Nature awakens the most beautiful in us

The gentle rustling of the wind in the shade of the linden tree, birdsong, and the soft sounds of a zither accompany the last rays of sunlight as they play among the treetops. Through sincere and respectful conversations with local people, and by sensing the moments, sounds, and emotions of the surroundings, a subtle awareness of the spirit of the place gradually unfolds.

SONGS, STORIES, DIALECT

Robanov Joža, who knew how to listen to both nature and people, recorded some of his thoughts in the book Simple Stories from the Solčava Mountain Pastures.

He captured his feelings for nature in simple verses:

WHEN I LAY MY EYES ON YOU, FAIR PEAK

When I lay my eyes on you, fair peak
I wave goodbye to the sorrow and bleak
When I step on your rugged crest
My heart is full and I can rest.

My spirit here is given wings
To butterflies and stars it klings
In blissful happiness it floats
Free as a bird upon it gloats.

My mind runs wild here on your slopes
Gives rise to my happiness and hopes
The whole world is in my palm
I feel the Creator and his calm.

Knjiga Preproste zgodbe s solčavskih planin

The Solčava dialect is so distinctive that it has been entered into the Register of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Slovenia. Local people continue to preserve the speech of their ancestors and make sure that children and young people also develop an appreciation for the Solčava dialect.

At more than 40 locations throughout the Solčava region, you can use QR codes to listen to stories told by local people in their native dialect.

To give you a taste of it, here are a few short stories: