With fresh enthusiasm, we drive to Kranj and follow the signs for Jezerska, where Preddvor lies under the steep slopes of the Storžice mountain range. For more than nine centuries, the peaks of the Storžič mountain group have adorned it in the background as a mighty mountain backdrop, which makes many visitors want to climb them.
Storžič, a striking two-thousander with a characteristic pyramidal shape, or the grassy Zaplata with a mysterious patch of forest in the middle and numerous churches on the hills below them reflect their beautiful image glistening on the surface of the Črnava lake in the courtyard.
Reflection of the day
We drive the car to the parking lot in front of the Bor hotel and first, with a hot drink in hand, we take the time to quietly admire the lake and the surroundings from the hotel's terrace. Then we walk around the lake, where, regardless of the season, we will always discover colorful scenes of nature. We will be accompanied by a family of ducks who will show their loyalty to us even more if we please them with pieces of bread. The lake also offers us many other experiences. On warm days, you can rent a boat and row on its surface, but when the temperature drops below zero, it turns into a large skating rink. On the other side of the lake, we will also discover playgrounds, thus fulfilling the wishes of our youngest, and we can test our climbing skills at the free climbing area under Zaplata in the Bistrica valley, which is only half an hour's walk from the lake. Lake Črnava and Hotel Bor are also starting points for hikes to St. Jakoba, Potoška goro, Kališče, Javorjev vrh, Srednji vrh, Čemšenik, Storžič and Hudičev boršt. But nice in order... so let's climb to the first one listed and save the others for next time. From St. Jakob, which measures 960 meters above sea level, the route first takes us past Turn Castle, where the first Slovenian writer Josipina Turnograjska was born. In it, we can see her beautifully decorated memorial room, and her tomb and monument under the castle. Then we follow the signposts along the well-marked path and rest on a bench at Josipina's viewpoint, where she often went and created her romantic texts. Let's take a deep breath, fill our lungs with fresh air and continue for a good hour up the hill, where the church of St. Jakob with Gothic frescoes from the 15th century and a mountain lodge. Rewarded with a beautiful view towards Kranj and the plain below us, let's sweeten ourselves at the finish line with an excellent homemade roll or some other specialty offered on this beautiful peak. On the way back, don't forget to pick up a bunch of teloh, which is unexpectedly calling for spring. To recharge your batteries, you can stop along the way at the Mimi snack bar, open from Thursday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., for blood sausage and pickled beets, veal stew with buckwheat brandy or one of their desserts. A pleasant log cabin with a view of the lake is located about halfway and can also be reached by car. But don't let that be an excuse not to make the effort to walk, because a well-deserved meal is much sweeter.
A life vow
And back again at the lake, which has not yet fully revealed its mysterious beauties; next to the Bor Hotel is also the Hrib Castle, which has been converted into a restaurant and is currently one of the most popular venues for wedding celebrations. And indeed, a simple act affirmed by just one short word turns our life upside down. And of course, if you didn't believe that only for the better, in the most fabulous way, you wouldn't have decided to do it. But an additional guarantee that our life together will enrich our future, both in good and bad, is offered by the nearby old castle avenue, as old tradition and legend promise newlyweds who walk through this avenue as many as 50 happy years. But let's not forget that everyone is the maker of their own luck and let's make sure that we are happy with ourselves before making such a decision.
