WITHOUT BORDERS

The limestone plateau Karst rises above the Gulf of Trieste and extends all the way to the valley Vipavska dolina. On its north-western side, the plateau borders on the plains of the Friuli, while on the south-eastern side it adjoins the Brkini hills. Traditionally, the karst plateau has been divided into four areas: the Gorizia karst, the Trieste karst, the Komen karst and the Sežana karst.

In reality, however, the borders of the karst landscape are rather elusive, since the vast plateau extends over 500 km2 and is shared between two countries: Slovenia and Italy. State borders notwithstanding, the Karst has always been a place where traditional delimitations fall short. Some say that in this place, the north turns into the south and the east turns into the west.

Even a quick overview of karst climatic conditions confirms that this is not just a poetic way of putting things. Any serious botanical atlas will tell us that the Karst is the southernmost point at which numerous alpine plants grow, whilst also being the northernmost point at which the Dinaric flora thrives and the westernmost point at which Pontic plant species can be found.

As a region, the Karst is marked by both sub-Mediterranean and continental climate. One could say that what holds true for the karst plant species, also holds true for the people of the Karst. Although the Karst shows predominantly Slovenian cultural identity, the region has nonetheless been strongly influenced by the restrained Central European values of the Habsburg Monarchy and the Mediterranean temperament of the Venetian State.

As a visitor, you would be wise to remember that there are no borders on the Karst, only junctures.