Johann Weikhard von Valvasor was a polymath, baron, traveller, cartographer, and collector.
We reveal 5 reasons why you should know about him before visiting Postojna!
1.) Because cavers consider him to be one of the first true explorers of caves and one of the world’s earliest pioneers of speleology.
2.) Because his work The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola (Slava vojvodine Kranjske) represents one of the most important foundations of Slovenian cultural history and scientific research.
3.) Because, for his extensive study of Lake Cerknica and his model explaining the movement of water within it, he was elected in 1687 as a member of the prestigious Royal Society in London.
4.) Because he was the first to describe Slovenia’s ice caves; on a global scale, he was preceded only by Leonardo da Vinci.
5.) Because at the museum we have dedicated a mug featuring his portrait to him — the perfect souvenir from our region (you can discover and purchase the mug here: https://www.notranjski-muzej.si/objava/741612?href=%2Fizdelek%2Fskodelica-valvasor%2F) — as well as a puzzle, which makes an attractive gift for children (available here: https://www.notranjski-muzej.si/objava/741612?href=%2Fizdelek%2Fkrasne-puzzle-janez-vajkard-valvasor%2F).
