Das grüne Programm für den slowenischen Tourismus

The Brda region is an idyllic area in western Slovenia, entirely kneaded by the work of human hands, authentic and genuine, preserving its message through numerous traditional festivals. The world-famous Brda fruit, Brda wine, delicious olive oil and other Brda produce, and the fragrant, delicious Brda cuisine - the perfect setting for a story of an active sustainable holiday in hiking boots or on a bicycle.

Green Brda

Every step demonstrates the commitment to sustainability of this picturesque destination: from the preservation of cultural heritage and traditions, to landscape and nature conservation and, of course, nature-friendly agriculture and tourism. This is also proven by the numerous awards and prizes it has received, not the least of which are European Destination of Excellence 2015 - EDEN, entitled “TOURISM, LOCAL CUISINE AND GASTRONOMY”. In 2019 and 2020, we were ranked among the TOP 100 sustainable destinations in the world, and in 2021, we achieved 3rd place at ITB Berlin in the Sustainable Stories in the Time of the Covid Epidemic category, with our campaign Bringing a Brda Cherry to Every Home.

“An ambitious CIRCULAR COMMUNITY where BOUTIQUE and BALANCED year-round tourism brings VALUE for all: residents, tourism providers, winegrowers, fruit growers, olive growers, visitors and the environment,” is the vision for Brda, which we have also set ourselves in the Strategy for the sustainable development and marketing of tourism in the Municipality of Brda 2023-2028.

BRDA DESTINATION IS INCLUDED IN THE GREEN SCHEME OF SLOVENIAN TOURISM

Since 2016, the destination has been included in the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism, further promoting green activities in the destination.

LIST OF BRDA SERVICES PROVIDERS AWARDED GREEN LABELS:

Vila Alma Vista (Green Key)
Klet Brda (Green Key)
Kmečki turizem Breg (Green Key)
Vila Vita (Green Key)
Villa Eva (Green Key)
Hiša Marica (Green Key)
Domačija Belica (Green Key)
Vila Vipolže (Green Key)
Domačija Kabaj (Green Key)

The destination has 8 Slovenia Green Accommodation labels, 5 Slovenia Green Cuisine labels and 2 Slovenia Green Attraction labels.

SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY

To minimise the impact on the environment and to make your stay as enjoyable as possible, we encourage you to discover our destination through a scenic network of hiking and cycling trails. After all, the distances between the various attractions in a destination are short and discovering them by bike or on foot can be great fun, environmentally friendly and special.

9 hiking trails named after the old cherry varieties of Brda, the Alpe Adria Trail, the Juliana Trail and the Brda Peace Circle offer hikers a unique experience of peace and harmony with nature, whose heart beats with devotion and radiates the warmth of the local hospitality. Picturesque views, discovering villages and cultural heritage, relaxed chats with vine-growers, fruit and olive growers, and much more can be experienced in Brda. You can see all hiking trails here.

Cycling through the narrow, quiet and scenic villages of Brda is also a real experience. Electric bikes are also available for rent at the Tourist Information Point in Šmartno to help you tackle the climbs in Brda without much effort. You can see all cycling trails here.

Last but not least, we do our best to ensure that even during major events, Brda's tourist spots and venues are not too congested with traffic. We invite you to check out the possibility of bus transport when visiting the St Martin's Day, the Brda Cherry Festival, the Open Wine Cellar Days and other events.

We also have several EV charging points for electric cars in the destination. A public charging point is available at Dobrovo Castle.

LEAVE MINIMUM FOOTPRINT IN THE DESTINATION

We encourage the use of as little plastic as possible in the destination, especially at events. There are also 10 public drinking fountains installed in Brda villages (Gonjače Tower, Šmartno, Dobrovo, Fojana, Kozana, Vila Vipolže and playgrounds, Gradno, Krasno, Biljana, Medana), but otherwise you can fill up your water from any tap.

By separating waste properly and avoiding dumping it in nature, we can do a lot to preserve unspoilt nature. The destination has modern eco-islands, residents and visitors are encouraged to dispose of waste according to segregation guidelines, and the local community organises several clean-up campaigns. We promote the principle of re-use, i.e. give new life into discarded objects.

A warm welcome awaits you in Brda, so respect the people, the environment, the heritage and the property.

THE BRDA CUISINE IS MARKED BY SEASONALITY AND LOCAL PRODUCTION

The Brda cuisine is a living heritage, passed down from generation to generation. The blend of three cultures (Slavic, Roman and Germanic) has given it its charm and distinctiveness. There is certainly no Brda cuisine without the Brda farmer! His care for the terraced cultivation of the land, his love of vines, fruit and olives, and the intergenerational transmission of knowledge have made this land one of the most recognisable territories for its quality produce, embraced by the sun. We pay great attention to the preservation of indigenous vines, olive trees and cherry trees. Our motto is "From the field to the table, locally and seasonally". Last but not least, we have 5 sustainably certified caterers!

You can get to know seasonal Brda cuisine through Open Homesteads and the Brdalicious promotional campaign.