Since 1946, initially as the Vintgar Tourist Association, and later under the name of the Gorje Tourist Association, we have been managing and caring for the Vintgar Gorge. For 130 years, our main goal has been the preservation of nature and plants in the Vintgar Gorge, as well as connecting and involving the local community, and ensuring an unforgettable experience for all visitors to one of the most beautiful gorges in the world.
About us
MANAGER OF THE VINTGAR GORGE
- The 55-hectare Vintgar Gorge is maintained and organised for visitors at the Gorje Tourist Association.
- When Vintgar sleeps and nature leaves the winter ravages behind, before each season we inspect and renew all bridges, wooden platforms, concrete surfaces, retaining walls and 1469 m of wooden fences.
- Every year, more than 50 students from the local community of Gorje help with maintenance work and guiding along the Vintgar Gorge.
VISION
The Vintgar Gorge is our pride and treasure. At the same time, it motivates us to collaborate and pursue new sustainable initiatives within the local communities of Gorje, Bled, and Jesenice. At the Gorje Tourist Association, we create conditions for a safe and immersive exploration of the nature and cultural landscape of this part of the Triglav National Park. In Slovenia and the broader Alpine region, we aim to become a reference model for sustainable community management of natural heritage in line with its carrying capacity.
MISSION
Our mission is to sustainably manage the Vintgar Gorge for visitation in the long term and to administer visits in a manner that ensures the preservation of its nature and originality. We aim to hand over the pristine and healthy Vintgar Gorge to the next generation of the local community for management.
VALUES
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We preserve nature.
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We protect water and water resources.
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We are part of the local community and its identity.
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We continue and pass on the tradition of local management.
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We involve young people and are constantly learning.
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We collaborate and are inclusive.
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We are dedicated and efficient.
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We use new technologies and green solutions.
OUR SUSTAINIBLE COMMITMENTS
- We want everyone to feel good in the Vintgar Gorge. Animals, plants, visitors, and locals alike. That’s why, for a better and safer experience, we have limited the number of visitors who can be in the Vintgar Gorge at the same time.
- Your safety is our priority. We manage the Vintgar Gorge in a way that prioritizes the safety of our visitors and the well-being of future generations.
- We protect the animals and plants with which we coexist in the Vintgar Gorge area.
- We write successful stories together with the locals. We engage in active dialogue with representatives of the local community, the state, and non-governmental organizations. Our main allies in the protection and management of the Vintgar Gorge are the Public Institution Triglav National Park and the three local communities whose intersection is the Vintgar Gorge area (Bled, Gorje, and Jesenice).
- We create green and local jobs. We reinvest the proceeds from visits into the local community and contribute to improving the quality of life and infrastructure development.
- We use the latest green technologies and state-of-the-art technological solutions for sustainable management of the Vintgar Gorge.
- We promote and expand the 7 principles of responsible visits to the Vintgar Gorge. Through responsible visits, we reduce our negative impact on nature and contribute to a safer experience of the Vintgar Gorge for ourselves and other visitors.”
Let’s preserve nature
7 PRINCIPLES OF RESPONSIBLE VISIT
CELEBRATE NATURE, PREPARE FOR YOUR VISIT
Let’s book a time together when the Vintgar Gorge will leave an autograph in your heart. The gorge is desired to be visited by so many admirers that we have limited entry for the sake of nature conservation and a more primal experience.
Simultaneously limiting the number of visitors allows for a more primal experience of nature, relieving it from excessive pressure. Take enough time to visit the Vintgar Gorge, to experience it as the gateway to Triglav National Park. The visit is not time-restricted, so enjoy the views and the beauty of nature, even when you leave the Vintgar Gorge and head towards the Path of King Triglav or the River of Trees Path. On average, independent visitors spend 3 hours, but with slower exploration and breaks, it can be more.
Instead of printing a ticket on paper, we recommend using a digital ticket, which you present upon entry on your smartphone. Purchase digital tickets in advance on our website before visiting the Vintgar Gorge.
CHOOSE A MORE NATURE-FRIENDLY APPROACH
Every green decision counts. Your visit to the Vintgar Gorge is more eco-friendly with public transportation, and if you’re staying in nearby Bled, consider walking or cycling to get here.
Every destination is more enjoyable with a thoughtful journey. Why not organize a green day and travel by train as most visitors did a century ago? You can also choose to arrive by bus, where you’ll be picked up by the free VINTGAR Shuttle e-bus at the Central Bus Station in Bled. The Vintgar Gorge and the Radovna River are most pleased with cyclists, as the sound of bicycle wheels reminds them of the once vibrant mills and sawmills that contributed to the prosperity of our region. If you’re staying in Bled, you can rent a bike and ride it directly to the VINTGAR Visitors Centre.
LITTERING IN THE VINTGAR GORGE IS NOT OUR STYLE
Such majestic nature deserves our attention for everything we carry with us. Littering is not the style of responsible visitors who understand that nature empowers us if we enable it in the long run.
VWe take our trash with us or dispose of it in designated bins in front of the VINTGAR Visitors Centre. Trash bins are intentionally not placed along the path through the Vintgar Gorge, so make sure to safely store all items so that nothing falls on the path or into the river. We recommend using a refillable water bottle to reduce single-use plastic. At the VINTGAR Visitors Centre, there is a drinking fountain with clean water and refreshments, and you can also freshen up at the exit point from Vintgar, at the Refreshment Stand above the Šum Waterfall.
245 OF US AT A TIME WITH VINTGAR, LET’S GIFT OURSELVES PEACE
The most beautiful conversation during the visit to the Vintgar Gorge is with the locals and the Radovna River. If we walk in peace and with attention, without disturbing others and ourselves, we can observe the flow of life by the river.
Through careful, nature-conscious walking through the Vintgar Gorge, we discover the incredible diversity of plant and animal life, as various microclimates coexist in Vintgar. It is important to respect their laws and not throw anything into the water or the environment – no loud shouts, no throwing of stones, branches, or other objects. In Vintgar, we learn that orderliness also makes sense in human society, as we can endanger ourselves or others by overtaking or pushing. By calmly following the one-way path and avoiding moving in the opposite direction, we enable all visitors to have an equal and safe experience. Your pets are welcome, but please keep them on a leash during your visit. Please notify us in advance and obtain mandatory consent before using a drone or other recording equipment.
RESPECT THE WORLD OF THE VINTGAR GORGE AND TRIGLAV NATIONAL PARK
This is a world that nature has built over millennia and has allowed us to enter to visit without changing or interfering with it.
No matter how breathtaking the scenery of nature and life in the Vintgar Gorge may be, we must do everything to help it remain so for another thousand years. It is important not to disturb or feed wild animals, pick plants, or walk on unmarked paths to jeopardize the natural balance. The life of some plant species is so delicate that just a touch can damage it.
Every stone and every plant must remain exactly where they are. If you want something for a souvenir, browse through our shop, where you can find a collection of carefully selected products from local creators.
FOLLOW SAFETY GUIDELINES, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND OTHERS
Our guidelines have been honed from experience and a protective attitude towards nature. We want to protect you and the Vintgar Gorge, so we urge you to take to heart everything you need to know and adhere to.
Before visiting, check the weather conditions and ensure appropriate footwear and clothing. Through the Vintgar Gorge (from the Vintgar Entry Center to the exit point at the Šum Waterfall), wearing a safety helmet is mandatory to protect you from rock erosion, which can occur despite protective nets on cliffs as it does throughout the Alpine world. We have ensured high hygiene standards, so you will always receive a fresh head covering under the helmet. During the visit, avoid leaning on safety fences and wandering off the fenced or marked paths. Swimming in the river and at the Šum Waterfall is prohibited. No photograph is worth a life. Therefore, let’s always be most attentive to our safety and the safety of fellow visitors and others.
GET TO KNOW THE LOCAL COMMUNITY OF THE VINTGAR GORGE
Our local community of Gorje has lived with the Vintgar Gorge since it discovered it and realized that it must protect it. Locals have always ensured that tourist visits do not endanger the nature of Vintgar.
The local community has been linked to nature conservation since Professor Albin Belar pioneeringly proposed the protected area of the Triglav Lakes Valley. This was followed by the opening of the Vintgar railway station. Everything else is history. A few years later, we joined forces and staunchly opposed a major project to dam the Vintgar Gorge for the needs of a hydroelectric power plant (1912). Today, there is hardly a resident of Gorje who is not proud of Vintgar Gorge and does not have a family anecdote associated with the first visit. Most of the Vintgar Gorge guides, are younger or older generations of locals who will gladly share the secrets of our places with you.
