Page 151 - Koderman, Miha, and Vuk Tvrtko Opačić. Eds. 2020. Challenges of tourism development in protected areas of Croatia and Slovenia. Koper, Zagreb: University of Primorska Press, Croatian Geographical Society
P. 151
development of tourism and second homes in the area of sviščaki ...
Post-war restoration of mountaineering and the renovation
of mountain huts
Only the hut Vilharjeva koča in Črni dol survived World War II intact, while
other mountain huts were demolished; nothing but the walls remained of
the burnt-down hut in Sviščaki. The mountaineers of Ilirska Bistrica re-
structured the commercial premises of the former mountain hut Rifugio
Gabriele d’Annunzio, 1242 m, in the period between 1948 and 1951, into a
new humble hut named Cankarjeva koča 1242 m pod Snežnikom. In the
1950s, the hut was left deserted, which was the result of vandalism—people
who were not from the area were regularly breaking in and stealing sup-
plies (Čeligoj, 2000c).
At the end of the 1950s and the beginning of the 1960s, Sviščaki be-
came increasingly interesting regarding the prospects of tourism and rec-
reation, as snow-rich winters inspired people to take part in winter sports.
This provided the impetus for the construction of the first holiday homes in
1963, undertaken by different companies from Ilirska Bistrica (more on this
in chapter Development of the second homes in Sviščaki), while, simultane-
ously, construction works were started for a new mountain hut in Sviščaki:
Planinski dom na Sviščakih, which was publicly opened in 1968 (Čeligoj,
2000d). Later, the mountain hut was renovated several times; for the last
time, to a greater extent, in 1983, when plumbing fixtures as well as elec-
tricity and sanitary fittings were added in an extension, and in 1993, when a
mobile phone connection became available (Mountain Hut Sviščaki, 2019;
Alpine Association of Slovenia, 2019a).
An important milestone in the development of mountaineering in the
area of Snežnik was the construction of a mountain hut on Veliki Snežnik,
which was built upon the ruins of a former Italian anti-aircraft lookout
post. The construction started in 1958 and was finished in 1961, after the
shelter Zavetišče na Velikem Snežniku 1796 m was officially closed down
(Čeligoj, 2000e). In the years that followed, the shelter was extended with
additional premises and, in 1977, it was significantly expanded and renovat-
ed; in the 1990s, the water supply installations and a telephone connection
were also added. At the end of the 1990s, the shelter was renamed to Koča
Draga Karolina na Velikem Snežniku (1790 m) (Čeligoj, 2000f). The cottage
offers 20 shared beds and 8 beds in individual rooms, as well as 80 seats in
the dining hall (Alpine Association of Slovenia, 2019b). In 2007, the kitch-
en was renovated, a retaining wall was built, the well and chimney were re-
constructed, a protective fence was put up around the shelter, and the win-
149
Post-war restoration of mountaineering and the renovation
of mountain huts
Only the hut Vilharjeva koča in Črni dol survived World War II intact, while
other mountain huts were demolished; nothing but the walls remained of
the burnt-down hut in Sviščaki. The mountaineers of Ilirska Bistrica re-
structured the commercial premises of the former mountain hut Rifugio
Gabriele d’Annunzio, 1242 m, in the period between 1948 and 1951, into a
new humble hut named Cankarjeva koča 1242 m pod Snežnikom. In the
1950s, the hut was left deserted, which was the result of vandalism—people
who were not from the area were regularly breaking in and stealing sup-
plies (Čeligoj, 2000c).
At the end of the 1950s and the beginning of the 1960s, Sviščaki be-
came increasingly interesting regarding the prospects of tourism and rec-
reation, as snow-rich winters inspired people to take part in winter sports.
This provided the impetus for the construction of the first holiday homes in
1963, undertaken by different companies from Ilirska Bistrica (more on this
in chapter Development of the second homes in Sviščaki), while, simultane-
ously, construction works were started for a new mountain hut in Sviščaki:
Planinski dom na Sviščakih, which was publicly opened in 1968 (Čeligoj,
2000d). Later, the mountain hut was renovated several times; for the last
time, to a greater extent, in 1983, when plumbing fixtures as well as elec-
tricity and sanitary fittings were added in an extension, and in 1993, when a
mobile phone connection became available (Mountain Hut Sviščaki, 2019;
Alpine Association of Slovenia, 2019a).
An important milestone in the development of mountaineering in the
area of Snežnik was the construction of a mountain hut on Veliki Snežnik,
which was built upon the ruins of a former Italian anti-aircraft lookout
post. The construction started in 1958 and was finished in 1961, after the
shelter Zavetišče na Velikem Snežniku 1796 m was officially closed down
(Čeligoj, 2000e). In the years that followed, the shelter was extended with
additional premises and, in 1977, it was significantly expanded and renovat-
ed; in the 1990s, the water supply installations and a telephone connection
were also added. At the end of the 1990s, the shelter was renamed to Koča
Draga Karolina na Velikem Snežniku (1790 m) (Čeligoj, 2000f). The cottage
offers 20 shared beds and 8 beds in individual rooms, as well as 80 seats in
the dining hall (Alpine Association of Slovenia, 2019b). In 2007, the kitch-
en was renovated, a retaining wall was built, the well and chimney were re-
constructed, a protective fence was put up around the shelter, and the win-
149
