Rakov Skocjan is situated between Planinsko and Cerknica field. Skocjan was first mentioned in the 15th century. It got the name after St. Kancijan Church. In the book The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola from the year 1689 we trace the first noted description of the Rak valley. After the second world war, when the territory was still under Italy, they built barracks and circular road and made plans for the caves. In Rakov Skocjan flows underground stream Rak, which is the precursor of the river Ljubljanica. It is the karst valley, which was made when the roof of the underworld tunnel was destroyed. From the former arch they stayed only the Great natural bridge and Little natural bridge. Rakov Skocjan is 6 kilometres long and is the natural pearl of the Notranjska Region. From the year 1949 is protected as the landscape park. After the valley goes marked circular naturalistic way, where can be seen the most important natural and cultural remarkableness. The valley has its logical beginning in the affluent, east side with the Little natural bridge, where the brook Rak springs from the Zelske jame Caves. There also begins the naturalistic teaching path. After the visit of the sinks leads way by the right bank of the brook, opposite of the hotel crosses the wooden footbridge and continues it in the left side of the riverbed to the Great natural bridge and sinkhole Tkalca Cave. Afterwards the path goes up to the ruins of the St. Kancijan Church, where it ends. It is 3 kilometres long.
Photos
View of Little Natural Bridge
View of collapsed cave near Little Natural Br...
Middle collapsed cave on the way to the colla...
Stony bridge and cave in background
Brook Rak and stony bridge in Rakov Skocjan
Cave that leads to the collapsed cave under L...
View of the cave under Little Natural Bridge
Path to the Zelske jame Caves
Large old fir tree
Sawmill ruins
Remains of the dam
Brook Rak near its spring
Rakov Skocjan
Brook Rak in Rakov Skocjan
Brook Rak and footbridge
Rakov Skocjan - Old oak - dob
Hotel Rakov Skocjan
Rakov Skocjan - Karst springs - Kotlici
Rakov Skocjan - Sinkhole - Kotel
Ecosystems and typical species of animals
Big Natural Bridge and river Rak below
View to the other entrance into Tkalca Cave t...
Forester's cottage Rakov Skocjan
Data
Municipality: CERKNICA (11491 population)
Settlements in the municipality:
Cerknica (4061 population), Rakek (2140), Begunje pri Cerknici (727), Unec (580), Grahovo (484),
Dolenja vas (471), Martinjak (290), Dolenje Jezero (238), Ivanje selo (210), Slivice (182), Žerovnica (180), Selšček (154), Lipsenj (125), Gorenje Jezero (122), Bločice (109), Zelše (100), Bezuljak (90), Podskrajnik (88), Goričice (88), Bloška Polica (84), Kožljek (69), Topol pri Begunjah (65), Dobec (62), Kremenca (59), Osredek (54), Hruškarje (47), Gorenje Otave (46), Sveti Vid (43), Podslivnica (33), Štrukljeva vas (32), Bečaje (32), Ravne (31), Ponikve (27), Brezje (26), Otonica (26), Dolenje Otave (26), Župeno (25), Otok (22), Cajnarje (20), Mahneti (17), Jeršiče (17), Slugovo (17), Laze pri Gorenjem Jezeru (16), Lešnjake (15), Tavžlje (15), Rakov Škocjan (14), Pikovnik (12), Krušče (11), Zala (11), Stražišče (10), Milava (10), Hribljane (8), Reparje (8), Beč (7), Pirmane (7), Kržišče (6), Zahrib (5), Rudolfovo (5), Čohovo (4), Koščake (3), Korošče (2), Gora (2), Kranjče (1), Ščurkovo (0), Zibovnik (0)