Kekec Land

Route Description

Keeeeeeekeeeeeeec!.....Keeeeeeeekeeeeeeeec!.....Who is Kekec you may ask. Kekec is a brave boy, a fearless shepherd from the highlands of his home region, Kranjska Gora and Julian Alps. He is a good person who is fighting an evil wild hunter from the mountains (Bedanec) and an evil herbalist woman from the mountains who steals children (Pehta). The Slovenian writer Josip Vandot (born in Kranjska Gora) created Kekec. Hewrote three stories about this adventurous boy: Kekec on the Hard Path (“Kekec na hudi poti”), Kekec on the Wolf’s Trail (“Kekec na volčji sledi”) and Kekec above the Lonely Abyss (“Kekec nad samotnim breznom”).

It has been almost 70 years since the Slovenian director Jože Gale filmed the tales. Every child who has seen the adaptations can sing you at least one of the songs featured in the motion pictures. Kekec has three loyal friends: the always-frightened Rožle, his blind sister Mojca and an old wise man named Kosobrin. Of course, the evil wild hunter Bedanec and the so-called “Aunt” Pehta harass them. Kekec is a cunning and resourceful boy who is not deterred from any adventure.

Kranjska Gora has an organized tour to the Kekec Land. Hop on a bus which is plastered with the characters’ pictures, and its license plate says “KR BEDANEC” :)  You can drive to a fairytale landscape, where you will meet the always-happy Kekec, friendly Mojca, Rožle, Aunt Pehta and even Bedanc. The experience is appropriate for children of all ages, and especially Slovenian parents and grandparents who will definitely feel some nostalgia.

You will remember this adventure for the rest of your life.