Toni Lovko with a drevak boat on the shore of Lake Cerknica

Dolenje Jezero · Lake Cerknica

A day exploring
nature,
an evening of
sauna pampering.

Two apartments in a house on the edge of Lake Cerknica, with the private Beli lokvanj relaxation centre beneath them.

The Lovko family · house name Vrdjan

Weareafamilyguesthousethatopeneditsdoorsin2013inthevillageofDolenjeJezero,ontheedgeofthelakethatValvasorhimselfdeclaredoneofthegreatestnaturalwondersoftheworld.

Our guests can stay in one of two apartments and unwind in the relaxation centre. We are an excellent base for exploring Lake Cerknica. The Lake Cerknica Visitor Centre and the Lake Cerknica Museum are close by. In the village of Dolenje Jezero the Drvošec themed trail begins for hikers, while cyclists will find well-marked circular routes of 12 to 42 km.

Open since: 0
Apartments for 2 to 4 guests: 0

The Vrdjan family house in Dolenje Jezero with its red roof

Apartmaji Vrdjan

Biček and Zvonček.
At home by the lake.

Both apartments are on the first floor of the building. Each has a kitchen with a dining table, a bathroom with a shower, a living area and a bedroom with a double bed. Solid-wood furniture creates a warm, homely atmosphere.

44 m² · up to 4 guests · 1st floor

Biček

Entrance hall, kitchen with dining table, bathroom, living area with sofa set, bedroom with double bed.

LCD TV
Wi-Fi
Underfloor heating in the bathroom
Shower
Fridge with freezer
Glass-ceramic hob with oven
Dishwasher

Per night for 2 guests

75 €

1 guest €60 · VAT included

Biček – the green pulse of the lake

Named after the lake club-rush (Schoenoplectus lacustris), one of the dominant plant species of Lake Cerknica. It adapts to the changing water level, and its stands and reed beds give birds shelter, food and a safe place to nest.

38 m² · up to 3 guests · 1st floor

Zvonček

Kitchen with dining table, bathroom, living area with sofa set, bedroom with double bed.

LCD TV
Wi-Fi
Underfloor heating in the bathroom
Shower
Fridge with freezer
Glass-ceramic hob
Dishwasher

Per night for 2 guests

70 €

1 guest €55 · VAT included

Zvonček – a flower from the lake’s wild nature

Named after the summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum), which adorns the shores of Lake Cerknica in May and June. In Slovenia it is a protected species and is listed as a vulnerable plant on the red list of endangered plants.

Included in the price: preparing the apartment, bed linen and towels, kitchen equipment and final cleaning.

Extra charges: extra beds and tourist tax (see price list).

Relaxation Centre

Beli lokvanj.
Just for you.

You can rent the whole centre or choose individual units. Because the rental is entirely private, your privacy is fully guaranteed.

“Beli lokvanj” means white water lily (Nymphaea alba), one of the rarest and most recognisable native aquatic plants of the intermittent Lake Cerknica. It grows in hidden corners of the lake, where it overgrows channels and individual swallow holes.

Rental prices and short-break packages for two

70 to 100 °C

Finnish sauna

The Finnish sauna is good for the body: the combination of high temperature and low humidity (5–20%) triggers intense sweating and a range of positive effects that strengthen health.

42 °C

Turkish sauna

The steam of the Turkish sauna, with a constant temperature, almost 100% humidity and added essential oils, has an inhalation effect. Breathing warm, moist air acts as a natural hydrotherapy: it opens blocked sinuses, loosens mucus and soothes the airways.

34 °C

Massage pool

Warm water and air massage. Switch off from everyday worries, with no schedule and no other guests, because you rent the centre privately.

Salt scrub

A salt scrub used in the Turkish sauna is an excellent natural way to remove dead skin cells and deeply nourish the skin.

At the Vodonos swallow hole, May 1920. A wedding: with two joined drevak boats the wedding party brought the bride’s trousseau from the village of Otok to the village of Dolenje Jezero.

Intangible cultural heritage

The drevak.
The living heritage of the lake.

The Lovko family – known locally as Vrdjan – safeguards intangible cultural heritage by passing down, from generation to generation and on the basis of oral tradition, the knowledge, skills and the related objects and tools for making the drevak boat.

The drevak is a traditional vessel that has survived to this day. In the past this distinctive boat was used for hunting, fishing, transporting people and animals, and for other purposes such as rafting timber and harvesting young reeds. The boat is specific to Lake Cerknica and entirely adapted to its conditions. Because of the marshy nature of the lake and its constantly changing water level, the locals developed a boat that can travel through shallows and overgrown waterways.

Toni Lovko in the Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage (PDF, in Slovenian) ↗

A drevak is first depicted in the 17th century, in the time of Janez Vajkard Valvasor, but it was certainly in use earlier. Its predecessor is the dugout (deblak, or izdolbljenec), known from archaeological excavations on the Ljubljansko barje marsh. A dugout was hollowed out, or burned out, of a single tree trunk. Compared with the dugout, the drevak is wider, lighter and more manoeuvrable, and as such it is adapted to navigating low water levels and among dense aquatic vegetation. Exactly these conditions are characteristic of the marshy system of the upper Ljubljanica river basin (Loška dolina, the intermittent Lake Cerknica and Planinsko polje).

Making a drevak in the workshop

In our workshop (a barn, or “skedenj”) we keep the making of the drevak alive and pass the craft skills on to younger generations. We offer workshop visits. The master, a bearer of cultural heritage, presents the whole process, from felling the tree to launching the drevak.

040 824 462

Tools for making a drevak

The calm surface of Lake Cerknica with mountains in the background

The intermittent lake

When the water drains away.

Lake Cerknica comes and goes. When the water drains away, you can walk across the lakebed as if on the Moon.

Then the rain comes.

After rain, the lake fills with water from springs and the karst hinterland. As it dries up, the water drains away through swallow holes.

Rešeto
Vodonos
Sitarica
Retje
Ponikev

And the lake returns.

The lake is full again.

In spring and autumn the lake fills up. It is time for the drevak, a time-honoured pride of the lake, to glide out onto the water.

About the intangible heritage →

Prices, no small print.

We confirm your booking and the final amount by email or phone. You arrange everything directly with us, with no intermediary.

Accommodation

Apartments, per night

Prices in EUR incl. VAT

Biček · 44 m²

1 guest: €60
2 guests: €75

Zvonček · 38 m²

1 guest: €55
2 guests: €70

Extra bed: €15 / night
Tourist tax, adults: €2.50 / person per night
Tourist tax, children aged 7 to 18: €1.25 / person per night

The price includes preparing the apartment, bed linen, towels, kitchen equipment and final cleaning.

Accommodation and relaxation centre

Short-break packages for two

Prices in EUR incl. VAT

Mini break

1 night in an apartment for 2 guests
Private use of the relaxation centre for 2 hours
A sweet surprise

€105

Midweek break

2 nights in an apartment for 2 guests
Private use of the relaxation centre, 2 × 2 hours
A sweet surprise

€200

Weekend break

2 nights in an apartment for 2 guests
Private use of the relaxation centre, 2 × 2 hours
A sweet surprise

€210

Relaxation centre

Private rental

Prices in EUR incl. VAT

Rental	2 hours	3 hours	each extra hour
Whole centreFinnish sauna, Turkish sauna and massage pool	€45	€60	€15
Two unitssauna and sauna, or sauna and massage pool	€40	€50	€10
One unitone sauna, or the massage pool only	€37	€45	€8

One towel per person is included. Extra towel hire €3, salt scrub €3.

The surroundings through the year

The same lake, four different ways.

Spring

The lake is full. Time for fishing and watching birds in the wetlands of Notranjska Regional Park.

The house stands in Notranjska Regional Park: natural monuments, nature reserves, wetlands. For hikers, cyclists and everyone seeking peace and quiet.

Lake Cerknica Visitor Centre
Lake Cerknica Museum
Slivnica
Javorniki
Snežnik
Notranjska Regional Park
Postojna Cave
Snežnik Castle
Predjama Castle
Cycling routes

The flooded Lake Cerknica with a drevak and mountains in the background

Spring

The lake is full. Time for fishing and watching birds in the wetlands of Notranjska Regional Park.

Summer

The water drains away into the swallow holes and the lakebed stays dry.

Autumn

The lake fills up again. In the morning there is mist and a calm surface, with golden reeds in the background.

Winter

Winter walks along the lake, where dry snow covers the icy surface. After a day in nature, the warmth of a private sauna awaits you.

What our guests say

Clean, quiet, and a sauna just for you.

Google

4.8

68 reviews

Booking.com

9.3

169 ratings · Excellent

Google

“A unique experience in a homely wellness centre. What a luxury of intimacy! Saunas, jacuzzi and loungers just for the three of us. Superb.”

Ljuba Južnič(translated from Slovenian)

Booking.comBooking.com

“Easy, quick check-in, a clean, spacious apartment. Peace and quiet in the village at night. Beautiful nature, a good location for lovers of natural sights, hikers and cyclists.”

Roman(translated from Slovenian)

Google

“I didn’t stay in the apartments, but came for a pampering session for two in the sauna. It exceeded my expectations. A nicely arranged, intimate space, with tea and fruit provided. Great. We will definitely go again... A lovely gift that I received for my 50th birthday...”

Mojca Krivec(translated from Slovenian)

Google

“Great for two. A large apartment, with a spa below it with a Finnish and a Turkish sauna and a jacuzzi. Close to the lake.”

Ingrid Boncelj(translated from Slovenian)

Booking.comBooking.com

“The apartment was comfortable, clean, everything (hot shower, etc) worked well. There was a wellness too with finnish sauna, turkish wet sauna, whirlpool and relaxing area. We booked the wellness for 2h of private use and it was really great.”

Ervienatasia

Booking.comBooking.com

“A great stopover when travelling to the sea... a romantic Slovenian village with authentic atmosphere, very spacious and excellently equipped appartment.”

Renata

Google

“A lovely, comfortable apartment. Tastefully furnished, solid-wood furniture, fittings and décor of a high standard. The location is excellent, as the apartment is only 300 metres from the lake. In the lower part of the house you can treat yourself to the massage pool or a sauna. All praise to the owners.”

Mojca Čebulj(translated from Slovenian)

Google

“An excellent place for a getaway just a stone’s throw from Lake Cerknica. The apartments are very nicely furnished. You can rent the space with the saunas and jacuzzi.”

Urban Sodja(translated from Slovenian)

Booking.comBooking.com

“A beautiful apartment, with lovely host. Perfect location for visiting Lake Cerknica and the surrounding countryside.”

Ian

Booking.comBooking.com

“A nicely arranged and very clean apartment. A helpful host.”

Klemen(translated from Slovenian)

Google

“A real balm for the soul :)”

Mojca Baraga(translated from Slovenian)

Google

“Super appartament very clean and confortabile and beautiful wellness!!”

Deborah Calligari

Cleanliness: 9.6
Free Wi-Fi: 9.5
Comfort: 9.4
Value for money: 9.3

Gift voucher

A night by the lake and a sauna just for two.

Vrdjan · Dolenje Jezero 13from €120

Gift vouchers

Give the gift of pampering by Lake Cerknica.

Surprise your loved ones with moments of comfort in the relaxation centre and apartments. We will post the voucher to the address you give us, or you can collect it in person.

One night and 2 hours in the relaxation centre
One night in an apartment and two hours of private use of the relaxation centre.
€120
One night and 3 hours in the relaxation centre
One night in an apartment and three hours of private use of the relaxation centre.
€135

040 824 462

Location and contact

Dolenje Jezero 13, on the edge of the lake.

Apartmaji in sprostitveni center Vrdjan

Dolenje Jezero 13, 1380 Cerknica

Slovenia

Get directions →Facebook

The Google map only loads after you click.

Terms of stay

Included

Preparing the apartment, bed linen, towels, kitchen equipment and final cleaning. All prices are in EUR incl. VAT.

Extra charges

Tourist tax €2.50 for adults and €1.25 for children aged 7 to 18, per person per night. Extra bed €15 per night.

Relaxation centre

Rental is private, for one to three guests, from 2 hours. One towel per person is included. Book a time slot by phone or via the form.

Booking

A booking is confirmed by our reply by email or phone. If you have questions, call us on 040 824 462.

Excursions

By arrangement we organise individual excursions around Notranjska Regional Park and help with all information about the surroundings.

A day exploringnature,an evening ofsauna pampering.

Weareafamilyguesthousethatopeneditsdoorsin2013inthevillageofDolenjeJezero,ontheedgeofthelakethatValvasorhimselfdeclaredoneofthegreatestnaturalwondersoftheworld.

Biček and Zvonček.At home by the lake.

Biček

Biček – the green pulse of the lake

Zvonček

Zvonček – a flower from the lake’s wild nature

Beli lokvanj.Just for you.

Finnish sauna

Turkish sauna

Massage pool

Salt scrub

The drevak.The living heritage of the lake.

Making a drevak in the workshop

Tools for making a drevak

When the water drains away.

Then the rain comes.

And the lake returns.

The lake is full again.

Prices, no small print.

Apartments, per night

Short-break packages for two

Private rental

The same lake, four different ways.

Clean, quiet, and a sauna just for you.

Give the gift of pampering by Lake Cerknica.

You choose, we confirm.

Dolenje Jezero 13, on the edge of the lake.

Terms of stay

A day exploring
nature,
an evening of
sauna pampering.

Biček and Zvonček.
At home by the lake.

Beli lokvanj.
Just for you.

The drevak.
The living heritage of the lake.