The drevak boat is made out of two trees and features a small draught because of its flat form. Two firs and numerous nails were needed to make one.
Until the 20th century, the settlements of Goričica and Otok were separated from each other when the lake flooded and the villagers from Dolenje Jezero could not access their forests and pastures in the Javorniki hills. Therefore, the boat was of vital importance because it was used to transport cattle, carriages and people, but also to go fishing or hunting. In Dolenje Jezero and Otok, where the drevak was used most often, each house would have two boats, one for the transportation of cargo and cattle, and one for the transportation of people.
Today, its use is disappearing, as it is being replaced by lighter wooden and plastic boats. In the Notranjska region, the making and use of the drevak boat is being preserved and researched by the Heritage House and the Museum of Lake Cerknica.
| Predecessor of drevak: | deblak |
| Locations where the drevak was used: | Lož valley, Cerknica and Planina plains, Ljubljana Marshes |
| Number of trees needed to make the drevak: | 2 |
| Tree species from which the drevak is made: | fir |
| Use of drevak: | transport of people, cattle and cargo, hunting, fishing |
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.
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.
