Discover Rodine: Church, Museum and Roman Villa

Rodine can be explored through several distinct cultural themes: sacred architectural history, the literary heritage of Janez Jalen and Roman archaeology. There is also a pilgrimage gathering with a long tradition, recurring events at the Birth House Museum, and a flatland cycling circuit that passes through Rodine. Together, these offer different starting points for planning your trip.

The Architectural History of St. Clement’s Church

The Baroque Church of St. Clement in Rodine, as it appears today, was built in 1692. It is one of the oldest monuments of sacred architecture in this part of Gorenjska. To understand its history, it is useful to distinguish the church’s construction date from the earlier history of its site: a religious building probably already stood there in the second half of the 10th century.

Different historical periods thus meet at this site, but the earlier building should not be equated with the structure visible today. The church offers a tangible introduction to the region’s sacred architecture, while the archaeological traces add evidence of much earlier religious use of the site.

Janez Jalen: Birth House and Museum

Janez Jalen’s Birth House is one of the oldest buildings in the village of Rodine. It was declared a cultural monument in 1987. Renovation in 1992 was carried out to establish the museum—the two dates therefore mark different steps: the building’s designation as a cultural monument and its preparation for museum use.

The museum features an exhibition containing most of Jalen’s literary legacy. The Birth House thus combines its significance as a historic building with an insight into the literary work of the person it commemorates. If you are interested in literature, the exhibition offers a reason to explore Rodine beyond its sacred architectural history.

Pilgrimage, Honey and Bread

The pilgrimage gathering for St. Anne in Rodine is still held every year on 26 July; its history dates back to the 15th century. The fixed date and long tradition give your visit a clear connection to a particular time of year. If you are planning your trip around the pilgrimage gathering, check the date in advance.

The museum in Janez Jalen’s Birth House also offers recurring events with different focuses. Every year, it hosts Honey Thread, a tasting event featuring different varieties of honey from local beekeepers. A living museum demonstration is also held regularly, during which bread is baked in the open hearth. The honey tasting and bread baking bring different focuses to the house’s events.

If you are planning your trip specifically around Honey Thread, it is a good idea to check the event date in advance.

Villa Rustica and Cycling Circuit

The Villa Rustica in Ključe, in the village of Rodine, is an archaeological site from the Roman period of the 2nd century. The rural Roman villa was surrounded by walls. Its ground plan is still discernible on the site. This offers a different perspective for understanding the area’s history than the church and museum: here, the focus is on the Roman period and the ground plan of a rural villa.

A pleasant flatland cycling circuit runs from Žirovnica via Moste, Breg, Vrba, Velike njive, Begunje na Gorenjskem and Poljče to Rodine. From there, it returns to Žirovnica via Smokuč, Doslovče, Breznica, Zabreznica and Selo pri Žirovnici. Rodine is therefore on the route described. If you are planning to ride the circuit, check the route again before setting off.

Larger parking areas for buses and cars are available in Rodine.

Discover more destinations: Kranjska Gora, Planina pod Golico, Mojstrana, Rateče, Hrušica, Jesenice, Žirovnica, Podkoren

Return to the main travel overview: Jesenice.