Bloke

The village of Nova Vas lies between Cerknica and Ribnica in a broad high valley below the Bloke plateau. Bloke was first documented in 1260, and Nova Vas in 1341, the latter growing to become an important staging post on a busy trade route, as noted by Valvasor in the 17th century.

The church of St. Michael in the neighbouring village of Fara is on the pilgrimage route to Nova Štifta, and is approached by an attractive lane through the village with several well-preserved wooden houses and unusually large water troughs, as may also be seen at nearby Velike Bloke.

The Bloke plateau attracted Valvasor's interest not only for its geography but also because of its skiing, otherwise unknown in Central and Southern Europe until the end of the 19th century. The origins of skis and skiing in this area have continued to generate a great deal of interest, and the art of traditional ski-making is continued in Nova Vas today.
There is a fascinating collection of unique skiing history in the village's charming inn.