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In search of Scabiosa Trenta

Just as England has its Sherlock Holmes, so too the Julian Alps has its own detective story about finding the miraculous flower called the Scabiosa Trenta. Instead of Dr. Watson, here appears Tožbar (Trenta's guide to the Julian Alps) and in the starring role, the famous Julius Kugy.

Julius Kugy never found Scabiosa Trenta. Over time, it was discovered that the mystified flower of Scabiosa Trenta (Trentarski Grintavec) had been mistaken for a common giant scabious (Cephalaria leucantha).

The Julian Alps and the Botanical Garden are now forever linked to the Scabiosa Trenta, which has become a symbol of Dr. Julius Kugy's youthful searching. The good doctor has gone down in history as a great lover of the mountains, mountaineer, writer, botanist and the promoter of friendships and alliances among nations.

After botanist Balthazar Hacquet "discovered" and described the flower, Kugy, together with Trenta mountain guides (usually with Tožbar and loyal Komac), spent many years amidst the steep walls and as yet unconquered peaks in the search of this mysterious flower.

In his book he wrote, "I loved the mountains and always I return to them. I was apparently up to the top of Triglav 40 times, it being the ideal mountain of my youth and Trenta being the ideal mountain valley." 

Kugy never found the flower, but he did, through his long search as well as his poetic and literary talent, uncover the beauty of the mountains - the world of Triglav. His words, "Through all times and distances, I welcome you, dear miraculous flower of my heart - Scabiosa Trenta!" display his great love for all things beautiful that the Julian Alps possess.  

The Monument to Julius Kugy is situated along the Vršič mountain pass. GPS coordinates: N46°24'15.5'' and E13°44'34.6''
Distance from nearby attractions: Mlinarica River Bed (0.46km)
Kugy Monument (0.66km)
Trenta Military Cemetary (0.77km)
Source of the Soča River (2.15 km)

Friendly tip: From the Soča Valley, take Slovenia's highest mountain pass, Vršič, from where you can make the easy ascent (1.5 hours - easy) to the top of Sleme, and there you will gain an amazing view of the north side of Tamar Valley, where the "Mountain Pearl" (Jalovec) reigns at its edge. That is the mountain that Kugy (Kugy Monument) watches from the south.