Goblin Karst

STORY

The Bora wind, stone and smoke bush are not just the Karst curiosities, but also the names of the very real Karst goblins who have caused trouble in the town of Štanjel and turned life in the Karst topsy-turvy. Even at the slightest of the touch, the stone there now shatters into dust. The Bora wind, once gusty and sharp, can barely puff, while the smoke bush is merely a shadow of its former self. Even the Karstians, people of unswerving spirit, have lost their willpower and inspiration. Yet the children are still just as naughty and sprightly as they have always been. Can they break the goblin spell and restore the Bora’s perseverance, the stone’s toughness and smoke bush’s color?

The Goblin Karst is a family adventure taking place in the town of Štanjel, introducing children to the wonders of the Karst. The Karst Goblins written by Uroš Grilc and masterfully illustrated by Zvonko Čoh is an environmentally conscious tale about the mischievous goblins who turn life in the town of Štanjel upside down. They hide the Karst symbols and scatter their spells around the region of Karst, which is no longer tough like stone, strong like the Bora wind and colorful like the smoke bush. The Karst Goblins is in dire need of help. It is herethat imagination leaps into a karstastic journey.

EXPERIENCE

The Karst Goblin Notebook sends children on a mission to look for the hidden symbols that represent the central features of the Karst, as well as virtues of the people living there, with creativity and perseverance at the forefront. To bring order back to the Karst, they have to break the goblin spell by finding the goblin runes for the magic words and by learning their mysterious alphabet. The adventure leads them through wonderful Karst scenery into the world of goblins that is always full of goblintastic fun. Since its picturesque image has always inspired artists, the children on this journey also test their art skills: they play the musical bench, find the beauty of stonemasonry, create their very own mosaic and learn about one secret of the Karst goblins which even poet Srečko Kosovel wrote about. Along the trail, the visitors are enchanted by the sculptures made of wood and stone from the Karst quarries (Marmor Sežana). Upon finishing, children are greeted with a karstastic reward for completing the mission. The Goblin Karst is on an important mission to promote hiking, imagination and creativity and to allow visitors to get to know and experience the Karst. It was designed to help people of all ages develop habits of sustainability and a conscientious mindset when it comes to protecting nature and the environment in which we live.

WHAT

At 3,390 meters in length and with 93 meters of elevation gain, the trail takes 2.5 hours to traverse. Exploring the wonders of the Karst and taking in its beauty along the way, however, can quickly make this a full-day trip to the Karst.

WHO

The Goblin Karst is designed for families, school and kindergarten children and all hiking enthusiasts looking for well-managed thematic trails and a unique outdoor experience. Light hiking footwear is recommended, as the summer temperatures in the Karst can get rather high. To heighten the experience, the children should ideally read the The Karst Goblins picture book before tackling the trail. You can traverse the trail on your own, guided by the The Karst Goblin Notebook, or you can do it in the company of an interpretive guide. The Goblin Karst Adventure, that includes an interpretive guide, can be organized for pre-school groups as well for children from grades 1 through 6 of elementary school.

HOW

For a wholesome experience, purchase The Karst Goblin Notebook at Bar Zoro, where you’ll also receive colored pencils. Children who collect all the symbols along the trail and uncover the magic words will be presented with a karstastic reward at the Tourist Information Center in Štanjel Castle. After 5 PM, the reward can be collected at Bar Zoro. NOTE: When you reach Gobliness Bora, retrace your steps to the start of the trail and continue along the Spacal Trail. Follow the signs ŠKRATJI KRAS (GOBLIN KARST) carefully.

WHERE

The Goblin Karst adventure starts in a parking lot by the Štanjel Post Office (45.823575, 13.842900).
NOTE: We recommend postponing your trip to the Karst in case of strong winds.

PRICES

Children need notebook (map) to visit the adventure trail.

Notebook for trail visit – 7 EUR
Picture book Goblin Karst – 20 EUR

To organize a visit for private groups and school groups, contact ksenja@skrateljc.org or call +386 70 409 844.