The history of Kranjska Gora reaches back to the second half of the 14th century when the inhabitants began chopping down the forests to a larger extent, transforming them into farm land and pastures for sheep and cattle. The area gained strategic significance during World War I when the military road across the 1611 m high Vršič pass from the Sava to Soča Valleys was constructed by Russian prisoners. Kranjska Gora acquired its fame as a tourist region through the construction of the railroad and its first visitors. Somewhat later, ski jumping and ski flying in Planica carried the name of the area and valley throughout the world. This encouraged a blossoming tourist activity in the Kranjska Gora region especially when the first cable cars were built on the sides of the Vitranc at the end of the fifties.

Even older than Kranjska Gora is the mysterious village of Podkoren which hides wonderful tales from times when tourism was still foreign to the Zgornjesavska Valley. A paved medieval road led through the village which in the 15th century served as a connection between the countrysides of Carniola and Carinthia. A postal carriage brought inhabitants news from far off places across Korensko sedlo (Korensko Saddle) during the era of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. Until the year 1990 when the Karavanke tunnel was built, the road through the Korensko sedlo presented the main traffic connection with central and northern Europe.

Kranjska Gora and Podkoren are linked by at least three things: a common history, a common position on the tri-border between Slovenia, Austria and Italy and a common tourist boost due to resounding achievements of »the heroes of the white sheer slopes« at the annual Alpine skiing World Cup.

For tourists, both regions particularly represent an excellent combination of the Kranjska Gora cosmopolitan pulse and the idyllic serenity of Koren. Kranjska Gora is the cultural and social centre of the region while Podkoren is its Alpine heart...

(Source: www.kranjska-gora.si)