Slovenians from Hungary on traditional hike to Mt Triglav
Szentgotthard, 24 July - Members of the Slovenian ethnic community in the Hungarian region of the river Raba and a few of their friends set off last Saturday on what is already the tenth walk from the Hungarian village of Orfalu, which is home to a small sculpture of Mt Triglav, and all the way to the actual top of Slovenia'a highest mountain.
Pokljuka
Mt Triglav.
Photo: Katja Dovžan/STA
File photo
The patriotic hikers, ten of them, have already made it to the city of Ptuj in the north-east of Slovenia. They expect they will be ascending Triglav (2,865 metres) on Saturday, 29 July, the Slovenian Consulate in Szentgotthard said.
"What Mt Ararat is for Armenians, Mt Fuji for Japanese or Mt Olympus for Greeks, Triglav is for Slovenians, including Slovenians living abroad - a first-class symbol that unites, strengthens and contributes to national consciousness," said the main organiser of the walk, Karel Holec, head of the Slovenian Self-Governing Community.
The hikers, who are also inviting others to join them for parts of the walk, wish to demonstrate their patriotism with this gesture. Slovenia's highest peak is honoured in Orfalu with a monument called Little Triglav, which also features a rock from Triglav. Placed around the rock are stones bearing the names of all seven Slovenian settlements that are home to the Slovenian minority in Hungary.