The Dovžan Gorge – Tržič

Route Description

Tržič has many different hiking trails in its surroundings. Thus the meadows, valleys, forests and peaks are much more beautiful when experienced in peace and without crowds. This is how the local people present the footpaths. Only a few minutes drive from Tržič stands the beautiful Dovžan Gorge. The floods there have completely washed away the hiking trails, but the locals have recently restored the sights and information boards, making this landmark even more attractive for Slovenian and foreign tourists. Children aged 3 and older are perfectly capable of walking by themselves; however, they should be under constant parent supervision as not to fall over an edge. It is not advisable to visit the trail in bad weather or in winter time. The Tourist Information Centre staff answers any question you ask and even gives you tips for visiting other local attractions. On our website, you can find descriptions of the following trips nearby: the Kofce Hill, the Little Tržič Tour, the Gutenberg Castle, etc.

The Tržiška Bistrica River is amazingly photogenic, so beware; your memory card may not be big enough for all the photos you will take here :). This gorge is a journey through time as it is older than dinosaurs. Three hundred million years ago, this place was the site of a tropical sea, teeming with marine animals. The rocks of the gorge hide many one-of-a-kind fossilized remains.

There is a good reason for the Dovžan Gorge's status as a protected natural monument for more than 25 years. It is geologically one of the most fascinating areas of Slovenia. The picturesque valley, which is located 3.2 kilometres northeast of Tržič, was carved out by the Tržič Bistrica River deep into the heart of the Karawanks, laying bare the most complete sequence of rocks from the younger Paleozoic period, ranging from 300 to 260 million years old. The layers of rock are like the pages of a thick book, recording a fantastic story about unusual living creatures and a changing environment in the distant geological past. The Dovžan Gorge is distinguished by its extraordinary variety of sedimentary rocks as well as abundance and diversity of fossilized remains. These fossils have made a name for the gorge in the international specialized literature. The list of plant and animal species that have been found here is indeed long, but most notable are the brachiopod Karavankina schellwieni and the foraminifera Sphaeroschwagerina carniolica. Both were first discovered and described in the Dovžan Gorge and were even featured on Slovenian postage stamps.

More about town Tržič : VISIT TRŽIČ