| European Karst museum
The European museum or the scientific-experiential centre of karst is conceived as an establishment belonging to a new generation of museum centres, such as does not yet exist in Slovenia. The project, which has already been endorsed by the Slovene government in its initial phase follows the global trend towards establishing museums and parks dedicated to natural phenomena. Using cutting-edge media technology, these centres educate the public in an interactive and entertaining way. In addition to glaciers, presented at the Glacier museum in Norway, and volcanism, revealed at the European volcano park in France, karst is indeed one of the most dynamic and spectacular natural phenomena still awaiting a didactically modern and experience-oriented presentation.
When we speak about karst we actually think of two superposed landscapes: the visible, familiar landscape bathing in the sun, and the invisible, mysterious, hardly accessible landscape veiled in darkness underneath our feet, the one that stirs the imagination of each and everyone of us. Although the centre will represent karst as a global phenomenon, we consider that Slovenia as the home of the classical Karst where the discipline of karstology has developed alongside it, is called upon to become the seat of the European Karst Museum. The very conception of the planned centre in two didactical circles transcends the classical frame of nature museums: while the topic will be addressed predominantly by way of multimedia technology in the inner circle, the outer circle, located in the immediate vicinity of the museum, will present the key karstic formations in situ and offer the possibility to experience the phenomena with all senses. This unique connection between the virtual and the real requires a location that will be as untouched by civilization as possible. Following in-depth studies two locations at the margin of Planinsko polje have been selected and both are currently being examined by government specialist services.
European Karst Museum is one of first class national tourist attractions and it will contribute to the development of the concept of sustainable tourism. It will probably be one of the first project born out of public private parthership in Slovenia in this area and an important economic factor in the karst region. Aside the cultural, scientific and educational mission on a European scale, the museum also promotes Slovenia as a country of karst and the cradle of karstology, thus emphasizing its individuality and asserting its presence in the world.
Tomáš Valena
Contact
European office of Lojze Peterle
Cankarjeva 11, 1000 Ljubljana
e-mail: press@peterle.si
tel.: +386 1 4223 580; +386 1 4223 585
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