By boat along the Cistercian Legacy: The Traditional 50th Krka River Boat Trip in Slovenia

On a sunny Sunday (31 May 2026) an interesting event took place in the village of Krka in Lower Carniola (Slovenia): the traditional Krka River boat trip. Enthusiasts of this sport and pleasant social gathering came from all over; around 300 different boats with over 500 participants of all generations floated down the river. Together, they covered approximately 10 kilometers by paddling. 

The long history of such undertakings was also marked on the fiftieth anniversary of the first boat trip with a special promotional campaign by the Slovene Museum of Christianity. In this way, the sporting and social event gained a strong cultural dimension. The Krka River is an important element of the cultural landscape of the Stična Cistercian Abbey, which is presented by the museum, as it was for centuries a part of its economic life. 

Today, it is rightfully considered an important segment of European heritage as well, since through the Cisterscapes project and the European Heritage Label it has become a connecting element that extends beyond borders, even though its course begins and ends within Slovenian territory. 

At the museum, we place special emphasis on raising awareness of the importance of international cooperation and shared heritage; therefore, we prepared a special leaflet for the event, which fit naturally into the occasion because the upper course of the Krka coincides with the Cistercian Way – the greatest connecting element of the project. We believe that our promotional campaign contributed a small part to a shared European identity, and above all to respect for our history, tradition, and ancestors.