Trzic
Shoemaking capital since 1870s; Peko's 2016 bankruptcy didn't end craft as Proalp continues, while Dovžan Gorge draws Paleozoic fossil seekers.
Tržič built its identity on shoes. From the 1870s onward, shoemaking workshops clustered along the main square, eventually industrializing into the Peko factory (founded 1903). For a century, Peko produced quality footwear that traveled through the Ljubelj Pass into Austrian markets. Bankruptcy in 2016 ended the corporate story, but not the craft: Proalp continues handmade sustainable production, and Cobblers' Sunday each September celebrates what survives.
The geography that enabled commerce now enables tourism. Tržič sits at the Karavanke foothills, gateway to passes that connected Slovenia to Central Europe. Dovžan Gorge cuts through Paleozoic sedimentary rocks, revealing fossils found nowhere else on Earth. The stone pyramids and narrow canyon draw geology enthusiasts; the trails attract hikers heading toward Triglav National Park.
The 15,000 residents inherit a town shaped by the tension between industrial heritage and natural spectacle. The shoemaking know-how remains—craftsmen trained at Peko continue elsewhere. The mountains remain unchanged. What evolves is the economic model: from manufacturing shoes for export to hosting tourists who arrive for adventure and heritage.
By 2026, Tržič will likely deepen its tourism positioning while preserving shoemaking traditions that distinguish it from generic mountain towns. The combination—craft heritage and alpine access—creates a niche that neither alone could occupy.