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The Path of Remembrance and Comradeship, which encircles Ljubljana, is a 33-kilometre path running along the course of the military barbed-wire fence which surrounded Ljubljana during the Second World War. Also known as the Path along the Wire or the Green Ring, it is a popular recreation place for walking, jogging and cycling.

During Second World War, the Province of Ljubljana was annexed by Fascist Italy. Ljubljana soon became a centre of the so called Liberation Front of the Slovene Nation, established on 27 April 1941. In 1942, the Italian occupying forces surrounded Ljubljana with a barbed wire fence to prevent communication between the city’s underground activists and the Slovene Partisans in the surrounding countryside. The length of the ring was 29,663 meters; it was 5-8 meters wide and up to 2 meters high. It was dotted with staggering 206 bunkers and heavily guarded by more than 1,700 soldiers and policemen. Italian Commissariat forbid exit from the city of Ljubljana and limited the entry and exit to 11 crossings (called blocks), which could be crossed only with special permission. Despite all their efforts, the wounded, the partisans and people without permission have found their way through the secret passages under the wire. After the Italian capitulation, Nazi Germans took over, and it was not until 9 May 1945, that the city was finally liberated. Ljubljana has been enclosed for a total of 1171 days. 2015 is therefore a very important year, we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the great victory.

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After the war, the ring became a symbol of resistance and defiance against the occupiers. The city authorities decided to turn it into a memorial walkway, naming it the Path of Remembrance and Comradeship. The construction began soon after the war and was completed in 1985. They laid a 4m wide gravel-paved path; along the line they set up 102 memorial octagonal stones, which mark the positions of the bunkers, and planted 7,400 trees. At the points, where the Path is intersecting major urban arteries, 6 larger monuments were erected. In several places, there are groups of 88 trees, in memory of Marshal Tito, president of Yugoslavia, who passed away at the age of 88. The Path is waymarked by information boards with the map of the Path, signposts and round steel metal markers built into the paving along the entire length of the Path. Since 1988, it has been protected as a culturally significant landscape monument.

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The Path of Remembrance and Comradeship is an excellent urban infrastructure for summer and winter recreation. The most popular are walking, jogging and cycling, in winter cross-country skiing. The riding of mountain bikes, motor vehicles and horses, however, is prohibited.

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The most popular parts of the path are:

  • the section between the Vič and Šiška areas of Ljubljana, from the Dolgi most suburb to the Koseze Pond,
  • the section between the Bežigrad and Žale areas of Ljubljana, from the Stožice Sports Park to the Žale Cemetery,
  • the section between the Fužine and Rudnik areas of Ljubljana, from Fužine Castle to the Dolenjska cesta road. This part of the Path leads across the wooded Golovec hill, which offers numerous opportunities for outdoor recreation.

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Some attractions along the path:

  • Žale Cemetery, designed by the architect Jože Plečnik,
  • Fužine Castle, which houses the Museum of Architecture and Design,
  • Golovec, a hill rising above the eastern part of Ljubljana,
  • Koseze Pond, marshy lake with several rare and endangered plant and animal species,
  • Stožice Sports Park with new state-of-the-art indoor arena and football stadium,
  • Gostilna pri Žabarju, traditional restaurant known for its fried frog legs.
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59th March along barbed wire around Ljubljana

PST_logoTo mark the liberation of Ljubljana on 9th of May 1945, each year since 1957, in the beginning of May, the Municipality of Ljubljana organizes a traditional March along barbed wire around Ljubljana. It is one of the largest sports and recreational events in Slovenia, which attracts more than 30,000 participants of all ages. Those who walk the entire distance and collect stamps at all eight checkpoints receive a memorial badge and a medal. You can also joint the “Run of Threesomes”, choosing between 12.5 or 29 km route for adults or a 3 km route for children. The event traditionally rounds off with a festive ceremony held at Kongresni trg in the city centre.

 

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Programme 2015:

May, 7th 2015:

9.00 – 13.00 – March along barbed wire for kindergartens

May, 8th 2015:

8.00 – 14.00 – March along barbed wire for primary and secondary schools

May, 9th 2015:

9.00 – Run of Threesomes for men/women and senior categories at 12.5 km

9.00 – Run of Threesomes for primary and secondary schools at 3 km

9.30 – Run of Threesomes for men/women and senior categories at 29 km

7.00 – 12.00 – short recreational Marches along barbed wire

6.00 – 17.00 – recreational March along the entire path around Ljubljana (35 km)

10.30 – 13.30 – festive ceremony with cultural programme

There will be 8 control points and participants of the marches are free to choose their starting point. Regarding the three member team run, starting and finishing points of the races for men/women and senior categories are at Kongresni trg. Start of the race for elementary and secondary schools is near to the Restaurant Livada, Hladnikova 15.

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More details at: http://pohod.si/Default.aspx