Šentviška Gora Plateau
The Šentviška Gora Plateau comprises a group of small villages in the hilly part of western Slovenia. Its residents (approximately 600) mainly engage in agriculture, especially livestock and crop farming.
The Šentviška Gora Plateau is rich in cultural and natural sites. Cultural and ethnological enthusiasts can visit a church designed by the famous Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik, a reconstructed mill from the 1920s, or a wooden granary dating back to 1778.
Over 40 km of beautifully landscaped trails are available to hikers, runners, and cyclists, with all major intersections properly marked. Hikers can climb up Črv Peak (974 m), the highest peak on the Plateau, or visit the Kostanjevec Gorge and its main section called Žlebi, where speleologists have the opportunity to explore natural karst caves. There is also a winter sports centre featuring a ski slope, a cross-country skiing area and two ski jumping hills.
The people who live and work at the heart of the Plateau also create its everyday life. The products and services offered by the local providers reflect high quality, tradition, and harmony with the natural environment.
Nevertheless, like other rural areas, the Plateau is facing the problems of ageing population and outmigration.
We recognise the Smart Rural 21 project as an important opportunity for achieving the goals we have been pursuing since 2012: to raise the quality of life on the Plateau; prevent outmigration and ageing of the population; attract visitors; and provide additional sources of income for the locals.
Village strategy :News
Planning to visit Slovenia in the summer? Here’s a treat…
Šentviška Gora will host the Gora Rocka festival on 23-26 June 2022, a part of whose income will go to support disadvantaged children in Slovenia. Three hundred tickets are already sold!
A mobile computer classroom in Šentviška Gora
Šentviška Gora held a beginner's computer science course which took the form – for the very first time – of a mobile computer classroom in the Prapetno Brdo settlement. The teachers came along with laptops from Tolmin to Prapetno Brdo once a week for the class.
The course was conducted within the framework of a project for obtaining basic and professional competencies in the Šentviška Gora plateau, which is co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia and the European Social Fund.
Sports centre brings Šentviška Gora locals together
Šentviška Gora plateau locals enjoy the variety of sports activities that bring them together in a dedicated centre, providing possibilities for exercise for any age group, gender and preference. For example, men and boys play football and table tennis, schoolgirls practise dance and gymnastics, women do aerobics. Suited work-outs are regularly organised for the elderly. Additionally, members of the folklore club have a dance practice at the end of the week. Sport connects people, relaxes and creates new friendships.
The inspiring story of a young farmer
Here is a snapshot of the story of Miha Kobal, a 29-year-old Šentviška planota local: an electrical engineer, alpine skier and ski coach, farmer, woodcutter and gatherer, and dancer in a folklore group.
Miha inherited an abandoned farm during his university studies and decided to revive it and gain independence. He started his own business: cut and gathered wood after sleet befell the forrests of the Šentviška Gora plateau in winter and grew vegetables – garlic, onion, beans and potatoes – in summer. His electrical engineering knowledge helps him innovate, reconstruct and repair the machinery he needs to use on the farm.
Photo: Igor Mušič
Charity connects residents of Šentviška Gora plateau
The Šentviška Gora plateau community rallies support for the burndown homestead of a local of the Pečine village – everything from cleaning up the site, to raising money for renovation, to volunteering with house design plans and project documentation.
The community stepped in to help alongside formal structures such as the Red Cross which are collecting donations for renovation, financial and emotional distress. For instance, a group of young local architects offered to design four house plans and prepare the project documentation for the selected one. In addition, a charity concert – organised by all three local communities on Šentviška planota plateau – will take place on 12 December to collect further donations for renovation.
Photo by Rdeči križ Tolmin
Smart Rural Journey
Follow along with our Village Roadmap here :
The Šentviška Gora Plateau has sought support to plan the architecture and the ‘smart’ community- driven use of the interior of its intergenerational community centre. This has included the development of a conceptual design/architectural plan, as well as legal advice to obtain the necessary documentation, plans and permits.
Step 1/7 : Survey to assess local needs for intergenerational centre
A survey has been carried out with local people on how they would like to use the intergenerational centre. This was followed by a meeting to discuss ideas.
Step 2/7 : Raudanmaa visiting its ‘twin’ Sentviska
SR21 village Raudanmaa (Finland) visited Sentviska. The two villages have found common points of interest and decided to continue collaboration. “We are so thankful that they came. We connected in a second. It was like we'd met already. Our and their projects and visions of the future are so similar. They have shared many pieces of advice and suggestions with us and they have "widened our horizon". – said Nives Laharnar (Sentviska Coordinator). "I can't believe we've met our twin sister village!" – reacted Heini Niklas-Salminen (Raudanmaa) to the visit.
Step 3/7 : Architectural plans for the community centre
The local coordinators have met the architect at the centre, and presented the planned ideas for the building construction, as well as discussed the optimal layout of the premises. On this basis, the architectural plans and conceptual design (google translated English version) have been prepared.
Step 4/7 : Deciding on the legal form and business model of the centre
A financial & legal advisor provided an analysis (google translated English version) on the options and the most suitable legal form of the centre and the organisation operating it, various forms were considered including private and NGO.
Step 5/7 : Seeking collaboration with the local LEADER LAG and other organisations
Discussion with the local Soča Valley LAG and Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs as well as the Ministry of Agriculture about possible financing is planned.
Step 6/7 : Discussions with the elderly people in Sentviska
A „get together” event organised with elderly people in Tolmin. Furthermore, a Red Cross presentation held on „First aid - self-help when you are alone” for the eldery on the Plateau.
Step 7/7 : Sentviska returning the visit to Raudanmaa, Finland
Due to the successful initial contact, Sentviska is visiting Raudanmaa (Finland) to continue with the cooperation gain hands on experience about their projects.
Videos
Šentviška Gora Plateau from a bird's eye view
Explore the natural, cultural and social richness of the Šentviška Gora Plateau, comprising a group of small villages in western Slovenia.
Resources :
Aleš Kavčič ( 03/2022 )
A legal analysis examining the options and the most suitable legal form of Šentviška Gora Plateau’s intergenerational center and the organisation responsible for its realisation.
Language : Slovenian
Nives Laharnar - Municipality of Šentviška Gora ( 18/10/2022 )
A presentation on Smart Rural 21 selected village Šentviška Gora Plateau’s (Slovenia) experience with regeneration of old buildings. The presentation was given in the workshop “How to breathe new life into old buildings? – Community buildings & community engagement” at the Smart Rural 21 project’s Final Conference of 17-18 October 2022 in Sopot, Poland.
Language : English
Polonca Kavcic , Nives Laharnar - Municipality of Šentviška Gora ( 17/10/2022 )
A presentation on Šentviška Gora Plateau’s smart journey, including how the village got engaged with the ‘Smart Village’ concept, and the ‘smart’ actions carried out and plans for the future. The presentation was given at the Smart Rural 21 project’s Final Conference of 17-18 October 2022 in Sopot, Poland
Language : English
Polonca Kavcic , Nives Laharnar - Municipality of Šentviška Gora ( 05/11/2021 )
A presentation given at the 2nd Regional Workshop of the Smart Rural 21 project on the intergenerational centre and other smart activities of Šentviška Gora Plateau, one of the project’s 21 selected villages.
Language : English
Nika Kikelj Maver - Municipality of Šentviška Gora ( 27/10/2020 )
Presentation provided at the 1st Smart Village Academy of the Smart Rural 21 project about the activities of Šentviška Gora Plateau, one of the selected 21 communities.
Language : English
Municipality of Šentviška Gora ( 12/2020 )
The Summary Highlights of the Smart Village Strategy of Šentviška Gora Plateau has been developed in the context of the ‘Preparatory Action for Smart Rural Areas in the 21st Century’ project funded by the European Commission.
Language : English
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