Big Natural Bridge
A broad rock arch over the Rak.
Jakub Hałun — CC BY 4.0 · Jakub Hałun — CC BY 4.0 · Falk2 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ajznponar — CC BY 4.0 · Ajznponar — CC BY-SA 4.0
Rakov Škocjan is a karst valley carrying the Rak stream between the Cerknica and Planina basins in Inner Carniola. It is a small, well-loved nature park, with natural rock bridges, caves and thick forest at its heart, and it is easy to explore on foot along a marked trail. The name means Škocjan on Rak Creek, a contraction of St Cantianus, patron of the local church, of which only ruins remain near the Big Natural Bridge. The valley has been protected since 1949 thanks to the naturalist Pavel Kunaver and the conservationist Angela Piskernik. It formed as limestone dissolved around an underground river until cave roofs collapsed, leaving an open valley with surviving sections standing as natural bridges. The educational trail passes the Big Natural Bridge, where the stream runs beneath a broad rock arch, and the stone ruins of the church above it. Elsewhere you can look down into a deep collapse doline where the water emerges from the Zelše Caves, among green trees in summer and small cascades after rain. The valley lies about 33.8 km from Ljubljana and 7.3 km from Postojna Cave in a straight line. The trail is earthen and sometimes wet, so wear closed shoes. Stay out of the stream where signs ask you to, and do not enter the caves without equipment and a guide.
A broad rock arch over the Rak.
Stone walls of the church that named the valley.
A deep view down to the Zelše Caves.
Rakov Škocjan, Municipality of Cerknica, Slovenia
Mostly yes, as a marked educational trail, but take care with children near edges and on wet ground.
Roofs of caves carrying an underground river collapsed, and the remaining sections stayed as natural bridges.