Kekec - Sv. Katarina

At the foot of Škabrijel lies the smaller hill of St Catherine (310 m), today popularly known as Kekec after the inn located there. After the war, the church of St Catherine was demolished, and between 1959 and 1962, the lowest-lying Slovenian mountain hut was built nearby.

It was named after Kekec, a fairy-tale character created in 1918 by writer Josip Vandot, who lives in the Julian Alps and protects his valley from villains. The first hut was built by volunteer mountaineers, using bricks salvaged from the chimney of a demolished brickworks.

The walk to the summit takes about 40 minutes from Nova Gorica, making it one of the most popular day-trip destinations for locals.

Gostilna Kekec (Kekčeva pot 4):

A true institution of Nova Gorica, Gostilna Kekec boasts a terrace with one of the best views of the twin towns and, in the distance, the sea. Its signature dish is the oven-baked walnut pancake — a traditional treat for generations of local hikers. The steak tartare and large Florentine steaks also come highly recommended.

Avtor: Blaž Kosovel

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