The year 2025 in the Cerkno area marks a very special anniversary – 30 years since the discovery of the oldest musical instrument in the world, the Neanderthal flute from Divje babe. The Cerkno Tourist Board, along with the National Museum of Slovenia and its partners, is preparing a rich series of events that will illuminate this extraordinary find from the perspectives of history, culture, music, and tourism.

The honorary patron of the events marking the 30th anniversary of the discovery of the Neanderthal flute is the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar.

The guided tours season begins on April 5

In 2025, the guided tours of the Archaeological Park Divje babe will take place from April to November, starting on April 5. Visitors will be able to discover the secrets of one of the most important archaeological sites until autumn, and this year, the tours will be further enriched with thematic hikes along a new circular path. Special experiences will be co-created by Jože Bavcon, Silvo Močnik, Primož Presetnik and Sandro Oblak.

During the guided tours, the exhibition Kerakustika, an artistic interpretation of music and ceramics, curated by Katarina Štucin, will also be on display.

Exhibition Neanderthal Flute. 60,000 Years of Music

One of the highlights of the celebration will be the exhibition Neanderthal Flute. 60,000 Years of Music, organized by the National Museum of Slovenia. The opening of the exhibition will take place on May 20 at the National Museum of Slovenia, and in December it will move to the Cerkno Museum. The exhibition will showcase the rich, multi-layered cultural heritage that this find brings.

Musical events and festivals

This year’s 30th anniversary of the festival Jazz Cerkno (May 23–25) will also be marked by music. The festival will highlight the connection with the Neanderthal flute through a concert by the band Gombač / Vollmaier / Krhlanko.

On May 31, the traditional festival Voice of the Flute is expected in Reka.

On July 18 – exactly on the day of the 30th anniversary of the discovery – there will be a large concert by the TačMi Brass Band and Magnifico in Glavni trg in Cerkno. The following day, the stage will be taken by the Jazz Punt Big Band and Boštjan Gombač.

Musical performance and documentary film Rhapsody of the Cave Bear

A special contribution to this year’s events will be the music-dance performance Rhapsody of the Cave Bear and the documentary film of the same name, created under the direction of director Miha Čelar and his team. The performance, which combines contemporary dance choreography and original music by Boštjan Gombač, takes visitors into the mysterious period of Neanderthals and cave bears, where musical expression intertwines with a dance story about the coexistence of humans and nature. The documentary will reveal the behind-the-scenes of the performance’s creation and uncover the broader significance of the discovery of the Neanderthal flute and its impact on science, art, and cultural awareness.

The performance will be available from September, while the documentary film will premiere in 2026; both projects will then tour Slovenia and abroad.

Content for children and teenagers

In the initial idea development phase, the Osnovna šola Cerkno (Primary School) and the Zveza prijateljev mladine Idrija joined together to create programs that will include educational and recreational activities in the fields of music, archaeology, history, and geography, all as part of the 30th anniversary of the discovery of the Neanderthal flute.

A new children’s music performance is also being prepared, created by Mateja Fi with a team; through performances in various places, it will bring the theme of the Neanderthal flute, music, and nature closer to a wider circle of children across Slovenia.

Multiple workshops on playing the reconstruction of the Neanderthal flute will be held at the Music Schools in Idrija, Cerkno, Tolmin, and Nova Gorica, organized by the Jazz Cerkno.

For the professional public

In October, a professional conference on the management of caves and cultural heritage will take place, and in November, as part of the Museum Evenings at the Gewerkenegg Castle in Idrija, Dr. Peter Turk will lecture on the mysteries of Neanderthal music.

This year, the municipal holiday will also be dedicated to the 30th anniversary of this valuable archaeological find.

Thus, the rich events in 2025 will bring various activities.from historical-cultural to musical and educational, which will connect locals and visitors from all over Slovenia and abroad. Although the program is not yet fully finalized, it is already clear that the coming months will be intertwined with the sound from ancient times.

*All three events organized by the Jazz Cerkno are part of the project The Oldest Flute, which is included in the official program of the European Capital of Culture Nova Gorica 2025. The project is co-financed by GO! 2025 – European Capital of Culture, Nova Gorica.