With over 100 shepherd huts, Velika planina is home to the highest alpine pasture in Slovenia. It also happens to be one of the oldest shepherd settlements in Europe, with well maintained hiking trails throughout. The scenic cable car ride up gives great views over the Kamniška-Bistrica valley. The valley of Kamniška Bistrica Valley is named after the 33-km long river, which flows into Sava River. The river is considered to be one of the cleanest in Slovenia and is most magical at the very first sections because of a series of natural attractions.

There are about 200 huts on the alp, of which 63 form the herder’s settlement, belonging to 63 grazing beneficiaries. Most of them come from the 13 villages under Velika Planina and Krvavec and own about 500 hectares of grassland and forests. They own about 380 heads of cattle. At the beginning of June, the herders bring their cattle to Velika planina, and stay here for three months. Due to the lack of herders, some farmers keep their cattle in the paddock, while the other is free to graze on the pasture. The herd of cows is led by the most experienced, which has a bell around the neck. Usually cows are more accurate than their herder and calmly wait to be let into the stable.

Trnič Hard Cheese is the special cheese that originates from Velika planina and in days gone by was a symbol of love. In the autumn, at the end of the grazing season, herdsmen would have bestowed Trnič Hard Cheese to their beloved as a proof of love and fidelity, or as a promise to marry her. They were always made in pairs – two clumps were decorated with the same ornaments. Herdsmen kept one of them and presented the other to their beloved, who kept them for several years. If she accepted his gift, this meant that she agreed to his courtship. Nowadays, as the story of Trnič hard cheese as a symbol of love is alive again, Trnič is an excellent and unique gift for your beloved. You do not need to make it by yourself, simply buy it at one of tourist providers in Kamnik.