Shoemaking and lace-making give Žiri two distinctive cultural themes. At the Žiri Museum, an exhibition traces the story from shoemaking to the development of the Alpina company; at the Stare Žiri Cultural Centre, bobbin lace and the town’s cultural heritage take centre stage. The area also offers architecture, geological features and activities for different seasons. When planning your trip, it is therefore worth deciding first which of these aspects interests you most.

Shoemaking and art at the Žiri Museum

The shoemaking exhibition is divided into two parts: one covers the period up to the Second World War, while the other follows the development of the Alpina company. Another permanent exhibition, “Žirovski slikarji”, features selected works by prominent visual artists from Žiri. At the museum, you can explore both the history of a local craft and the work of artists from the town.

The museum collections can be visited on Sundays from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, or by prior arrangement. Check the visiting hours before your trip, especially if you plan to organise your stay around a museum visit.

Lace-making and architectural heritage

The Stare Žiri Cultural Centre is a cultural and historical complex in the old part of Žiri. It includes the permanent exhibition “Klekljane čipke, ‘špice’ na Žirovskem”, which opened in 2022. The Čipkarska šola Žiri (Žiri Lace School) is also part of the history of this craft: founded in 1906, it plays an important role in preserving the town’s cultural heritage.

The nearby Matevžkova House offers a glimpse of traditional architecture. It consists of a twin hayloft and a dwelling with a traditional Alpine ground floor; the furnishings and open-hearth kitchen have been preserved. In 1999, the house was declared a cultural monument of local importance. St Martin’s Parish Church lies towards Stare Žiri, by the Sora River. Built in 1912, it has two bell towers, a main altar, an organ and stained-glass windows. The nearby Church of St Anne in Ledinica is part of the Ema Pilgrimage Route.

The Tomaž Kržišnik Garden is open for guided tours, public events, auctions, weddings and culinary experiences. The cultural offering thus includes not only exhibitions and historic buildings, but also a venue for a variety of events and experiences.

Activities in every season

The Poclain Žiri Nordic Centre in Nova vas has ski jumps with plastic surfaces at heights of 8, 15, 26, 35 and 60 metres. They can be used all year round. In winter, the nearby Žiri Nordic Centre in Nova vas also has cross-country ski trails. If cross-country skiing is important to your trip plans, check conditions before you travel.

The Žiri cycling route runs around Žiri and can be started at any time. Confirm the route details in advance if you plan to ride it. At the Pristan Sports and Recreation Centre, visitors can rent a canoe or cross the Sora River on a raft. Check in advance whether these activities are available. Another route to Ledinica follows the Sora riverbed, serves as a popular local promenade and is a starting point for hikes to Mrzli vrh. Local trail conditions may vary.

Geology and the history of the landscape

The Rupnik Line is a system of underground fortifications and smaller bunkers in the Žirovski vrh area. At the underground fortification on Goli vrh, you can visit a permanent exhibition featuring remnants from the time of its construction; visiting arrangements may change, so check in advance.

Geological features also shape the surrounding area. The Lukač Geological Profile is a nationally important natural feature: its limestone layers form a typical Permian–Triassic boundary profile for the entire Dinarides. The nearby Kamnita miza consists of two stacked rocks of dolomite and dolomitic limestone. Another nearby natural attraction is a site where traces of Neanderthals, stone tools and bones of cave bears, wolves, bison, deer and Ice Age marmots have been found.

Market and local specialities

The market in front of the cooperative centre (Zadružni dom) is held on the first and third Saturday of each month. There, you can sample or buy homemade baked goods, cheese, dairy products, Slovenian honey, natural cosmetics and local handicrafts. Check the date if you want the market to be a fixed part of your trip plans.

Žiri’s culinary specialities include “shoemaker’s stew”, “crackling bread” and štruklji—rolled dumplings filled with chives. Whether you can try these dishes depends on what local inns have to offer. This means that different travel periods have specific advantages: the market takes place on particular Saturdays, cross-country skiing is a winter activity, while the ski jumps can be used all year round. Museum visits, meanwhile, are possible during Sunday opening hours or by prior arrangement.

Discover more destinations: Robidnica, Davščica, Železniki, Podlonk, Poljane Nad Škofjo Loko, Škofja Loka, Javorje, Četena Ravan.

Return to the main travel overview: Škofja Loka.