Tuši's blog: 16915

Sunday, September 07, 2025

16915

Slovenia: Geocaching and Cobblers Sunday in Tržič

Cobblers Sunday is one of the most important traditional events in Tržič. Dating back to the town's historic fair privileges, the streets beneath the Karawanks once again filled with visitors, market stalls, music, and various attractions.

My day started a little differently. My father had some business to take care of in Ljubljana, so I drove him there early in the morning and dropped him off. Since his errands were expected to take some time, I used the opportunity to head to the southeastern outskirts of the city and search for two geocaches near the abandoned Klen-Orle coal mine.

The abandoned Klen-Orle coal mine lies in the wooded hills southeast of Ljubljana, near the villages of Orle and Selo. It was one of Slovenia's rare anthracite mines, producing the highest-grade form of coal. Mining activity intensified after the discovery of a rich anthracite seam in 1924 and continued, with several interruptions, until the late 1940s. Today, only a few traces of this forgotten industrial heritage remain hidden in the forest, attracting curious hikers, history enthusiasts, and geocachers in search of unusual places.

After successfully finding both caches, I returned to Ljubljana to pick up my father. With his errands completed, we headed back home together.

Later in the afternoon, I made my way to Šuštarska nedelja in Tržič, where members of ŠD Podljubelj were once again presenting the sport of sledding. For the second consecutive year, we organized our popular Sankstart attraction, which allows visitors to experience the excitement of sledding even without snow. Participants launch themselves from a specially built start ramp on roller sleds and try to achieve the fastest possible start.

Just like last year, the response was fantastic. A constant stream of visitors, especially children, eagerly lined up to give it a try. Smiles, laughter, and friendly competition filled the venue throughout the day, making the event a great success for everyone involved.

When our presentation finally came to an end, the day was not over yet. To round off a busy and enjoyable Sunday, we joined the crowd and headed to the evening concert by Fehtarji, who provided the perfect soundtrack for the conclusion of another memorable Šuštarska nedelja.

As always, the best days are those that combine a little adventure, good company, local traditions, and plenty of fun.

While searching for geocaches near the abandoned Klen-Orle mine, I came across a hidden World War II memorial deep in the forest. The star-shaped monument marks the place where, in March 1943, resistance activists Zora and Lado Majcen, together with partisan Janez Jager, were murdered by local collaborators posing as partisans. Their story is one of many tragic reminders of the heavy toll the war took on the Slovenian countryside.