Page 69 - Hrobat Virloget, Katja, et al., eds. (2015). Stone narratives: heritage, mobility, performance. University of Primorska Press, Koper.
P. 69
visiting the karst underground: development of cave tourism in slovenia
in the pre-industrial era, mostly by foreign visitors (Hrobat Virloget, 2015)6, in the era of
pre-modern tourism, which represents a specific feature of the Karst region. The landscape
of the Karst with its unusual natural features attracted numerous researchers and adven-
turers. In addition to underground caves, Lake Cerknica and Idrija (mercury mine/silver
mine) were also locations attractive to visitors. Trieste played a strategic role as a port and
as the starting point for (individual) itineraries and visits to the nearby areas of the Karst
(Vilenica Cave, Škocjan Caves, Lipica, Socerb Cave). The proximity of the city allowed for
a better visibility and accessibility of these localities both in the period before and during
the development of modern tourism.
Travellers to these places often chronicled the moments and impressions of their trav-
els and published them in the form of diaries and itineraries. Most travellers to this region
came from England, Germany, France, Austria and Italy. Some were just crossing the ter-
ritory, while others were intentionally visiting the area following a prearranged itinerary.
Travelling in the pre-industrial era was a long, arduous, expensive and even dangerous
adventure because of bandits and thieves, who were preying on travellers along the side of
the roads. Furthermore, some roads were poorly maintained and the journey was slow (Stu-
den, 2006, pp. 52–53). We can read descriptions of long journeys due to poorly kept roads
which was why many stops were required (for lubrication of wheels) along the way. Com-
munication, too, would sometimes pose a challenge, especially if the locals did not speak
any foreign languages. In less visited places, another problem was a lack of adequate accom-
modation and restaurants (Shaw, 1997, p. 172). Travellers in the Karst region were frequent-
ly surprised by the strong bora wind that would overturn carriages and cause a number of
inconveniences.
Travel diaries and journals that were published by travellers differ in the style of writ-
ing, as well as in travellers’ perceptions, experiences and interests. Thus, in many descrip-
tions we can trace critical reports of local restaurants, roads, offer, accessibility and the way
of life of the local population. The Karst region was no exception. Detailed reports and
testimonies show that the visitors who explored and visited the Karst areas, especially the
caves, had both scientific and »adventurous« interests. Their diaries and other testimonies
(especially from the pre-industrial period) have already been thoroughly researched and
published (see Shaw, Shaw and Adam Carmichael, Levental).7 This paper focuses mainly
on the identification of the impressions from »tourist« visits to the Karst and its distinc-
tive features.
Among the most famous and earliest English travellers8 from the modern period we
should mention Walter Pope, a professor at Oxford, and one of the first members of the
British Royal Society, who stopped at the Idrija mercury mine in 1664. His signature is pre-
served in the guest book of the Idrija Castle (Levental, 1989). Edward Brown, a member of
the Royal Society and medical doctor, travelled through the Slovene territory in 1669. He
visited Idrija, Gorica and Lake Cerknica. Upon his return, he published a book entitled A
Brief Account of Some Travels, which was at the time the only available source in English
6 According to Hrobat Virloget (2015), the perception of the local population regarding the caves was as follows:
»mysterious places, entrances to the other world, places of dwelling of supernatural beings and places for ritual
activities« and people were usually afraid to enter.
7 A detailed research of the foreign visitors of the caves was made by T.R. Shaw (see also list of references).
8 The following part was partially published in Kavrečič 2011.
67
in the pre-industrial era, mostly by foreign visitors (Hrobat Virloget, 2015)6, in the era of
pre-modern tourism, which represents a specific feature of the Karst region. The landscape
of the Karst with its unusual natural features attracted numerous researchers and adven-
turers. In addition to underground caves, Lake Cerknica and Idrija (mercury mine/silver
mine) were also locations attractive to visitors. Trieste played a strategic role as a port and
as the starting point for (individual) itineraries and visits to the nearby areas of the Karst
(Vilenica Cave, Škocjan Caves, Lipica, Socerb Cave). The proximity of the city allowed for
a better visibility and accessibility of these localities both in the period before and during
the development of modern tourism.
Travellers to these places often chronicled the moments and impressions of their trav-
els and published them in the form of diaries and itineraries. Most travellers to this region
came from England, Germany, France, Austria and Italy. Some were just crossing the ter-
ritory, while others were intentionally visiting the area following a prearranged itinerary.
Travelling in the pre-industrial era was a long, arduous, expensive and even dangerous
adventure because of bandits and thieves, who were preying on travellers along the side of
the roads. Furthermore, some roads were poorly maintained and the journey was slow (Stu-
den, 2006, pp. 52–53). We can read descriptions of long journeys due to poorly kept roads
which was why many stops were required (for lubrication of wheels) along the way. Com-
munication, too, would sometimes pose a challenge, especially if the locals did not speak
any foreign languages. In less visited places, another problem was a lack of adequate accom-
modation and restaurants (Shaw, 1997, p. 172). Travellers in the Karst region were frequent-
ly surprised by the strong bora wind that would overturn carriages and cause a number of
inconveniences.
Travel diaries and journals that were published by travellers differ in the style of writ-
ing, as well as in travellers’ perceptions, experiences and interests. Thus, in many descrip-
tions we can trace critical reports of local restaurants, roads, offer, accessibility and the way
of life of the local population. The Karst region was no exception. Detailed reports and
testimonies show that the visitors who explored and visited the Karst areas, especially the
caves, had both scientific and »adventurous« interests. Their diaries and other testimonies
(especially from the pre-industrial period) have already been thoroughly researched and
published (see Shaw, Shaw and Adam Carmichael, Levental).7 This paper focuses mainly
on the identification of the impressions from »tourist« visits to the Karst and its distinc-
tive features.
Among the most famous and earliest English travellers8 from the modern period we
should mention Walter Pope, a professor at Oxford, and one of the first members of the
British Royal Society, who stopped at the Idrija mercury mine in 1664. His signature is pre-
served in the guest book of the Idrija Castle (Levental, 1989). Edward Brown, a member of
the Royal Society and medical doctor, travelled through the Slovene territory in 1669. He
visited Idrija, Gorica and Lake Cerknica. Upon his return, he published a book entitled A
Brief Account of Some Travels, which was at the time the only available source in English
6 According to Hrobat Virloget (2015), the perception of the local population regarding the caves was as follows:
»mysterious places, entrances to the other world, places of dwelling of supernatural beings and places for ritual
activities« and people were usually afraid to enter.
7 A detailed research of the foreign visitors of the caves was made by T.R. Shaw (see also list of references).
8 The following part was partially published in Kavrečič 2011.
67
