In the lang of kralj Matjaž - Slovenia

Koroška is a less known part of Slovenia. It's true, many have heard of it, but not many have decided to explore it and get to know it better.

As a perfect base for exploring it I suggest the Hostel Punkl, which makes it clear to you that this is the land of woods, mountains and nature.

From here you can go explore Libeliče with a rare (if I remember correctly there are only three in Europe) cemetery bone storages – and it’s right next to the museum of the referendum – which was an important part of Slovenian national history (it defined the Slovenian-Austrian boarded almost 100 years ago). Nearby is also the site of the first church on Slovenian soil, where on the foundation from the 10th century a church still stands. But if you prefer to be more active, I can recommend cycling – even in the underground in the former mines under the mountain of Peca!

But I’d like to tell you about a different place …

Kralj Matjaž is a mythical character. If you which to see his actual monument, you will have to visit Budapest in Hungary, for a historical ruler Matias Korvin is the person around whom the myth has grown. And the mythical king sleeps under the mountain of Peca, where you can find him in his cavern. And this is the land of this mythical king, who gets a few new castles every winter, for people built them on Podpeca annually for two decades already.

When you head from Črna na Koroškem toward Podpeca, you will see unspoiled nature and the legacy of the mining community. It was here, in midst of the forests above the town below, that the mining has started. Among the trees were large mining communities and they’ve even organized their own cinema here. They were true patriots and stood proudly and firmly in defence of Slovenia to which a monument still testifies.

From there on head forward toward the lovely inn called Pri Matjažu. And no, it was not named after kralj Matjaž, but after the owner, whose name really is – Matjać and who fell in love with this piece of unspoiled nature.  Here you’ll find homemade food, warming drinks and welcoming spirit.

And it might be this Matjaž, who gets the castles every year, for without him the event would probably not take place anymore. He puts in a lot of effort and sleepless nights each year, to prepare the building material – tons of snow and ice – from which creative teams construct a winter wonder of white and colour. And it is him, who will be able to tell you the most about this event and the place itself.