Kranjska Gora is a town in northwestern Slovenia, close to both Austrian and Italian borders this town and resort area is well known for Zelenci Nature Reserve, the largest ski jumping in the world and beauty of mountains and lakes.
In May of 2020 I went with a friend from Ljubljana to see the beautiful natural wonders of Kranjska Gora. Zelenci Nature Reserve was on a list of unpopular destinations to visit in Slovenia. I was looking for places where tourists wouldn’t be flooding and this was one even my friend didn’t know about. We found it immediately after the village of Podkoren. We were able to park and then walk to the small lake in only ten minutes. We walked around and up the steps to the overlook for beautiful views of the water against the mountains. After our walk we drove to the famous ski jumping hills.
There is a trail and also steps all the way to the top of the highest jumping platform. It took about fifteen minutes to walk all the way to the top. The views are fantastic! On the other side of the ski jumping are trails which go to other mountains. We didn’t do a longer hike because we had plans for the lake and lunch at Milka. The lake is clear blue nestled under an incredible mountain.
My friend talked me into going for the six-course meal alongside the lake in this charming cottage style restaurant. This farm to table fine dining restaurant specializes in unique small dishes. The six-course tasting menu was on special for 50.00 Euros per person. They started us off with a delicious plate of cheesy bread sticks with a savory mousse topped with fried chicken skin and a savory foam.
Then the six courses began, first with a refreshing salad of cold fish alongside cucumber in yoghurt dressing which was accompanied by a freshly made roll made with beet root. The next was a grilled salmon skewer with toast covered in roe and paired with warm consommé. Quickly after we finished the salmon a ravioli with pickled wild asparagus and salmon roe was served. Then the most interesting dish of them all; a sweetbread spring roll with a savory vanilla foam, it was amazing, better than I could have imagined. The main course was a beef filet with a lovely mustard sauce and a whole ramekin of shepherd’s pie with the most delicious potato topping.
For dessert we were served homemade vanilla ice cream alongside stewed rhubarb that was topped with an airy meringue. The food was all incredibly delicious! After an amazing lunch we walked around the lake which took about half an hour including the overlook above the lake and then another ten minutes to the waterfall under the bridge.
