Historical Kranj

We start the tour on Kranj's bus station (A).

By Staneta Žagarja street we go till the new roundabout, symbolising bitcoin. There we turn right on Gregorčič street and continue till Prešernov gaj - the parc, which was a cemetery in the past.

In Prešernov gaj (C), there's the monument to France Prešeren, the most famous Slovenian poet, who died in Kranj. There's also a monument to Simon Jenko, another poet, to Majdič family and some other distinguished citisens.

After exiting Prešernov gaj on the eastern side, we continue in the same direction to the canyon of Kokra. A steep path brings us down in the canyon (D-E section). There, it's recommended to turn left and go along the river as far as it goes. There are interesting conglomerate cliffs on the left side and also the river is nice. Then we return and continue down the river. The promenade passes the ruins of ex moulins and reaches the wooden bridge over Kokra river. There, we just continue along the river right bank. Along a few nice meadows we finally reach below the big new Kokra bridge, some 30 m above the canyon. There, we must exit the canyon. From the bridge (G) we have a nice view on st. Cantianus church.

From the bridge we go towards the town center, but just till the first street. On the left, there's the cute, oldest house of Kranj, the Toll House (H), originating from 1527.

From the Toll House wo go on the main square, either directly, or passing through the market square. Exiting the market, the Town Hall (I) is just to the right. It serves for different ceremonies and also hosts a Museum of Gorenjsko district.

From the Town Hall we continue southwards till the main, parish church of Kranj (J). St. Cantianus church originates from the late 14th century. It was built on the place of an earlier shrine (paleochristian church from the 6th century). A mighty gothic building really dominates the whole town and also hosts some valuable works of art.

On the northern side, outside the church, there's an archeologic corner, where we can visit an ossuary.

South of st. Cantianus church, there's the square in front of Kranj's Theatre. The whole outside architecture is the work of Jože Plečnik, the most famous Slovenian architect. Before the theatre, there's a monumental statue of France Prešeren, made by Slovenian sculptors Smerdu and Loboda.

From Prešeren's Theatre we return on the main square and continue southwards by the main (Cankar) street. We soon reach the cute corner, also designed by Jože Plečnik. It's a stairs, coming from the right, where once there was the main town entry. The fountain and arcades are perfectly complementing the Rosemary Church.

Continuing southwards we reach the very tip of Kranj rock. Above the confluence of Sava and Kokra river, there are up to 30 m high conglomerate rocks, which always served as a natural town protection. That part is called Pungert (coming from the German "Baumgarten" = "Orchard"). The place (L) is really nice, you can visit a small church, cafe and a panoramic point, hanging over the abysses of Kokra river.

From Pungert we return till the Plečnik Stairs, where we keep left. A narrow street brings us to a broad garden and the Khislstein castle (M). Now it is renovated for cultural events and there's also a cafe.

From Khislstein castle we continue northwards by Tomšič street. Perhaps not just till its end - we can visit the beautiful Layer cafe (with Škrlovec tower) and then deter right by Jenko street and get out on the main square just by the fountain (O). Nice view on the main church from there.

From the main square we keep returning by Prešeren street, exiting the historical part of Kranj and continuing northwards till Slovenski trg (Square) with the monumental Gimnasium building - the building is from 1897, while the institution was founded in 1810.

Continuing northwards we soon reach the bus station and so close the round tour.