Zelenci Nature Reserve

2018 might be over, but my series of posts about the big event of last year - last summer's trip to Europe - is not.

The Zelenci Nature Reserve is located in the extreme northwest corner of Slovenia, only a few miles from both the Italian and Austrian borders. It is fed by springs and is the source of the Sava River, which winds its way through Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia before feeding into the Danube in Belgrade.

We first discovered Zelenci in 2016, when we took a day trip from our timeshare Austria to Tarvisio, Italy and Kranjska Gora, Slovenia (this is why I love Europe: three countries in one day!). It was at the top of the "go back to see it again and show my parents" list as we planned the 2018 trip, and for good reason:

 Zelenci is stunningly beautiful, with its its clear blue water and the backdrop of the Julian Alps.

Another view, taken from an observation tower that has been built at the edge of the springs. The nature reserve is right off the highway linking Kranjska Gora to Tarvisio and sees a steady stream of visitors.

Ground level perspective. We'll never get tired of this view.


A duck paddles across the water, which is so clear that you can see the trout swimming underneath the surface. The springs stay at a constant temperature year-round and do not freeze in the winter.

Corinne and take a photo at the edge of the spring. After visiting Zelenci, we continued on to Kranjska Gora - about five minutes away by car - where Corinne was in for a bit of a surprise!

More information about Zelenci (including pictures of what it looks like in season other than summer) can be found here and here. There is no admission fee; however, as of last summer the snack bar at the entrance was no longer there.