Museum of the Past in the shelter of Mt. Stol

The Žirovnica Path of Cultural Heritage is a theme path that connects the cultural and historical monuments in the villages beneath Mt. Stol: Prešeren’s birth house in Vrba, Matija Čop’s birth house in Žirovnica, Anton Janša’s apiary in Breznica, and the birth houses of the authors Fran Saleški Finžgar in Doslovče and Janez Jalen in Rodine. The Žirovnica Path of Cultural Heritage is the oldest theme path in Slovenia and is of unique importance in the Slovenian cultural space whilst also inviting visitors to actively discover traditions.

In 1919 a memorial plaque with the inscription: ‘On 26 January 1797 Matija Čop, a giant of science, was born here’, was commissioned for Čop’s birth house. In 1988 the house was bought for museum purposes and renovation work was completed in 1994. Funds for the purchase and renovation were contributed by Slovenian schoolchildren, local residents, the municipality of Jesenice, the Ministry of Culture, and others. During the development phase the house was reconstructed as a 19th-century building, i.e. as it would have been during Čop’s lifetime. Čop’s birth house now serves as a museum, an event venue and as a seat for the Žirovnica Institute for Tourism and Culture. What to see in Čop's Birth House: Museum Room Ajdna, Exhibition on life and work of Matija Čop, Presentation of the light-hearted documentary film titled ‘There is No Fairer Place’. Visit Čop’s Birth House, where you can pick up a wealth of information about the Žirovnica area.