The horrors of war did not skip Ilirska Bistrica and its people were ready to fight. There is a huge liberation monument on the Freedom Hill, and the Zalesje Partisan Hospital bears witness to the deep humanitarian values of those who fought alongside allied forces against the darkest enemy of the 20^th century.

After the war, Ilirska Bistrica and the villages around it embraced prosperity and the future. To this day, these lands still offer a glimpse of their glorious past, exceptional heritage and a warm welcome.