400 miles of Slovenia: a footpath that once opened up tightly sealed borders

A 650-kilometre walk through Slovenia has become a symbol of how once strictly closed borders have been transformed into open pathways connecting people and communities. The journey, which traces part of Europe’s longest hiking trails, E6 and E7, was launched four decades ago on September 12, 1986, at Mačkovac, where two European hiking routes intersected. On that day, a gathering of hikers and forestry workers from around the world marked the opening of the E7 trail, one of three long-distance paths that today traverse the country. This event was intended to honor the World Congress of the International Association of Forestry Research Organizations. According to Jože Prah, president of the Slovenian Committee for European Hiking Trails (KEUPS), the response was overwhelming. The opening of the E7 trail followed the earlier launch of the E6 route in 1975, which ran from north to south through Slovenia. The E7's inauguration signified the start of a 650-kilometer path stretching from the far east to the west of the country, linking towns and people while erasing borders. Jože Prah and Darinka Avguštin, both avid mountaineers, have a deep connection with Slovenia’s European hiking trails, having traversed them in stages over the years. European hiking trails were not originally conceived in Slovenia. Their origins trace back to 1969 in Germany, when Dr. Georg Fahrbach, founder of the European Hiking Union, declared: “Let us open our borders, walk from one another, for in this way we will best understand each other and learn to respect and value one another.” This motto quickly gained traction and led to the creation of a network of trails connecting Europe from coast to coast, regardless of national boundaries. In Slovenia, these trails are marked with a yellow dot and a red circle. The idea that hiking trails could foster rural development was recognized early on by Slovenian forester engineer Milan Ciglar. His initiative led to the establishment of the first European hiking trail within the country, known as the Ciglarjeva pot, running from the Drava River to the Adriatic Sea, a distance of 350 kilometers. This trail, named after him, became a model for future developments. When the E6 trail first brought hikers through the Karavanke Mountains, crossing the border from Yugoslavia into Austria, it was more than just a routine passage, it was a bold step toward openness. Jože Prah recalls the time before these trails opened, when borders were still tightly controlled. He describes the fear among hikers who dared to approach the Austrian border. “Imagine what happened then,” he says, reflecting on the past. “Hikers weren’t allowed to get close to the border with Austria, that wasn’t a joke. Then the countries agreed, and the hiking trail was opened. Hikers could finally cross the border in a planned manner. The response was fantastic at all levels. In the first few years, around two hundred foreign hikers visited Slovenia annually. That was extraordinary for the time. A person could step onto the trail and cross a border that had previously been strictly defined.” Eleven years after the E6 trail began, the second European hiking trail, E7, emerged in Slovenia. Named after Zoran Naprudnik, who, along with Boštjan Anka, was a key figure in its planning, the E7 initially extended only from the border crossing at Robič to Bistrice ob Sotli. By 1995, it had expanded to Hodoš. Today, the E7 spans 650 kilometers within Slovenia, featuring 42 control points, typically spaced between 20 and 30 kilometers apart. These checkpoints allow hikers to rest, sleep, and receive stamps in their passports. For those undertaking the entire journey in one go, it represents a month-long trek. These trails are not merely mountainous routes meant to conquer peaks. Instead, they wind through forests, valleys, and villages, rarely rising above 1,500 meters. They are rich in local stories and cultural heritage, offering access to diverse groups of people, from families to older individuals who may find the climbs challenging yet rewarding. As Jože Prah explains, these trails were created as tools for rural development, connecting farms and communities. They welcomed hikers, offered them shelter, and shared everyday life. Old maps and registration books still tell the story of how hikers arrived at farms and were warmly received. Marija Imperl, a member of the Slovenian European Hiking Trail Commission, believes that walking these trails offers a chance for self-discovery. Her perspective underscores the deeper significance of these trails beyond physical travel, they serve as bridges between people, cultures, and histories.