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THE RIBNICA AREA

Sodražica. Ribnica. Loški Potok.

The home of Urban, the enterprising pack peddler known far and wide, is the starting point of journeys around an area known for its extraordinary handicraft heritage. Before Urban loads his peddler’s pack with wooden masterpieces, he pays a visit to the craftsmen that make them.

In Ribnica, Urban’s pack has always been well-stocked thanks to the woodenware makers and in turn his mischievousness and exuberance have rubbed off on them.

In Sodražica, the local craftsmen, who have always been mindful of the spiritual aspects of life, handcraft sieves, riddles and other woodenware for themselves and the pack peddlers.

In Loški Potok, carpenters and other skilled locals know the ins and outs of wood and forests. People around here sure known how to treat trees.

SET OFF ON YOUR OWN OR WITH A GUIDE

You can set out and follow the chosen trail on foot, by bike or by car. A prior notice is required to visits some of the listed points of interest.

You can arrange a guided tour at the Ribnica Handicraft Centre or at the Information Centre in the Ribnica Castle.

Additional information and guided tours

TURIZEM RIBNICA / RIBNICA TOURISM
T: +386 51 415 429
E: turizem@rc-ribnica.si
https://turizem.ribnica.si/
Information point: Ribnica Castle / OPEN: daily from May to September 10:00–19:00.

ROKODELSKI CENTER RIBNICA / RIBNICA HANDICRAFT CENTRE
Cesta na Ugar 6, 1310 Ribnica
T: +386 1 836 11 04
www.rokodelskicenter-ribnica.si
E: info@rc-ribnica.si

OPENING TIMES
From May to September: Mondays to Fridays 09:00–17:00, Saturdays 09:00–18:00, Sundays 10:00–18:00

From October to April: Mondays to Fridays 09:00–17:00, Saturdays 09:00–13:00, Sundays and public holidays: open by prior arrangement for groups announced in advance

You can set out and follow the chosen trail on foot, by bike or by car. A prior notice is required to visits some of the listed points of interest.

You can arrange a guided tour at the Ribnica Handicraft Centre or at the Information Centre in the Ribnica Castle.

Additional information and guided tours

TURIZEM RIBNICA / RIBNICA TOURISM
T: +386 51 415 429
E: turizem@rc-ribnica.si
https://turizem.ribnica.si/
Information point: Ribnica Castle / OPEN: daily from May to September 10:00–19:00.

ROKODELSKI CENTER RIBNICA / RIBNICA HANDICRAFT CENTRE
Cesta na Ugar 6, 1310 Ribnica
T: +386 1 836 11 04
www.rokodelskicenter-ribnica.si
E: info@rc-ribnica.si

OPENING TIMES
From May to September: Mondays to Fridays 09:00–17:00, Saturdays 09:00–18:00, Sundays 10:00–18:00

From October to April: Mondays to Fridays 09:00–17:00, Saturdays 09:00–13:00, Sundays and public holidays: open by prior arrangement for groups announced in advance

VISIT THE HOSPITABLE AND WITTY LOCAL PEOPLE

Discover the diversity of woodenware handicrafts in Ribnica, Sodražica and Loški Potok. Visit the local artisans and admire their craftsmanship. Enjoy all sorts of new adventures and experiences of cultural and natural heritage. Combine the sights along all three trails and have yourself an unforgettable multi-day getaway.

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF PACK PEDDLER URBAN

AROUND CRAFTSMEN’S VILLAGES FULL OF MIRACLES AND LEGENDS

AMONG THE BEAR COUNTRY CARPENTERS

Trail length: 20 km
RIBNICA – SAJEVEC – HROVAČA – RIBNICA – DOLENJA VAS

Points of interest: RIBNICA HANDICRAFT CENTRE – JAKLIČ HOMESTEAD – RIBNICA CASTLE – MIKLOVA HOUSE – CHURCH OF ST STEPHEN – ŠKRABEC HOMESTEAD – KOJEK BEEKEEPING – BOJC POTTERY –

Trail length: 21 km
RAVNI DOL – NOVA ŠTIFTA – TRAVNA GORA – GORA: THE VILLAGE OF PETRINCI AND THE VILLAGE OF JANEŽI – SODRAŽICA – ZAMOSTEC

Points of interest: MATIC’S ETHNO-HOUSE – PILGRIMAGE CHURCH OF ST MARY OF THE ASSUMPTION – MOUNTAIN LODGE ON TRAVNA GORA – THE VILLAGES OF THE MYSTIC MAGDALENA GORNIK ON GORA – THE SCULPTURE OF A DOG-HEADED MAN – A SIEVE-MAKER’S WORKSHOP – A BASKET WEAVER’S WORKSHOP

Trail length: 22 km
HRIB-LOŠKI POTOK – TABOR – THE VILLAGE OF RETJE AND THE RETJE KARST FIELDE – THE VILLAGE OF TRAVNIK – NOVI KOT

Points of interest: KNAVS HILLSIDE GARDEN IN HRIB – NATURAL HISTORY HOUSE – TABOR HILL AND CHURCH OF ST LEONARD – CHURCH OF ST FLORIAN – THE JAKOB BARTON ETHNOGRAPHIC COLLECTION – MANDROVA HOUSE

Get to Know the Heroes of Your Adventures Around the Ribnica Area

Pack Peddler Urban

Today, the most famous Ribnica Valley inhabitant would certainly be considered an extremely successful entrepreneur. No trip is too difficult for him, no joke of his is told in vain. When two have a brawl, Urban takes it all. His mischievousness makes sure that the tide always turns in his favour. A skilled salesperson, a hardy traveller and a person people are always eager to talk to, he never forgets where he is from and that Ribnica is the centre of the world!

Craftspeople from Ribnica and Sodražica

Pack peddlers’ goods were supplied by craftspeople who made various kinds of woodenware from carefully selected wood, i.e. sieve rims and sieve bottoms, buckets, tubs, pails and other vessels, soup spoons, cooking utensils, toothpicks, and baskets. Other indispensable craftsmen were tool makers and turners, and souvenir makers also had plenty of work. In Sodražica, a special status was enjoyed by sieve makers, which is why Sodražica’s coat of arms features a sieve (a riddle).

Pack Peddlers

Travelling vendors carried their goods by means of the so-called “crown”, a specially designed board to which they tied sieve rims and spare sieve and riddle bases. They also carried baskets with smaller products in their hands. Apart from their characteristic appearance and a knack for selling, they were known for being glib-tongued, which made it easy for them to tout their wares and tell all sorts of fascinating stories.

Carpenters from Loški Potok

Even though woodenware makers prefer to take care of wood for their products themselves, they have always been closely connected with the woodworking masters from Loški Potok. Much like pack peddlers, many local carpenters left their homes to earn money abroad. They were remarkably adept at swinging their special carpenter’s axes. Their lives were described in a novelette titled Hrovatarji (“Croats”) by Zofija Kveder.

Creativity here is so authentic and natural!

Craftspeople and other inhabitants of the Ribnica Valley know how fulfilling it is to make something with your own hands and how full life is in harmony with nature. You will get to feel the authenticity that begets craftsmanship and creativity when you meet people from around here.

In the Ribnica area, you can learn about all the different types of woodenware making; sieve rim making, sieve bottom making, vessel making, spoon making, basket weaving, tool making, woodturning, woodworking, souvenir making, toothpick making and riddle making. By prior arrangement, you can visit local craftsmen’s workshops, buy some handicrafts and see how they are made.
Choose the handicrafts you’d like to see, contact the craftsmen that make them and arrange a visit!

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