19 Borovnica
Pekel Gorge
Between moors and forests The Municipality of Borovnica lies at the meeting point of the Ljubljana Moors and a wooded karst area stretching towards Menišija and Rakitna. The municipality's major natural attraction is the wild Pekel Gorge, the site of several waterfalls. Its namesake gostilna restaurant located at the beginning of the gorge is well known for serving excellent trout and other dishes. The beauty of the gorge is celebrated in a poem by Franc Papler (1842–1911), who came to Borovnica as a teacher in 1875. Apart from being active in different fields of culture, he was also a fruit grower, a member of the municipal council, the head of the local fire brigade and reading club, and a great lover of nature. He developed a new apple variety, a crossbreed between Styrian Bohnapfel and Golden Winter Pearmain (King of the Pippins), which was named 'Papler Bohnapfel' after him. His work is carried on by the members of the Borovnica Pomological Society. The following is the first stanza of his poem about the Pekel Gorge, whose name translates as 'Hell's Gorge': 30
This hell's not made of blazing fire – It's fresh and cool and heavenly. There's falling water to admire And wine to set your spirits free. Borovnica is also well known for its plantations of American blueberries. Harvest time begins around 20 June and lasts until the beginning of October. Each year at the end of July, Borovnica hosts its major event, Bilberry Day, whose typically diverse programme consists of a range of different strands.