Dovje - Mojstrana

Dovje and Mojstrana are villages which as twins always stick together but differ considerably in regard to temperament. Each on its own bank of the Sava River and located on the main traffic arteries through the Zgornjesavska Valley are starting points for discovering the Julian Alps and the Karavanke Mountains.

The Mojstrana story began in the 14th century when the mining and ironworks trades began to develop, however nowadays the area is more known for numerous expert alpinists and skiers. Three breathtaking Alpine valleys lead from Mojstrana into the heart of the Julian Alps to the highest Slovene peak, Triglav (2864 m). The Krma Valley offers alpinists the most facilitated access to Triglav and excellent terrain for skiing tours, the Kot Valley enchants with its peacefulness and remoteness in the shade of the northern wall of Rjavina while Vrata, according to Aljaž the most beautiful valley in the world surprises with the powerful Triglav northern wall.

Dovje is a village with a thousand year history and agricultural tradition. Squeezed under the steep side of the Karavanke Mountains, industrious villagers formed terraced fields in its foothills through the centuries. The village has maintained numerous Alpine architectural characteristics. The semi-circular entrance doors of farm houses are particularly interesting from which hospitality exudes. A number of alpinists, victims of Triglav and its surrounding mountain regions are buried at the cemetery alongside the parish of St. Michael.

Jakob Aljaž (1845 - 1927) served as mayor of Dovje for 38 years building cabins on Vrata and Kredarica, the tower on Triglav and routes into the Julian Alps. He was also a composer, poet and national initiator. A memorial room is dedicated to him at the vicarage, while his monument can be seen by the main road between the two villages.