The Begunje Village Path

The trail starts at the Tourist information centre in Begunje, opposite the Avsenik Museum and restaurant. You are welcome to ask for the directions (or  the free map of the trail) at the tourist office, or simply look for the red information panel presenting "The village path". The path's symbol is a "liberty bell" on a red arrow. 

Walk litteraly across the road to the Avsenik Museum (a visit is warmly recommended), than continue walikng alongside the restaurant and restaurant garden (strewn with horse chestnut trees) to the village cemetery. A quiet street branches off to the left hand side, squeezed between the cemetery wall and the Avsenik concert hall. Follow the quiet lane down to a farm and bridge. Walk across the bridge to soon meet the second (smaller) bridge across an man made mill brook. You will find yourself in the yard of the "Užnk" farm and at the crossroads with a paved village road. Turn left by the shrine and follow the road passing the hen house and an orchard on your left-hand side. Continue walking north, surrounded by working farms on both sides of the road. Just before reaching the second larger bridge (a wooden crucifix) turn right to Robačnek mill. If Mrs. Vera is at home, she will be happy to show you around her families old mill (entrance fee : 1€ per person). 

Return back to the road and cross the bridge. Ascent up the narrow village road towards the church of St.Ulrich. If the church is closed, the keys can be obtained in the nearby parish office. 

After visiting the church, cross the road and walk towards the Katzenstein mansion. This magnificent building is now being used as a psychiatric institution, therefore the visits are limited. You can kindly ask the doorman to allow you to visit the inside courtyard of the mansion (interesting coat's of arms, baroque staircase with frescoes). 

Continue the walk to a former church bell, presented in the wooden pavilion. The bell is displayed there to commemorate the liberation of Begunje from the Nazi occupier in May 1945. More than 600 prisoners from the Gestapo prison were rescued by the Slovenian partisans. 

If you wish to learn more about the events in the second world war, visit the Museum of Hostages in the north-western wing of the mansion. 

The Begunje village trail leads you further to the avenue of horse chestnut trees and the cemetery of hostages in the park behind the mansion. Reaching the top of the chestnut tree avenue, you will be greeted by Brezjanka  pavilion, work of Slovenia's most prominent architect Jože Plečnik. Climb the steps leading upwards on your left hand side to meet the second Plečnik's pavilion : The Jožamurka Chapel. 

After visiting the chapel, descend down the path leading westwards. It soon joins with another trail, ascending gradually across the pastures in the same direction . Limited by electic fence for cattle, the path offers delightfull wievs of the village and Radovljica basin before gradually descending back down to the park. Reaching the orchard turn right and walk down the cart track to a group of larger buildings. The cart track turns into tarmac and turns left towards the village centre. Passing by the fire brigade station you will already see the Avsenik homestead and the wooden cottage of the Tourist information centre Begunje.