Weber cavern and Lake Sicker

In the southwest of Slovenia, in the Inner Carniola region, a forest track that is easy to drive through leads to two remarkable natural spectacles - the Weaver's Cave and the Cerkniško jezero. The track itself is not exactly the ultimate gravel adventure. But because of the cave and the lake, this off-road trip should definitely not be missed.

From Postojna, drive on the 409 country road towards the northeast, turn right after about two kilometers, briefly follow the A1 motorway and finally find the entrance to the gravel track near the town of Sliwitz. Like almost all gravel roads in the south of Slovenia, this one is in excellent condition and easy to drive on. Fine gravel, no holes, no gullies, hardly any traffic. Coniferous forest, deciduous forest and meadows alternate.

Rakov Škocjan soon comes into view. This gorge-like valley was a single, huge cave in the Cretaceous period, which collapsed at some point and left behind two smaller, bridge-like caves. Exactly at the end of this valley is the Weaver's Cave, the point where the Rak stream disappears into the earth. A short footpath leads down to the entrance of the cave. In summer it is mostly waterless and can be walked through. The Weaver's Cave was named after a stalactite in the shape of a weaver.

The path continues on the fine gravel through dense deciduous forest to the largest lake in Slovenia, the Cerkniško jezero. However, it only deserves this superlative in winter. The Cerkniško is a seepage lake, a so-called periodic lake, and dries up in summer. At maximum water level, however, it reaches a length of around ten and a width of around five kilometers. It is fed by rainwater, which rises to the surface from the karstified subsoil, especially in autumn.

The trail now follows the lake for about eight kilometers, passes a handful of smaller hamlets and finally ends in Stari Trg pri Ložu.