls in the underground Reka River
gorge at the narrowest part called the Hanke’s
Channel, where it is just over 10 metres wide.Visible
in the background is the new Cerkvenik Bridge,
across which the present tourist trail along
the cave leads (bright line).
Local people – explorers, builders
of trails and bridges, and guides.
With
their relentless work, through which they supported
their large families, the local people chiselled
nearly 12,000 metres of trails in the caves;
this is twice the length of the Škocjan Caves
system. The work was manual, difficult and dangerous.
Nowadays, very few visitors walk along the steep
trails, which fill them with great awe. It was
these brave men who chiselled all these climbing,
and later tourist, trails with their own hands,
fitted them with wedges and protective wire or
fences and built wooden galleries and bridges,
thus putting their lives and health at stake.
Their work remains a monument to their skills
and dedication.
Well-preserved steep
trails chiselled through the rock walls
of Velika and Mala dolina led to the Schmidl
Cavern and further underground.
Prepared by: Samo
Šturm, Tomaž Zorman
Additional information on the topic:
Historical renovation of the old trail
in the Hanke’s Channel in the Škocjan Caves
(Project
description ...)
