By now you may have seen, heard or read about the catastrophic flooding that has devastated parts of Slovenia over the past few days. Though the country isn’t immune to flooding, that it has happened in what is supposedly ‘summer’ and has been so widespread throughout the country is unheard of and is now officially the biggest disaster the country has faced since it’s independence.

So, this blog will be a little different to my usual ones, but I wanted to get something published as soon as possible for those of you worried about the situation here, or anyone planning to come but are worried about what is and isn’t accessible/open, etc. At the end of this post, I’ve also included details of how you can help, should you want to. In general, the western part of the country has been less affected, so there’s no need to cancel your holiday plans to this area, but do check if you plan to visit other areas.

I’ve started with some general information, then further down there is information that is more specific to the Radovljica area. For further information contact the Radovljica Tourist Information Office or visit www.radolca.si

First and foremost, please, please heed the warnings and don’t try to access paths and trails in affected areas. All the rescue services are working day and night and the last thing they need is to have to rescue people who have got themselves into trouble by taking risks and being unprepared. There is also a high risk of mudslides due to the saturated soil.

Slovenia’s rescue services – firefighters, mountain rescuers – the majority of whom are voluntary, assisted by the Armed Forces, are doing an absolutely sterling job.

By far the worst affected area is Koroška (Carinthia), where houses have been washed away and it took rescue services two days to gain access to areas completely cut off. At the moment food and water is being helicoptered in and, of course, it will be a very long time until life is back to ‘normal’ in that area. In the photo below you can see a member of the Slovenian Mountain Rescue Team being helicoptered in to rescue the residents of the house in the photo; just a few hours later that same house was entirely washed away by the flood waters.

The Slovenian Mountain Rescue Team and The Slovenian Armed Forces carrying out a rescue

In addition, flood waters rose by as much as 8 metres in Škofja Loka, demolishing bridges that have stood for hundreds of years in just a matter of seconds. The area near the Devil’s Bridge, where I held my birthday celebration back in May this year, basically no longer exists. So sad.

Other heavily affected areas include Kamnik, parts of Žalec, Laško, Solčava, Luče, Dravograd, and many more. If you have plans to travel to any of the affected areas, please ensure you check with the local tourist board before setting off.

Now on to the Radovljica area. Fortunately, this area has come off relatively, though not completely, unscathed. The lower part of the Šobec Camp had to be evacuated on Thursday night/Friday morning, as the Sava river had broken its banks, and at the time of writing remains closed. An appeal was quickly launched to find free hotel rooms/apartments, etc. for those affected.

The Draga Valley, as seen below, sustained heavy damage and currently the road through the Draga Valley is closed as is Gostišče Draga.

In Begunje na Gorenjskem the area of Katzenstein Manor, including the Museum of Hostages, is closed.

In terms of hiking trails, the following paths are in areas where trees have been uprooted and water has caused extensive damage, so are currently inaccessible:

• Lamberg Trail from Krpin to Kamen Castle
• Shepherds’ Trail through Luknja to the Preval mountain pasture
• Brezje Path of Peace
• Hiking Trail to Dobrča
• Sava River Trail

The following trails, however, are accessible: St. Peter’s Church above Begunje na Gorenjskem, Lipnica Castle Trail, trail to the Vodiška planina mountain pasture from the Slovenska peč smelting furnace and trails in the vicinity of Kamna Gorica.

Cycle routes that run on local roads are accessible by bike, but all the routes that make up the entire network of mountain bike trails are inaccessible.

The nearby Završnica valley also sustained very heavy damage and is currently inaccessible.

All river-based activities in the Radovljica area are due to resume as of today.

Vintgar Gorge is closed until at least 15th August.

Of course, as is usually the case with every disaster of this nature, in addition to tragic tales, there are also heart-warming tales of heroism and hope.

For example, the firemen who left his own home to the ravages of the flood waters to help rescue children from a nursery school, only to return home to find the contents of his house under water.

The family who put out an urgent appeal for a helicopter to rescue their dog, Bolt, who they had had to leave behind, with no food or water. A dog handler from the mountain rescue team organised and successfully carried out the rescue.

Photo: The Slovenian Mountain Rescue Association

And, on a more personal note, first thing on Saturday morning, in the Facebook group I run here for coeliacs, I wrote that if any coeliacs needed help with access to gluten-free food to get in touch. I was immediately contacted by one family with two young children who had lost their entire home. Though I couldn’t help in person, as it isn’t in this area, within just a few hours I managed to coordinate efforts to collect and deliver them food, which we managed to do the same day.

And since then I have been in regular contact with the president of the Koroška branch of the Slovenian Coeliac Association, who is helping to arrange deliveries of gluten-free food to those cut-off in that area and encouraging members to transfer money to the branch’s account, so they can continue to help those affected over the coming days and weeks.

The president of the EU, Ursula von der Leyen is due to visit in the next couple of days and has pledged to help, and, of course, Slovenia will recover, eventually. However, it’s still important to support those in need and you can also do your bit by supporting the economy through your visit as a tourist and/or contributing to the appeal fund, details below.

Until next time, when I hope to be the bearer of much happier and more positive news.

Bank transfers should be made to the following account:
IBAN: SI56 0284 3026 3945 425
BIC: LJBASI2X
Reference: SI00 2023
Name of recipient: HD ADRA Slovenija, Njegoševa 15 1000 Ljubljana
Purpose: NEURJE 2023
Code: CHAR

© Adele in Slovenia