Bela Krajina for families: a child-friendly tour of Bela Krajina

Go on an adventure in Bela krajina

Oton's Adventure

Explore one of the smallest parks in Slovenia, which is lovely in its content. Why? Because your child is going to explore the Lahinja Landscape Park with the help of Oton Župančič's puzzles. That cool uncle with the round glasses who wrote poems and riddles for his son. Let your child think about the riddles and find the solution, and move on to the next point. "Wrong - a world trapped in crystal." Do you know what it is? Don't worry, if it doesn't work (even for grown-ups), parents have the solutions to the puzzles, and you guide the young explorer to the starting point. What can you see? Maybe you'll be lucky enough to see a colourful Kingfisher, beavers, storks and herons, fish in the Lahinja River, turtles, dragonflies, newts and more.
During the spring and autumn rainy season, boots and ponchos are recommended. In the summer heat, we suggest going to the park in the early morning, or after 5 pm, and in both cases, bring plenty of water for yourself and your child.

The Metlika Adventure

Learn how to tie a headdress or wear a bucket on your head - just like the ladies of Metlika used to do. With a backpack and a map, which you can get at the Bela Krajina House of Local Delights, exploring the old part of Metlika is easier.
First, look for the black raven at the town hall. But do you know the story? Take a walk to the Church of St Nicholas, where you will find a special cross, and next to the church, you can see the birthplace of a famous Slovenian sculptor. Do you know who it is? In Obrh, learn how to do laundry the way they used to do it. Do you know what they used to help themselves with? The Metlika Adventure is suitable for all seasons.

Divji Potok Educational Trail

Descend into the valley behind the village of Črmošnjice and watch Divji Potok playfully skipping over the stones. The two-kilometre circular trail runs mostly through the forest, close to the small but rugged stream that created the waterfalls. What is tufa?
Tufa is a rock formed from moss and limestone. The water in Bela Krajina is full of dissolved limestone. If this water gets into a cave and drips slowly from the ceiling or on the floor, the pressure and temperature will cause the limestone to ooze out and form drops. A similar thing happens at Divji Potok, except that the limestone ''sticks'' to the moss that grows there. The special thing about the waterfalls and streams made from tufa is that they grow and grow, just like the waterfalls on Plitvice, because of the accumulation of limestone.
But be warned - don't go in the water, as Divji Potok is a fragile ecosystem. Limestone is not a solid rock and can break off, and you can step on the Stone Crayfish hiding in the pools of the stream. Play with wooden puzzles and puzzles along the way and observe nature, take photos next to the highest waterfalls or the Dragon's Cave, and cool your feet in the Kolpa River, or any other river in Bela Krajina.
In some parts of the trail, the path is narrow, steep, and slippery, so parents should keep a close eye on their little hikers. The trail is free and open all year round, except in heavy rains when Divji Potok lives up to its name.

Easy hiking trails

Through the jungle or the vineyards?

Semič is a great starting point for exploring the karst plain of Bela Krajina. The Lebica-Krupa Karst Educational Trail will take you all day, but it's really beautiful, rugged, and very easy. Take a rucksack with a snack and plenty of water and set off.
On the trail near the settlement of Semič, you will be able to greet the sheep grazing in the sinkholes and along the trail. Count them. Is Bela Krajina named after sheep? It would not be surprising how many there are. On the way, you will find the Malikovec Cave and next to it a grove of wild fruit species, and from there you can gaze at Semiška Gora, dotted with vineyards and wineyard houses.
Descend into the Vodenica Sinkhole, which, at 47 metres, is the deepest sinkhole in Bela Krajina. The waterhole was used to water cows and other animals. It has water during droughts.

In Krupa Village, you will find a remarkable rock under which there are 7 springs, creating the Krupa River. This river is the shortest in Bela Krajina, as it empties into the Lahinja River after just over two kilometres. Stop at the spring and have a snack with the most beautiful view. Look out for the nest of a raven family on the limestone cliff, and for the most observant, you may also find the face of a little girl. Watch the ducks, fish, and listen to the chirping of little birds hidden in the canopy, and slowly make your way to the suspension bridge. It swings a bit, so it will be a real adventure for the children. But watch out - if you're lucky, you'll see something moving in front of the waterfall. Is it a beaver or a duck?

After the suspension bridge, you will find yourself at the fork for the viewpoint or to continue along the Krupa. Enter the real jungle of Bela Krajina. A blue-green river, with fish and a fallen tree here and there, morning mist and ivy above, only monkeys and Tarzan are missing. If you see anything brown, it's not a monkey, but a beaver, which has many ways out of the Krupa.
Be careful here after the rain. It can get muddy and wet along the Krupa, so dress accordingly.
Choose other easy trails in Bela Krajina.

Find unique objects in the Bela Krajina Museum

Find the oldest toy.

The Bela Krajina Museum in Metlika is the largest and richest museum in Bela Krajina. Take a walk through the collections and play with the magnetic cards. Find out where archaeologists have unearthed objects in Bela Krajina. What did the children play with at Kučar? What are glass berries? How were children dressed 100 years ago? How and from what were clothes made? We know it's a stereotype, but the boys will love the medieval spears, the dark stories of the Middle Ages, and the military history and objects. All this you find at the Bela Krajina Museum, hidden among the thick walls of Metlika Castle.
If you happen to have a pet with you on holiday, it can also educate itself about Bela Krajina's cultural heritage, as pets are allowed.

A game about the pollution of nature

Learn about the composition of the rocks of Bela Krajina at the Nature Center of Bela Krajina in the Semič Museum. These were formed when dinosaurs still roamed the world. Look for plesiosaurs on the geology panel and coral and lithiotid fossils in the rocks. Hint: lithiotids are shells similar to today's lizards, and their fossils are found in dark grey rock. Teach your child not to leave papers and other rubbish in nature. By playing in the museum, you can show them what happens when rubbish is dumped in nature where it doesn't belong. Walk up to a model of a sinkhole with three layers: a grassy surface, brown soil, and grey rocks where water flows. Shake the blue (water) and red (rubbish) balls on the grass and watch what happens. Both balls go back into the bucket, which represents our cup. But would you like to drink dirty water? The answer is probably a big NOOOOO!
Not only is it bad for us and our health, but it is also bad for the cave and water animals that live in Bela Krajina. The Congeria Jalzici Shell, the Black Olm, the White Olm, the cave crab, and many other animals found in Bela Krajina caves and springs are only found here, so we need to keep an eye on them.

Oton Župančič House

Find Župančič's military suitcase, his last pencil, his pocket watch, his harmonica, and his spectacles are personal items of the poet, which are carefully guarded in the house. Together with his drawings, books, translations, letters, manuscripts, and other treasures, the collection reveals the inner richness of the man who was Oton Župančič.
Already in the garden of the house, children can learn about Župančič's wonderful puzzles in the educational beehive. The twelve hive windows are inscribed with riddles, accompanied by beautiful illustrations by Polona Pačnik. The children have a lot of fun trying to find the solution, often competing to see who can get to the solution hidden in the window first. The younger ones can pass the time with games based on literary characters from Župančič's poems.
The house is especially family-friendly, as children can try their hand at drawing on the motifs of Župančič's poems from the Ciciban poetry collection or write their poem in the first room. Everything they need is waiting for them; all they need is a little imagination and creativity. Those who are a bit more active can make Župančič puzzles based on the motifs of the riddles. Take an intimate journey through Župančič's youth by listening to the poet's timeless poetry - from the childlike "Lenka" and the youthful "Green George" to the serious "Duma" and the playful "Cup of Intoxication" on a large interactive screen.

Experiences for children:

Baking pretzels and pogača

Let little hands knead their first pretzels or a real Bela Krajina Pogača. They'll be eager to smell the oven. And they'll eat their pretzels or pogača and take them home with them as a reward. We can already see the pride on their little faces, can you?

The Peddlers Trail

The Gottschee people lived for 700 years in the hills of Bela Krajina on the edge of Kočevski Rog.
Explore the overgrown ruins of the old Gottschee villages near Gače and discover the lives of the peddlers, who sold their wares.

Equiness

Maybe you prefer horses to sheep? This workshop allows you to immerse yourself in the beauty and wonder of the equine world. Through a combination of interactive exercises and gentle guidance from our experienced staff, you will learn to communicate effectively with horses, understand their behaviour, and develop a deep sense of trust and friendship with these gentle creatures. From basic grooming to riding and fun games with horses educationally and entertainingly.

Where to go for lunch and coffee with playgrounds?

Would you like to have lunch or a coffee in peace? Or is your child a playground enthusiast and likes to climb and slide down slides? Where should you go? Some suggestions:
Guesthouse ,
Špec Inn,
Cona Inn,
Mountain Hut Mirna Gora.

Where are the playgrounds?

Metlika: Naselje Borisa Kidriča, naselje Prvega maja, Borštek, Metlika Bathing Area, Playground at the primary school Metlika, where there is also a Pump track
Semič: near Semič kindergarten, there is also a Pump track
Črnomelj: Čardak (opposite ofLidl), near Loka Primary School Črnomelj, there is also a Pump track

And if something goes wrong on the playgrounds or the heat grows:

Metlika: Health centre Metlika, Pharmacy Metlika

Črnomelj: Health Centre Črnomelj, Pharmacy 1, Pharmacy 2,

Semič: Health Station Semič, Pharmacy Semič