The Zelinc farmstay, a wonderful family-run retreat nestled in nature and slightly secluded from the surrounding villages, is located on the western side of Slovenia. It offers spectacular views of the rolling hills and lush green pastures. Idrija, the UNESCO Mercury mine town, and the Soca valley are just a short drive away.

Despite the fog and rain in the beginning of January, we enjoyed the drive along the zigzagging village roads when we finally arrived at the Zelinc farmstay.

Jernej greeted us outside the Zelinc tourist farm and gave us a key to room number 2. It happened that we spent the whole afternoon playing and laughing with the children in the huge shared living room with 3 comfortable sofas (in the evenings the room was occupied by men watching football matches). There are lots of toys and the owner’s youngest daughter, Katra, was more than happy to share her toys with our children. She also mentioned that her father Jernej cooks the best meals. We could not agree more.

The Zelinc farmstay, which has all the amenities of a modern hotel, consists of a historic farmhouse dating back to 1814, a barn, a charming traditional hayloft, an apiary and an outdoor swimming pool. Linden and chestnut trees provide plenty of shade in the hot summer.

The spacious family room number 2 is located on the first floor. It is suitable for a family of 4 with small children. In the room there is a bunk bed (the children simply fell in love with it), which is connected to a room with a double bed and flat screen TV. The small but well-equipped and super clean bathroom with shower and washbasin is opposite the toilet. The beautifully furnished and super clean family room has a perfect rural charm.

Dinner is a must during your stay at the Zelinc holiday farm. Dinner (Jernej prepares mouthwatering meals using local ingredients and following the traditions) is usually served between 6pm and 7:30pm. On the first evening, we indulged our taste buds with ‘black pudding’ (I never eat it, but when Ursa brought it to the table, she said: “This is a welcome dish from the kitchen. Bon appétit.” I tasted it and was delighted because it was not prepared like a traditional blood sausage. We continue with beef soup with homemade noodles, beef meat with Idrija zlikrofi and grilled polenta as a side and cabbage salad. The Zajc craft beer Zajc and homemade apple juice were delicious as well. We finished our dinner with a melt-in-your-mouth cake and a homemade schnapps. The kids were more than happy to play a bit more in the living room while we digested dinner in a nicely decorated dining room with an old-fashioned baker’s oven. When the kids went to bed, it was time to warm up in the infrared and Finnish sauna. A perfect end to the day. 

On the second evening, the culinary adventure began with a pâté topped with leeks, a rich barley soup with vegetables and meat, roast beef with mashed potatoes and pumpkin strudels, accompanied by a mixture of a lamb’s lettuce salad and green salad. The rice pudding topped with plum jam was a delicious end to the dinner. And schnapps!

Jernej’s kitchen is the heart of the Zelinc tourist farm. He uses locally grown food and seasonal vegetables, beef meat from the cattle grazing on the nearby pastures, hand-picked mushrooms and wild edibles, fruit from the orchards with a modern twist. The Zelinc tourist farm Zelinc is therefore a true culinary gem. The home-cooked meals (from the first to the last bite you can feel how much passion is put into the preparation of the food) certainly exceeded our expectations.

What is more, the breakfast is great too. The nutritious breakfast buffet is served from 7:30am. We were spoiling our taste buds with locally produced cured meat products, dairy products (cheese, yogurt, butter), homemade pâtés, honey, yummy jams (plums, apricots), pickles, freshly baked bread and pastries, herbal tea, cereals, scrambled eggs, dried and fresh fruits. The delicious breakfast is definitely a good start to the day.

After breakfast, Neja and her friend took us to a scenic viewpoint above the Idrijca River. We were greeted with a sip of spring water on the way and rewarded with magnificent vistas upon arrival. We then spent the rest of the morning soaking in the hot tub.

Despite all the work on the farm, Jernej was more than willing to share his cooking skills with us. We took part in a hands-on culinary activity where we learned how to make struklji (rolled dumplings) and pumpkin strudl, which we and other guests ate for dinner.

From the Zelinc tourist farm you can easily explore the Soca valley, the Idrija and Cerkno region and even further into the Vipava valley region. Or you can spend some extra time on the farm reading books.

Zelinc farmstay is a charming, family-run retreat in nature and a perfect rural retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city, offering excellent local cuisine (almost self-catering), comfortable rooms and relaxation amides hills and rivers. It is truly rural retreat for your family.

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