BOGATIN TREASURE

Mount Bogatin got its name based on a legend, that deep down inside hides a cave with enormous treasure. But the path to the treasure is allowed only to the chosen ones.

Once upon a time, the bare limestone of the Julian Alps was carpeted with red flowers. This flower garden was kept in order by Rojenice, three beautiful high mountain fairies, dressed all in white. Every time a new child was born down in the valley, a new star will appear on the night sky above Mount Triglav and Rojenice will descend down to the valley with lighting candles in their hands, and tell the future to the newborn. Their prophecy would always turn out to be true, hence Rojenice loved people, and their visit always meant justice, happiness and long life for the newborn child. Apart from looking after the valley people, Rojenice were also owners of Zlatorog, the Goldenhorn chamois. And Goldenhorn himself was in possession of the Mt. Bogatin key. Everyone knows that if the Goldenhorn would unlock the stone gates of Bogatin, an entrance would open; leading into the secret hole hiding so much treasure, that 700 wagons would not be enough to load all of it. People loved and respected both Rojenice and the Goldenhorn. They never thought of challenging the Goldenhorn, which was thought to be immortal - if someone shoots him, Goldenhorn's blood once touching the ground, would turn into red roses which Goldenhorn would eat to recover from his wounds, his force becoming even larger and mightier than it was before...

However, on one occasion, a young hunter from the Soca river valley tried the impossible. He felt in love with the local innkeeper's daughter and to satisfy girl's mother, he had to bring the Bogatin treasure or at least, a bunch of red roses from Triglav. His encounter on the mountain with Goldenhorn did not turn out well. He actually did shot the animal, but Goldenhorn recovered, the sun reflection from his horns blinded the hunter, so that young man lost his footing and fell into abyss. The Goldenhorn turned berserk by the fact that the mortal human dared to challenge him, picked up his herd of goats that he was leader of, and gored his way out of the Triglav Kingdom, leaving the landscape much as it looks today.

Both Rojenice and Goldenhorn have never been seen again since, but, if the story is true, 700 years later in the middle of Triglav's sea of stone a fir-tree will grow, one who spots it should use the tree's wood and make a cradle for a male newborn. A first boy child to use it will be the first person to find the entrance into Mt. Bogatin treasure hole...