At the homestead, they welcome groups of various generations, passing on knowledge about wood and forest care, the charcoal-making profession, and the charcoal-making process. In the charcoal maker’s hut, you can view charcoal tools and other charcoal-making props. They serve black charcoal bread, a charcoal stew cooked in a cauldron, and other homemade delicacies. You can try your hand at drawing with charcoal, playing wooden board games, and constructing a charcoal pile model. More about programs for groups.

The Brinovec family are recipients of the Srce Slovenije (Heart of Slovenia) Collective Brand Certificate, a sign of the highest quality, for their guided experience “Charcoal Maker for a Day.” This is a 4-hour guided experience that includes a presentation of the place, the homestead, and charcoal making, work at the kopišče (charcoal making site) which participants perform together with the charcoal-making family, charcoal cuisine, creating with charcoal and wood, and other surprises. The guided experience is conducted for 5 to 15 people over three weeks in April, May, June, and September. For this experience, in 2024, they also received the prestigious title from the Slovenian Tourist Organisation, joining the family of “Unique Experiences of Slovenia.”

Statement from an elementary school participant: “We finally got to the eagerly anticipated final trip. Sunny weather greeted us early in the morning. We took the bus to Dole pri Litiji. There, a friendly gentleman, Mr. Mirko, welcomed us and took us to the first large charcoal pile, where we stopped. A lot of smoke was coming out of the pile, and Mr. Mirko told us that charcoal is cooked in such a pile at 300∘C, with the temperature reaching up to 600∘C in the center. Here, we first sat on the benches. Mr. Mirko explained the entire process of charcoal production. He also used a projector to help us visualize how the pile is made in the first place. Then, Ms. Renata served us freshly cooked goulash, which was cooked in a real cauldron. We ate from clay bowls with wooden spoons, and many people praised the delicious ‘charcoal snack,’ saying they had never eaten anything like it. The bread made from charcoal was certainly a special feature. We quenched our thirst with homemade mint juice. After that, we divided into groups. Each group received caps of different colors. The hosts then explained the activities, in which the groups rotated. The children enjoyed sawing logs, making a charcoal pile model, assembling wooden and cardboard puzzles, and drawing with charcoal on paper and on prepared boards. Meanwhile, homemade potatoes were baked in the embers, which we ate with great enthusiasm. For a souvenir, we also received nice wooden pendants. Of course, time passed too quickly. We had a very lovely day and enjoyed it very much. We took one last group picture and headed back to the bus, which took us home.”