Marathon Lake Historical and Natural Trail

“In 1994, Art Kovačič wrote down his grandfather’s stories. He says that they never knew where the truth merged into dreams.
The adventures of Halar Poldek take place in Šmarje. They are humorous, mischievous and a boy’s view of life in Šmarje between the two wars.
You are invited to take a walk around Šmarje accompanied by Poldek’s Tales, which are suitable for young and old alike. The walk starts on the platform in front of the Šmarje Cultural Centre and will take 1 – 1.5 hours.”

“On a hill above Šmarje pri Jelšah is a manor house. A mansion with a very special history. A manor around which countless stories circulate. On a walk, visitors will learn about the history of the manor and the folk stories associated with it.

Discover these stories and the life of the manor between glamour and misery.”

The Rogatec Cultural Heritage Route encompasses the most important sites in Rogatec. It is a simple, approximately 2 km long, walking trail that starts in front of the Castle Pristava, the seat of the Municipality of Rogatec, where free parking is available. The first place to visit is the Renaissance-Baroque Strmol Manor House (during opening hours). In addition to exhibitions on glassmaking, flax production and the development of kitchens, the manor house also houses the Hofmann Collection, a collection of artworks. The manor houses the Rogatec Handicraft Centre with four professionally equipped workshops; pottery, weaving, weaving and glassmaking. The route continues to the centre of the town, the medieval Rogatec Square, first mentioned as a square in 1238. Climb the stone steps to the Baroque church of St Jernej, from where you can see another church – St Hijacinta, the only church dedicated to this saint in Slovenia. The highest point above the square, the preserved ruins of Gornji Rogatec Castle, offer a view over the square and across to the Croatian side. From here it’s downhill on a partly forest and partly asphalt road to the Rogatec Open Air Museum. The largest museum of its kind in Slovenia, preserving folk architecture of the sub-Pannon type. It presents the life of farmers and craftsmen in the 19th century and the early 20th century, mainly from the slopes of Boč, Donačka gora and Maclja. With heritage tastes, experiential workshops and handicraft demonstrations, the route is rounded off with a walk along the footpath, past the equestrian centre and the caravan park, to the car park at the castle annexe below Strmol Manor House, where the route began.