By my rough count, we’ve passed the half way mark of our journey unnoticed, at Day 64. We’re “kind of” on track, even though we’re yet to teach the furthest point of our travels.
The morning starts with a brisk walk across the river, over the terrifying suspension bridge (bounces as Chris thumps along).
It’s forest and farmland on the other side, so we don’t get too far.
No wildlife bar this shy kitty in our return.
It’s only a short drive to our next destination, Skofja Loka, set at the confluence of two branches of the river Sora.
With a provenance dating back to 973, Skofja Loka was originally home to Bishops, becoming a major trade and craft centre in the Middle Ages. The town was damaged by an extensive earthquake in 1511 and rebuilt in the baroque style we see today.
Like many places of this period, the medieval market square dominates village life.
It’s set alongside St James’s Church which has Gothic vaulted ceilings, decorated with frescos,
and the Town Hall opposite.
We also pass the 15th century stone granary, once also home to the town’s tax records but now a modern day art gallery.
With the river and backdrop of wooded ridges it’s a very pretty setting.
Set high on the hill is the Skofja Loka Castle which served as seasonal residence for the Bishops of Freising: it’s now hone to the town’s museum.
Despite renovation works in progress it still offers a great view over the area.
We try without success to find the oldest house in the area, dating back to the 16th century: Nacetova Hisa, but fail to read the directions properly. It’s only later that we discover it was across the river in the adjacent town. The main thing I wanted to see was its “black kitchen” so named because it was built with a hearth but no chimney. The smoke from the fire was used to preserve smallgoods stored for curing in the rafters.
Instead, we stop for drinks by the river and watch the world go by.
Miss Baci Travels 