Oglarjenje has a long and rich history in Dolah pri Litija. The technique of obtaining charcoal was brought to these places more than a hundred years ago by Italian coal miners.

The charcoal burning in Dola near Litija experienced its greatest boom after the First World War, especially in the area of Kum, Podkum, Dol and Gabrovka, when large-scale deforestation began.

The wood for the pits was sorted; From first-class beech wood, the so-called “kanel” charcoal and was intended for ironworks, while second-class charcoal was used by blacksmiths. Charcoal was driven to the Mirna and Velika Loka railway stations.

During the Second World War, charcoal burners stopped, as most of the locals were evicted to Germany. After the war in 1945, the locals returned and the coal mining continued on an even larger scale, when 170 wagons of charcoal were taken from this area. In the area of Gabrovka, it ended around 1950, but it continued in Dola. After the war, the first foresters appeared, who in 1950 introduced forest control and tree marking for felling. There were fewer bare-cuts, the technical wood of deciduous trees (wood as a raw material that is not intended for direct use in the construction industry) that was sold to Rimske Toplice (Stoli za america), Kopitarna Sevnica (shoe hooves), LIP Savinjska Celje, Stol Kamnik etc. Red pine wood was cut for use in Zasava mines as cave wood, and lower-quality wood for firewood. Wood was sawn at water sawmills on the Sopot and Bistrica rivers.  Great afforestation and the establishment of nurseries began in 1953.

In 1962, Dole and Gabrovka joined the Litija Agricultural Forestry Association, and in 1963, forestry split off and became part of the Brežice Forestry. Today, the forestry service is organized within the Forestry Institute of Slovenia.

After the Second World War, charcoal was mainly exported to Italy, and at home, the Ljubljanski Litostroj and Strojna tovarna Trbovlje were large customers. Today, charcoal is mostly used for the preparation of grilled dishes, but also in smaller quantities in the chemical industry, rubber (tires), in the soldering of copper and galvanized sheets, and for the production of special steel in the iron industry. In Dolah pri Litija, wood is of course also used to a large extent for the production of charcoal pits.

In the Oglarska dežela in Dola near Litija, the charcoal activity takes place almost all year round. Oglars also have 12 coals, who stack and cook 1 to 2 pieces per year and spend around three months to half a year. It is encouraging that among them are also young charcoal burners who continue the tradition. Since 2021, Kopa Velikanka has also been produced in Dolah. The charcoal from this area is of exceptional quality and has a high calorific value.

Charcoaling in Dola pri Litija is a tradition that has been preserved to this day, and it testifies to the rich cultural heritage and the importance of coal mining for the local community. It is one of the few activities that still maintains a person’s primal contact with the forest. Visit the Oglarska dežela in Dola near Litija and learn how coal mining has shaped the life and economic development of this area throughout history.

interesting things:

• Even today, quality charcoal is used by drawing artists.
• Carbon powder is indispensable as a printing dye for photocopiers and in the production of self-copy paper.
• Activated carbon has a high absorption capacity, which makes it useful for various filters when cleaning water and gases.
• Association of Oglars of Slovenia is based right in Dolah near Litija and is included in The European Charcoal Association.