Ljubljana’s Unique Walks along the Wire in Memory of Courage.

At the beginning of May each year for the last 56 years, thousands of Slovenes have taken part in the traditional ‘Walk along the Wire’ all around Ljubljana to honour the memory of the period during the Second World War when the occupiers surrounded the city with barbed wire. It is a unique event in the world, ever more popular with number of participants rising year-on-year, which simultaneously celebrates liberty and sports.

The ‘Walk along the Wire’ is a symbol of courage, memory and endurance, comradeship and peace, as it represents the victory and liberation of Ljubljana from the enemy occupiers who disconnected the city from its rural hinterland between 1942 and 1945. Since the victory was declared on May 9, that is the date, which Ljubljana celebrates as its City Holiday not only by ‘Walk along the Wire’ but also with a Ceremonial Meeting of Ljubljana City Council when honorary citizenships are awarded.

This traditional ‘Walk along the Wire’, running this year for the 56th time, opened on Thursday 10 May with a walk for the youngest kindergarten toddlers while on Friday 11 May there was a walk for primary and middle school children and Saturday 12 May saw the Path full of hiking lovers and runners in the trio race. Altogether there were 32,279 people walking and running. The number is quite outstanding because Ljubljana has only 280,000 habitants, but perhaps not surprising as the ‘Walk along the Wire’ also stands for a healthy, sporty lifestyle, so walkers and runners who like to look after their health enjoy it daily. The 35-kilometre route around Ljubljana, a maintained sandy walking and recreational trail, is also called the Green Ring due to the avenue of trees that encircle the city.

The ‘Walk along the Wire’ is one of the rare sporting-recreational events in Slovenia where it is not necessary to pay an entry fee and is intended for everyone – from the youngest to the oldest, in short all those that are aware of the importance of a healthy lifestyle and would like to enjoy a day in good company and a relaxing atmosphere.