The traditional herdsmen huts are built without nails, using only wood harvested from local mountain forests.
Trnič cheese is traditionally dried and smoked, resulting in a firm texture and distinct, slightly spicy flavor.
The plateau contains the Veternica cave, which is known for its persistent ice deposits even during the height of summer.
The settlement includes a chapel, the Chapel of Mary of the Snows, which is a replica of a building burned down during World War II.
In winter, the plateau transforms into a small-scale ski resort with several kilometers of downhill runs.
Velika Planina, known as Big Pasture Plateau, is a high-mountain karst plateau in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps featuring a unique settlement of traditional wooden herdsmen huts. The architectural design of these huts, characterized by oval shapes and low-reaching shingle roofs, is specific to this plateau. During the summer grazing season, local herdsmen inhabit the huts to produce traditional Trnič cheese, a heart-shaped dairy product historically given as a courting gift. The plateau spans approximately 5.8 square kilometers at an elevation ranging from 1,400 to 1,600 meters. Visitors can navigate between the huts via well-marked walking trails that wind through alpine meadows and limestone karst formations. The settlement remains an active example of high-altitude pastoralism in Slovenia. The site is accessible by cable car from the valley floor in Stahovica, followed by a chairlift that reaches the central plateau area.
The elevated vantage point near the Chapel of Mary of the Snows, offering a panoramic view of the hut settlement against the backdrop of the Kamnik Alps.
Bring layers as temperatures at this altitude can drop rapidly even on sunny days.
Ensure your footwear has sturdy grip, as the terrain is uneven and includes slippery limestone sections.
Purchase local dairy products directly from the herdsmen if they have their doors open during the summer months.
Attempting to hike to the plateau from the valley floor without proper mountain equipment and adequate fitness, as the ascent is steep.
The cable car service may be suspended during periods of high wind or during the transition between the winter ski season and summer hiking season.
Respect private property by not entering herdsmen huts unless invited; keep dogs on a leash to avoid disturbing grazing livestock.
