Krupa River Spring
Region | Southeast Slovenia Statistical Region |
Starting point | Parking lot outside Krupa Village |
Route length | 1.3 km (0.14 miles) |
route duration | 1 h |
Best time to visit | spring, summer, autumn |
Appropriate for | Baby Carriers , 1-3 years of age , 3-6 years of age , 6+ years of age |
Level of difficulty | Easy route |
Route Description
When wandering around the beautiful White Carniola region (Bela Krajina in Slovene), do not forget to visit the most beautiful river spring in Slovenia, the Krupa River Spring.
The White Carniola region is named after the white color of birches and the folk costume. Interestingly, even the Zeleni Jurij (“Green George”), who is the symbol of the region, wears white clothes and a wreath of birch branches on his head.
The Krupa comes to the surface in strong karst springs below a 30-metre (98-feet) high and 50-metre (164-feet) long rock wall. There is a 7-metre (22-feet) deep spring lake under it, enchanting the visitors with its emerald colour. The springs of the River Krupa and the “Source of the Cave Shell” (Izvir jamske školjke) cave lower along the river are the only known deposits of the Jalžić’s shell (Congeria jalzici) in Slovenia. This little animal is the only known cave shell in the world. The Judovska hiša (“Jewish house”) karst cave proves that the river area was inhabited eleven thousand years BC.
Drive through the town of Semič, and turn left towards Metlika and Stranska vas at the first major crossroads. Continue to the village of Praprot and turn left towards Krupa. Park next to the road in a large parking lot that has many information boards.
Interesting Facts
When you start descending from the Vahta Mountain Pass (615 meters/2,017 feet above sea level) in Gorjanci towards the Kolpa River, you have arrived to Svobodno belokranjsko ozemlje, Unija vinorodnih dežel (“Free White Carniola Territory, the Union of Winegrowing Regions”). In Jugorje, customs officers will stop you before the Gostilna Peter Badovinac Inn and ask you about “pasoš” (passport) and „vinojeta“, mandatory documents required to enter the little land of white birches. Passengers are also checked, in order not to sneak to Bela krajina anything forbidden, such as bad mood, a foreign wine, depression, or even political quarrels and discords. „Vinojeta“ enables you to claim a fifty percent discount at all free-of-charge parking lots in White Carniola, and the “pasoš” provides you with numerous benefits in restaurants, campsites, wineries, etc.
Map
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Fly to or from Slovenia
Ljubljana AirportNearby Restaurants
Gostilna Pezdirc (Restaurant Pezdirc)
This restaurant serves all the local delicacies as well as modern cuisine in a typical village setting. The menu boasts many delicious wines produced in the region and goes perfectly together with the tasty food served by the friendly staff. Our family will come back for more for sure!
Metliška cesta 11
8333 Semič
+386 (0)7 356 81 21
Mila and Staš Recommend
Here you can listen to a Story about Peter Klepec
We recommend that you try the Bela krajina Flatbread. Wow! It is similar to bread, but better.
Ingredients:
- 500 g white wheat flour
- 300 ml lukewarm water
- 2 tsp salt
- 20 g yeast
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1 egg (beaten egg to coat the flat bread)
- a pinch of whole caraway seeds
- a pinch of coarse-grain salt
Preparation
Make a bread mixture from flour, water and yeast. Let rise and then put it on an oiled surface to stretch into a circle with a diameter of 30cm, press until it is 1 or 2cm thick reducing thickness towards the edge. Make 7 straight cuttings on the dough, coat it with the beaten egg, sprinkle with caraway and a pinch of coarse-grain sea salt. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 200°C–220°C/392°F-428°F.