Page 67 - Hrobat Virloget, Katja, et al., eds. (2015). Stone narratives: heritage, mobility, performance. University of Primorska Press, Koper.
P. 67
Visiting the Karst underground:
development of cave tourism
in Slovenia
Petra Kavrečič
Introduction
Cave tourism is one of the oldest forms of tourist activity to have developed in the Karst1 re-
gion of the Slovene territory. The stony world of caves has captured the interest of many cu-
rious adventurers and researchers who were seeking to uncover the secrets of the Karst un-
derground. Although mostly negative characteristics were attributed to its natural features,
such as its bareness2 and exposure to the bora wind (Shaw, 2007), the Karst region attract-
ed curious visitors, scientists and adventurers already in the period before modernization
brought new discoveries as well as scientific and cultural changes (industrial revolution, ur-
banization, new means of transport, cultural and philosophical perception). We are refer-
ring especially to visits to the stony underground of the Karst.
In the period before the development of modern tourism3, visiting caves was subject
to a number of factors, one of which was associated with faith. One example of this phe-
nomenon was the Christian martyr St. Servulus, who was hiding at Socerb and died there
in 284 A.D., shortly after which the cave became his sanctuary and a pilgrimage destina-
tion for Christians. The martyr’s followers, believers, would visit the location every year on
the day of his death (Kranjc, 1997, p. 99). Pilgrimages to the cave were also described by Val-
vasor and Schönleben in the 17th century, by Nagel and Hacquet in the 18th century and by
Agapito in the 19th century. Nevertheless, the main motives for visiting this underground
world were not of religious nature, but were mostly curiosity, research and a desire for ad-
venture. Before the advent of modern tourism, people would visit caves such as the Postoj-
1 The first recorded formal use of the word Karst appeared in Wolfang Lazius map published in 1561 (printed in
1545). Before the first recorded use Shaw suggests that the name must have been in uses and known earlier as a
regional name (Shaw, 2007, pp. 48–51).
2 As f. e. Cassas wrote his impressions about the territory: »In these districts, highly-cultivated land is no longer to be
seen: the soil is gravelly, dry, and barren, and from Senosequia to the valley of the Ruecca its appearance was melancholy in the
extreme« (Lavalée, 1805, p. 122).
3 Modern tourism is closely linked to economic development as well as to the consequences of the industrial
revolution and technological modernization. The development of the tourism sector was also influenced by the
cultural, existential and social dimensions (Paloscia, 2005, p. 263).
65
development of cave tourism
in Slovenia
Petra Kavrečič
Introduction
Cave tourism is one of the oldest forms of tourist activity to have developed in the Karst1 re-
gion of the Slovene territory. The stony world of caves has captured the interest of many cu-
rious adventurers and researchers who were seeking to uncover the secrets of the Karst un-
derground. Although mostly negative characteristics were attributed to its natural features,
such as its bareness2 and exposure to the bora wind (Shaw, 2007), the Karst region attract-
ed curious visitors, scientists and adventurers already in the period before modernization
brought new discoveries as well as scientific and cultural changes (industrial revolution, ur-
banization, new means of transport, cultural and philosophical perception). We are refer-
ring especially to visits to the stony underground of the Karst.
In the period before the development of modern tourism3, visiting caves was subject
to a number of factors, one of which was associated with faith. One example of this phe-
nomenon was the Christian martyr St. Servulus, who was hiding at Socerb and died there
in 284 A.D., shortly after which the cave became his sanctuary and a pilgrimage destina-
tion for Christians. The martyr’s followers, believers, would visit the location every year on
the day of his death (Kranjc, 1997, p. 99). Pilgrimages to the cave were also described by Val-
vasor and Schönleben in the 17th century, by Nagel and Hacquet in the 18th century and by
Agapito in the 19th century. Nevertheless, the main motives for visiting this underground
world were not of religious nature, but were mostly curiosity, research and a desire for ad-
venture. Before the advent of modern tourism, people would visit caves such as the Postoj-
1 The first recorded formal use of the word Karst appeared in Wolfang Lazius map published in 1561 (printed in
1545). Before the first recorded use Shaw suggests that the name must have been in uses and known earlier as a
regional name (Shaw, 2007, pp. 48–51).
2 As f. e. Cassas wrote his impressions about the territory: »In these districts, highly-cultivated land is no longer to be
seen: the soil is gravelly, dry, and barren, and from Senosequia to the valley of the Ruecca its appearance was melancholy in the
extreme« (Lavalée, 1805, p. 122).
3 Modern tourism is closely linked to economic development as well as to the consequences of the industrial
revolution and technological modernization. The development of the tourism sector was also influenced by the
cultural, existential and social dimensions (Paloscia, 2005, p. 263).
65
