Velika Planina is the high mountain plateau located in the foothills of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, where the best preserved herdsmen settlement in Europe is located. The fastest and most common access is by cable car from Kamniska Bistrica, where parking is located. When you arrive at the top, it is possible to us a chair lift that will convey you to the Gradisce. A little further on, one can see the wonderful view of the herdsman settlement. On the other side are the high mountain peaks of Grintavec, Skuta, Brana, Ojstrica, Planjava, Lucka Baba, and Kamnik saddle. There are about 140 cottages on the plateau, all designed by the architect Vlast Kopac. Rich alpine flora and grassy slopes, Carst sinkholes, larches and pine trees create a fairytale landscape, perfect for an all-day trip. One can rest by the Chapel of Marija Snezna, or one can choose to walk down to the cave of Vetrnica that is accessible by a circular path. There are, in fact, two caves: Mala (small) and Velika (big) Vetrnica that are connected by a natural bridge. The caves are the result of a high alpine environment where snow is still to be found even in the summer months. On the western border of the plateau (Zeleni rob) lies the picturesque natural window Luknja. There a also a few mountain huts on the plateau: Domzalski dom, Dom na Mali planini, and Domzalski dom Mountain Hut. In winter, there is a ski slope that offers good skiing and winter beauty.
Photos
Velika planina plateau
Parking place near cable car lower station
Selling tickets for cable car
Enter into cable car
Cable car on the way
View from cable car
Chair lift that ease the hiking from cable car upper station further
Chair lift upper station
View of Kamnik Alps
Velika planina plateau
Velika planina plateau
The Chapel of Marija Snezna (The St. Mary's Chapel)
Velika planina plateau
Velika planina plateau
Velika planina plateau
Domžalski dom Mountain Hut
Brink of Velika Planina
Footpath to the Vetrnica Cave
Vetrnica Cave
Zeleni rob Mountain Hut
Data
Municipality: KAMNIK (29487 population)
Settlements in the municipality:
Kamnik (13724 population), Mekinje (1660), Šmarca (1459), Podgorje (1014), Vrhpolje pri Kamniku (716),
Godič (665), Zgornje Stranje (406), Volčji Potok (396), Zgornji Tuhinj (393), Soteska (332), Županje Njive (331), Tunjiška Mlaka (301), Bistričica (287), Tunjice (286), Laze v Tuhinju (282), Spodnje Stranje (259), Loke v Tuhinju (255), Nevlje (243), Srednja vas pri Kamniku (233), Šmartno v Tuhinju (231), Poreber (199), Motnik (195), Markovo (192), Špitalič (187), Stahovica (178), Buč (174), Košiše (173), Črna pri Kamniku (169), Zagorica nad Kamnikom (161), Oševek (152), Gozd (151), Sela pri Kamniku (146), Velika Lašna (134), Kregarjevo (134), Rožično (131), Golice (129), Brezje nad Kamnikom (126), Krivčevo (123), Stolnik (122), Laniše (106), Podstudenec (105), Jeranovo (104), Zduša (96), Češnjice v Tuhinju (94), Bela (87), Spodnje Palovče (87), Cirkuše v Tuhinju (82), Veliki Hrib (80), Rudnik pri Radomljah (79), Mali Hrib (75), Studenca (73), Pšajnovica (68), Potok (67), Sidol (67), Okrog pri Motniku (65), Ravne pri Šmartnem (63), Zgornji Motnik (63), Žaga (63), Okroglo (61), Snovik (58), Hrib pri Kamniku (58), Kališe (57), Podhruška (56), Stara sela (54), Zakal (52), Gradišče v Tuhinju (51), Podlom (48), Hruševka (47), Stebljevek (47), Vranja Peč (44), Podjelše (43), Zgornje Palovče (43), Kostanj (42), Kršič (41), Briše (41), Mali Rakitovec (37), Gabrovnica (37), Sovinja Peč (37), Znojile (36), Potok v Črni (34), Tučna (32), Vir pri Nevljah (31), Pirševo (31), Zavrh pri Črnivcu (31), Črni Vrh v Tuhinju (30), Veliki Rakitovec (29), Laseno (29), Vodice nad Kamnikom (27), Praproče v Tuhinju (26), Liplje (26), Vaseno (25), Zajasovnik - del (23), Kamniška Bistrica (22), Smrečje v Črni (22), Bela Peč (21), Žubejevo (21), Poljana (19), Trobelno (13), Podbreg (12), Klemenčevo (10), Trebelno pri Palovčah (8), Velika Planina (2)