Old types of fishing, customs and traditions of the local people, bans and exclusive rights related to fishing were already described in the Glory of the Duchy of Carniola from the early year of 1689.
The fishing culture may have changed since Valvasor's times, but it remains to this day an inextricable part of Lake Cerknica and its people.
Today the fishing on the lake is managed by Cerknica Fishing Association and the Fisheries Research Institute of Slovenia. Fishing is only permitted as a recreational activity to fishermen and members of the Cerknica Fishing Association. Other forms, including poaching, are illegal. Fishermen's main task, which has lately extended throughout the year, is the saving of fish species at intermittent Lake Cerknica. They transport the fish from the draining hollows into the artificial pond behind a section of the lake called Rešeto, where they wait for the water to return.
Although Valvasor only mentions four species (pike, tench, burbot, brown trout), today the lake is home to many more – chub, common minnow, bullhead (native species), carp, rudd, rainbow trout and perch (alien species).
To see the ethnological collection of old fishing tools and observe the system of draining and filling of Lake Cerknica, visit the Museum of Lake Cerknica.
| Fishing tools: | scoop nets, dragnets, cast nets, fyke traps, wicker baskets |
| Native fish species: | pike, tench, burbot, brown trout, chub, common minnow, bullhead |
| Non-native, introduced fish species: | carp, rudd, rainbow trout, perch |
Transport routes in the Notranjska region have always been important in terms of economy and communications because they were the intersection of routes in the direction from Trieste to Ljubljana, the Dolenjska region and Zagreb, the Kočevje and the Kvarner region.
Transportation of cargo developed as early as the Middle Ages and then gradually evolved in horse-drawn carriage driving (transportation services).
Blacksmithing was an important craft; there was at least one blacksmith in every larger village.
Blacksmithing was an important craft; there was at least one blacksmith in every larger village. When there were multiple blacksmiths in the same village, they would specialize either in toolmaking or horse shoeing.
In the past, flax growing and processing was widely spread in the Notranjska region and nearly every house had its own processing equipment.
In the past, flax growing and processing was widely spread in the Notranjska region and nearly every house had its own processing equipment.
The use of the drevak boat was first described by Valvasor; it was used in the Lož valley, on Lake Cerknica, the Planina plain and the Ljubljana Marshes.
The use of the drevak boat was first described by Valvasor; it was used in the Lož valley, on Lake Cerknica, the Planina plain and the Ljubljana Marshes.
Spirit was distilled from fruit grown in the high-trunk orchards in farmers' gardens.
For distillation, only the damaged fruit was ground; the rest was consumed. The ground fruit was then sealed in large barrels, soaked and allowed to ferment for about six weeks. When fermented enough, it was ready for distillation.
Considerable amounts of limestone and firewood made lime burning one of the activities with which the local people earned their living.
Considerable amounts of limestone and firewood made lime burning one of the activities with which the local people earned their living.
With the establishment of the border between Italy and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia after the First World War, our lands suddenly found themselves in a border area.
With the establishment of the border between Italy and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia after World War I, our lands suddenly turned into a border region, which initiated the activity that has always thrived near borders: smuggling. The border ran directly along this area and the main smuggling routes to Italy led over the Javorniki hills.
In Slovenia and the Notranjska region especially, dormouse trapping is a centuries-old tradition.
The first records on trapping and consumption of dormice date back to the 13th century. Later on, the tradition was also described extensively by explorer and scholar Johann Weikhard von Valvasor.
