Summary of Attractions in Kranj
In the mountainous Upper Carniola, the small city of Kranj is positioned at the convergence of the Sava and Kokra rivers. While Kranj is primarily an industrial hub, its Old Town captivates visitors with an unconventional layout clinging to a narrow limestone ridge above the two rivers.
This city has been home to notable Slovenians, including the renowned national poet France Prešeren, who authored the national anthem. Kranj boasts a youthful and artistic atmosphere, and during the summer months, its cultural center and music venues are alive with activities. Additionally, history enthusiasts will appreciate the opportunity to delve beneath the city streets to explore the Second World War tunnels or an underground medieval ossuary.
Let us examine the remarkable experiences in Kranj:
1. Kranj Town Hall
As one of Slovenia’s prominent cultural landmarks, the Town Hall is situated on Glavni Trg and comprises two historic buildings. The older structure is the Columned Hall dating back to the 1500s, while the other, constructed in the 1600s, served as a residence for nobility in the Renaissance style.
Visitors are welcome to explore the interior, which features a gallery housing over 50 works by the 20th-century sculptor Lojze Dolinar. Additionally, the Gorenjska Museum has a section showcasing folk artifacts such as costumes, utensils, and furniture, as well as an archaeological exhibition.
2. Tunnels under the Old Town
Beneath the streets of Kranj lies an intricate network of tunnels with a history extending back centuries. The most recent system, which is accessible to visitors, was excavated by German forces during the Second World War.
Guided tours can be arranged through the tourist office. These passages extend for 1,300 meters and have become habitats for various subterranean wildlife, including bats and cave spiders.
Within the tunnels is an exhibition detailing the construction of the system, along with a small display of minerals and fossils unearthed from the rock. An air raid simulation offers visitors a glimpse of the wartime experience.
3. Church of St Cantianus and Companions
Kranj’s parish church is regarded as one of Slovenia’s premier Gothic monuments. Constructed at the end of the 1300s, it has served as a model for similar churches throughout the country.
The largely unadorned façade features the relief of the Mount of Olives in the tympanum above the portal, which was sculpted in 1440. The church’s interior is designed with three naves, and during restorations in 2004, medieval frescoes were uncovered in the star vaults, dating back approximately to 1461 and depicting angels with trumpets.
Renowned for its exceptional acoustics, the church occasionally hosts concerts, offering visitors a chance to experience its musical properties.
4. Kieselstein Castle
This castle, built in the 13th century, overlooks the Sava River and was originally constructed to protect its pier and bridge. Over the centuries, ownership shifted from dukes to the Counts of Celje, and eventually to the Habsburg Kings.
In the 17th century, Baron Janž Khiessl acquired the castle and was permitted to rename it. He also modified its layout to the present L shape. Significant renovations occurred in the 1950s under the guidance of renowned architect Jože Plečnik.
The castle now functions more as a palace, hosting municipal offices and a branch of the Gorenjska Museum, alongside summer concerts held in its courtyard.
5. Kranj Archaeological Site
Commonly referred to as the Ossuary, this site is located on the north side of the parish church. A glass structure featuring a spiral staircase leads down to a burial site that dates back to the early Middle Ages, during Slavic times.
The site was rediscovered during excavations in the 1980s. As you descend underground, you will encounter the foundations of a medieval baptistery and the cemetery chapel, which contains the tomb of the noble Eghk family from the 1400s.
Two ossuaries are present: one dating from the 1200s and another established following the 20th-century excavations, featuring neatly arranged skulls and bones.
6. France Prešeren House
Kranj is often regarded as a cultural capital due to its association with France Prešeren, widely recognized as Slovenia’s national poet. He composed the national anthem, which was adopted in 1989, and is featured on the 1000 Tolar banknote prior to the country’s transition to the Euro.
Prešeren spent his final years in Kranj, passing away in 1848. Visitors can explore the late-Gothic house where he died, which showcases memorabilia from various stages of his life, including his personal archive and a manuscript of his 1847 collection titled ‘Poezije.’
7. Pungert Kranj
At the southern edge of the old town lies a remnant of the city’s fortifications on a promontory above the confluence of the Kokra and Sava rivers. This area is adjacent to a park that encompasses a significant portion of the Kokra riverside and serves as a favored gathering space in the summer months.
In late August, a ten-day jazz festival takes place here, complemented by weekly concerts held every Friday throughout the season. Visitors can also enjoy a coffee at the stylish and welcoming café located beside the church. Additionally, an observation point has been established on the cliff-top above the Kokra, providing views of the river gorge and the industrial area alongside the Sava.
8. Kokra Canyon
Not many cities can boast having a river canyon running through their territory, yet Kranj is one of them. The riverbanks comprise a protected park, directly adjacent to the old town.
This proximity allows visitors to transition from examining artifacts in the Town Hall to enjoying a virtually wild environment on a trail carved into the cliff face. This seamless blend of nature at the city’s doorstep, with its towering treelines and the soothing sound of rushing water, may make you forget you are in Slovenia’s fourth-largest city.
9. Layer House
Established in 2011, Layer House serves as a modern cultural center hosting exhibitions and concerts. Located in the oldest section of Kranj, just a short distance from Kieselstein Castle, the center is named in honor of Leopold Layer, a notable Slovenian painter born in the city in 1752. It is managed by a non-governmental organization and features gallery and performance spaces, studios, a café with a bookshop, and an outdoor garden.
During the evenings, particularly on weekends, there is often live music, while daytime visitors can view a permanent exhibition dedicated to the 19th-century artist Johann Pucher, known for his pioneering technique in capturing photographs on glass slides.
10. Plečnik Staircase and Arcades
Renowned 20th-century architect Jože Plečnik was commissioned to redesign the western approach to the city. Ascending from the Sava is a lengthy staircase that ultimately leads to a small square adjacent to Cankarjeva Ulica.
This area showcases Plečnik’s distinctive style, harmoniously blending classical elements with modern aesthetics. To the west lies an arcade adorned with Doric columns and overlapping arches, while underneath the final flight of steps is a fountain topped with an obelisk crowned by a rooster above four tiers of square water tanks.
11. Sveti Jošt nad Kranjem
From the neighborhood of Stražišče, a ten-minute journey from Kranj’s center, one can hike to the summit of this hill. The ascent takes approximately an hour, winding through mixed forests, and upon reaching the top, breathtaking views of the Upper Carniolan landscape await. At the summit is a quaint hamlet featuring a church and a restaurant.
The current church, established in 1600, has served as a pilgrimage site for centuries. An intriguing historical note is that the church’s bell was cast from the remnants of Ottoman ships sunk during the Battle of Navarino.
12. Šmarjetna Gora
Closer to the city, west of the Sava, another prominent hill is enveloped in forest, offering rewarding views from its peak. At the summit also stands a church dedicated to St Margaret.
At the hill’s base lies the manor house, Schrottenturn, which dates back to 1537 and was historically a gathering place for Lutherans. The nearby chapel features a wooden coffered ceiling and a painting of the Holy Sepulchre from 1615. The ascent to the peak takes around 30 minutes, where a café awaits, allowing you to enjoy a hot or cold beverage as a well-deserved treat.
13. Brdo Castle
Brdo Castle, located just five kilometers from Kranj, is the site of significant diplomatic summits in Slovenia. In 2001, George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin met here, and the venue hosted numerous diplomatic meetings during Slovenia’s EU presidency in 2008.
The castle, built in the early 1500s by nobleman Jurij Egkh, has been home to various aristocratic families and princes over time. While the castle is generally closed to visitors, occasional tours are available. Alternatively, a small fee allows access to the 500-hectare park surrounding the estate, which features forests, well-maintained gardens, and serene ponds.
14. Jazz Kamp Kranj
Layer House, Kieselstein Castle, and Pungert collaborate to host Kranj’s prominent annual music event, typically held in the third week of August. The term “kamp” signifies an opportunity for aspiring musicians to connect with established artists, participating in workshops, jam sessions, and discussions.
Additionally, these artists perform concerts in the evenings, featuring a variety of musical styles at the main venues, as well as intimate performances in bars throughout Kranj’s old town.
15. Cuisine
As you explore Kranj, you may encounter the Kranjsko Pivo label on beverages throughout the city. This beer is brewed locally, and a microbrewery/pub allows visitors to experience its origins.
Accompanying this local brew is the traditional Kranjska sausage, which has a rich cultural heritage tied to the annual winter pig slaughter. Moreover, no visit to Slovenia is complete without sampling štruklji at least once. These are delightful dough rolls filled with various sweet or savory ingredients such as cheese, poppy seeds, walnuts, tarragon, or apples. They may be prepared fried, boiled in stock, steamed, or baked.
