Žiri – Shoemaking, Lace Art and Cultural History

Žiri offers several specific points of interest to help you plan your trip: the history of shoemaking, lace art, cultural and historical buildings, and nature-related attractions. There are also trails and seasonal winter sports. You can plan your visits around the interests that bring you to Žiri.

Shoemaking, Art and Lace-making

The Žiri Museum has a permanent exhibition on shoemaking in two parts. It covers the period up to the Second World War and the development of the Alpina company. Another permanent exhibition, “Žirovski slikarji,” features selected works by prominent visual artists from Žiri. The museum collections can be visited on Sundays from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. or by prior arrangement. Check visiting hours before you arrive.

In the old part of Žiri is the Stare Žiri Cultural Centre, a cultural and historical complex. It includes the permanent exhibition “Klekljane čipke, „špice“ na Žirovskem,” about bobbin lace, which opened in 2022. The Čipkarska šola Žiri (Žiri Lace School) was founded in 1906 and is important for preserving the town’s cultural heritage. Together, these places offer insight into different aspects of local crafts and their cultural significance.

Buildings and Cultural and Historical Sites

Nearby, Matevžkova House consists of a double hayloft and a residential building with a traditional Alpine ground floor. The furnishings and open-hearth kitchen have been preserved; in 1999, the house was declared a cultural monument of local importance. On the way towards Stare Žiri, by the Sora River, stands the parish church of St Martin, built in 1912. Its features include two bell towers, a main altar, an organ and stained-glass windows. The nearby Church of St Anne in Ledinica is part of the Ema Pilgrimage Route.

In the Žirovski vrh area, the Rupnik Line refers to a system of underground fortifications and smaller bunkers. A permanent exhibition of remains from the period of construction can be seen in the underground fortification at Goli vrh; check access arrangements before visiting. The Tomaž Kržišnik Garden is used for guided tours, public events, auctions, weddings and culinary experiences.

Trails, Winter Sports and Outdoor Activities

The Poclain Žiri Nordic Centre in Nova vas has plastic-covered ski jumps of 8, 15, 26, 35 and 60 metres, which can be used year-round. In winter, the nearby Žiri Nordic Centre in Nova vas also has cross-country ski trails. Check the conditions on the seasonal trails before your trip.

The Žiri cycling tour goes around Žiri and can be started at any time. Check the route details in advance. At the Pristan Sports and Recreation Centre, you can rent a canoe or cross the Sora River on a raft. Check booking requirements and availability in advance. The nearby trail to Ledinica follows the Sora riverbed, serves as a popular promenade for locals and is a starting point for hikes to Mrzli vrh. Trail conditions may vary.

Nature and Geological Features

Nearby, the Lukač Geological Profile is classified as a natural feature of national importance: its limestone layers form a typical Permian–Triassic boundary profile for the entire Dinarides. Another nearby natural attraction is a site where Neanderthal footprints, stone tools and bones of cave bears, wolves, bison, deer and Ice Age marmots have been found. Kamnita miza consists of two superimposed rocks made of dolomite and dolomitic limestone.

Market and Specialities

The market in front of the cooperative centre (Zadružni dom) is held on the first and third Saturday of each month. Visitors can sample or buy homemade baked goods, cheese, dairy products, Slovenian honey, natural cosmetics and local handicrafts. Check the dates before you arrive. Žiri’s culinary specialities include a “shoemaker’s meal,” “crackling bread” and štruklji, rolled dumplings filled with chives. Whether individual dishes are available at a restaurant depends on its menu.

Discover more destinations: Podlonk, Spodnja Sorica, Poljane Nad Škofjo Loko, Škofja Loka, Robidnica, Javorje, Davščica, Gorenja Vas.

Return to the main travel overview: Škofja Loka.