Hiking (mountain trail, in places narrow and exposed)
Alpine route (equipped or very exposed section, snow field, blocks)
R2
Rifugio Premuda » Matavun (Divača)
Trail crossing
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6h30 |
25.7 km
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657 m
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458 m
From the Premuda hut, the trail goes through Val Rosandra to Draga S. Elia, Pese and the border between Italy and Slovenia. It continues along the border on the Slovene side to Mount Cocusso/Kokoš, and then heads down to Lipica, famous for its magnificent and elegant white horses known as Lipizzani. The trail heads towards the Karst, with its vast areas of Karst depressions and its mild climate.
The route runs the length of the Rosandra valley, along the banks of the Rosandra river. Past an attractive waterfall the trail leads to Bottazzo. It crosses a disused railway (where it diverges from the Yellow trail and heads off towards the north west. It follows trail 17, through Draga S. Elia, arriving near a small church. From here, Venezia-Giulia regional road SS14 leads to the border post with Slovenia at Pesek. (Vittorio Aglialoro)
Follow the road from the border crossing for 300 m and turn left just before the petrol station at the junction, then take the first macadam road, which branches off to the left. The road leads you up across a meadow to a green, which can be seen from a distance. Cross the green to the remains of the Church of Sv. Tomaž (St. Thomas). 1h. Continue walking along the tarmac road past the one-time border guard hut to reach the crossroads. From here, Via Alpina follows the macadam road to Planinska koča na Kokoši (670 m), which you will reach in 30 minutes. The hut does not provide accommodation. The hike from the border crossing takes 1h 30min. From the hut, follow the marked path down along a ridge to the boundary stone. There is a crossroads from which a road branches off to the right and runs past Lipica to rejoin the Via Alpina. Turns left onto the path and follow the macadam road from Kokoši to the Lipica border crossing. Cross the regional road then continue walking along a somewhat poorer road, which eventually gives way to a dirt track on the right side and leads you to the entrance of the Lipica estate. The Lipica hotel complex lies just beyond. The hike from Kokoši takes 1h. The world-renowned Lipica stud farm lies in a typical Karstic landscape and is the home of the elegant white Lipizzaner horses. The stud farm was established on 1580. Via Alpina bypasses the hotels to reach the junction between the Sežana and Lokev roads. Continue walking along the tarmac road for another 300 m until you reach the first iron gate, then turn right onto the macadam road, which crosses a meadow and leads you to the Lipica quarry. 20 min. After a 15-minute walk you will come to a crossroads. Turn left and cross an overgrown meadow. When you reach the regional road, cross it and continue walking along the footpath to the Vilenica speleological hut, right next to the Vilenica cave. Walk straight ahead across the meadow and through the opening in the Karstic wall, then make a sharp right turn towards the hamlet of Lokev on the other side. Follow the narrow tarmac streets through the hamlet. 40 min. The hike from Lipica takes 1h. Turn left at the church and walk to the Divača - Lokev regional road. Cross the main road and continue along the village road going to Prelože. Turn left at the junction at the end of the tarmac road. Cross the meadow to reach the railway pedestrian underpass and continue walking below the motorway until you reach the main road. Cross the road and continue walking past the houses. At the next group of houses, turn left onto the macadam road, which eventually gives way to a dirt track. Go northeast across the field to the macadam road and walk up the slope along its right side. After 10 minutes, the terrain levels off on Na Prevalu pass. Climb down the other side to the tarmac road next to the Škocjan caves tourist information centre. The hike from Lokev to Matavun takes 1h 10 min.
Source: Atlas Slovenije. (1996). 3. izpopolnjena in razširjena izdaja. Ljubljana: Mladinska knjiga in Geodetski zavod Slovenije (GZS). Notranjski Kras. (1997). Izletniška karta. 1:50.000. Ljubljana: GZS. (Albin Žnidaršič, Peter Šilak)
Natural and cultural heritage
Our trip across the Karst takes us through its highest reaches. Shortly after emerging from the steep Glinščica valley, the routes climbs up towards Veliko Gradišče, 741 m, the highest point on the plateau. Bypass the peak to reach the slightly lower peak of Kokoš.
One only gets a proper perspective of the Karst plateau after the descent to Lipica. This stunning green oasis in the middle of a stony Karstic landscape with its manicured pastures, tree-lined vistas, riding tracks and training pens for the magnificent Lipizzaner whites has been home to the Lipica stud farm for four centuries. Archduke Charles II of Austria purchased the property from the Bishop of Trieste. He imported stallions and mares from Spain and founded the stud farm where the elegant and world-renowned Lipizzaner breed was born.
Not far from the stables is another jewel of the Karst with an equally venerable history. The Vilenica cave has the longest tradition of speleological tourism in Europe (it began receiving visitors as early as 1633) and is believed by locals to be the home of good fairies. Magnificent stalactites decorate its cavernous halls, one of which is the venue of an annual international literary event.
The neighbouring village of Lokev, one of the biggest in the Karst, also has a notable history. A tall tower known as Tabor stands in the middle of the village. The tower once formed part of region's defences against Ottoman incursions and today houses a military museum. The village is also renowned for its Karstic prosciutto, ham cured in the Karst's Bora fall wind. It is sliced wafer-thin and served with Teran, a blood-red Karstic wine.
At the eastern edge of the plateau, the Reka river disappears into the Karstic underground and finds it way to the sea. The Škocijan caves, carved out of the rock by the Reka river, is one of the jewels of Slovene and European natural heritage.
Source: http://www.lipica.org/ (Kobilarna Lipica) http://www.vilenica.com/ (jama Vilenica) http://www.kras-carso.com/muzej/tabor/ (muzej Lokev) http://www.burger.si/Lokev/Lokev.html (Lokev) (Igor Maher)
Other long-distance trails and alternative routes
Links up with the Via Alpina yellow trail which from the Premuda hut goes on through Val Rosandra, up Mount Stena and on to S. Lorenzo and Villa Opicina.
Useful topographic maps
047 ~ Tabacco (1:25000)
Primorje in Kras ~ Geodetski zavod Slovenije (1 : 50 000)
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.
Mountain Girl - 2011-10-30
The refuge at the top of Kokos opened WEEKENDS ONLY in June 2011. (I'm not sure about the high season.) It offers food and a simple dorm.
Hotel Klub at the Lipica Stud Farm offers affordable rooms in a bucolic setting. I loved staying here! The higher-priced hotel next door provides food and draft beer: Enjoyed my first taste of Slovenian beer, "Lasko" on tap. A sublime experience.
The refuge at Kokos offer no accommodation. You can stay at Lokev (Good, 3 beautiful apartments funded by the EU) opposite the new Tourist Office, and at Ledenica.
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Alpinisten - 2011-09-27
Es gibt seit Sommer 2011 eine sehr schöne neue Übernachtungsmöglichkeit auf einer Farm kurz vor Matavun: "Domacija Vrbin", Kcice-Pared 25, 6215 Divaca, Tel.: +386(0)5 763 10 65, GSM: 040 601 651, 041 473 905, e-mail:vrbin@volja.net; liegt direkt am Weg! Wir haben in Matavun übernachtet in Pr`vncki, ganz toll, muß man aber unbedingt reservieren.
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WestCoastHikers - 2010-09-06
When descending from Kokos, contrary to the instructions on this site, do not follow the path to the Lipica border crossing. The road from there to Lipica is blocked by a gate and you will be forced to walk along the highway to Skibini.
I believe there is a path from the back of the mountain hut down to Skibini.
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vohi - 2010-09-01
Wege sind ab hier immer schlechter ausgeschildert..
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ROUSSELLE - 2010-01-06
A Matavun même, possibilité d'hébergement à l'auberge Pr'VNCKI
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ROUSSELLE - 2010-01-06
à Lipica, ne pas entrer dans le domaine des Haras mais partir vers Velenica et Lokev
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ROUSSELLE - 2010-01-06
Possibilité de logement à Draga Sant'Elia : Hôtel Locanda Mario 22 San Dorligo delle Valle 34018 Italie Tél.: 0039 40228193 Bon rapport qualité prix pour la 1/2Pension
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miriam - 2009-09-04
empfehlenswerte Übernachtungsmöglichkeit: http://www.sloveniaholidays.com/deu/zimmer-pr-vncki . Das sympathische und hilfsbereite junge Gastgeberpaar gab uns interessante Wandertips in der Umgebung und ein herrlich liebevoll hergerichtetes Frühstück :) Dazu Hängematten im Garten und interessante Gespräche mit den GastgeberInnen Ervin und Tamara.
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6h30 |
25.7 km
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657 m
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458 m
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.