RAKOV ŠKOCJAN
KARST VALLEY
ROUTE BACKGROUND
RAKOV ŠKOCJAN KARST VALLEY
Rakov Škocjan is a valley known for its remarkable limestone features.
It got its name after the Church of St. Cantius, with its ruins still lying in Rakov Škocjan near the Great Natural Bridge.
The karst features in Rakov Škocjan were shaped by the influent (disappearing) River Rak, the predecessor of the Ljubljanica, the River with Seven Names (which runs through Slovenia's capital).
They valley stretches for 2.5 km (1.6 miles) and has been protected as a nature park since 1949.
Church of St. Cantius
The Small Natural Bridge
THE FORMATION OF THE VALLEY
Rakov Škocjan has been subjected to millions of years of geological processes shaping the valley.
Instead of the valley, an underground cave was once standing in its place.
Its limestone ceiling was slowly being dissolved by the River Rak, making it thinner and thinner.
Eventually, the ceiling collapsed, and the collapsed rock slabs were also slowly dissolved by water, that's why there is no sign of them today.
In two places, however, we can still see the remnants of the limestone ceiling which have not dissolved yet.
These are the Great Natural Bridge and the Small Natural Bridge.
EDUCATIONAL NATURE TRAIL
There is an educational nature trail leading through Rakov Škocjan.
3 routes of different lengths are available for those who wish to explore the valley on foot:
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the brown route: 2.3 km (1.4 mi), 1.5 h
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the yellow route: 4.5 km (2.8 mi), 3 h
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the red route: 7.5 km (4.7 mi), 4.5 h
You will learn more about the natural and cultural attractions found in this karst valley with the help of information boards that can be found along the way (in Slovenian and English).
Educational nature trail
