AROUND ARTISANS’ VILLAGES FULL OF MIRACLES AND LEGENDS
In addition to woodenware, exploring Sodražica offers plenty of food for thought. The area boasts all sorts of legends, memories of mystical miracles and local masters of traditional handicrafts, who seek inspiration in houses of God and visit-worthy places in nature.
SHORT PATH DESCRIPTION
Start out in Matic’s Ethno-House (1) with memories of the way people lived back in the day and then follow the Way of the Cross to the Franciscan monastery and the famous pilgrimage church in Nova Štifta (2). From the church, the trail leads to the karstified Travna gora (3). From there, go downhill to the villages of the mystic Magdalena Gornik (4). In the centre of Sodražica, learn about the legend of dog-headed men (5) and then visit a local sieve maker’s workshop (6) and a basket weaver on the hillside of a lookout hill (7). Find answers to all sorts of interesting questions.
Path length
21 km
Places
RAVNI DOL – NOVA ŠTIFTA – TRAVNA GORA – GORA: VAS PETRINCI in VAS JANEŽI – SODRAŽICA – ZAMOSTEC
Travel by
Car, bicycle, on foot
VISIT THESE PLACES
1) HOW DOES HIS FAMILY LIVE, WHILE A PACK PEDDLERS IS AWAY?
You can learn all about the woodenware makers’ and pack paddlers’ lives back in the day in an ethno-house with a farmhouse room, a family corner and a room for socializing. For the family that cultivated poor land, the money made selling woodenware was an additional source of livelihood. A 1928 barn, which has been converted into a museum, features various woodenware-making tools and implements used for working fields and meadows in the old days. In front of the house, you can see woodenware sculptures, and there is an apiary nearby. Not far away is the start of the Way of the Cross, which leads to the pilgrimage church on Nova Štifta.
Things to see and things to do
Things to see
- A museum devoted to husbandry-related heritage from the 20th century;
- Woodenware makers’ tools and equipment;
- Open-air sculptures;
- An apiary;
Things to do
- Watch old documentary films about woodenware makers;
- Listen to the stories told by the ethno-house owner, who will pair the past with the spiritual sides of life;
MATIC’S ETHNO-HOUSE
Ravni Dol 1 a, Sodražica
2) HOW TALL IS THE LINDEN TREE WITH A VIEW OF THE CHURCH?
Those who travel the world much like pack peddlers did back in the day need a bit of help from the higher power for good luck on the way, a proper place to reflect and a pardon for their sins after returning from their journey. The pilgrimage church on Nova Štifta, built in 1641–1671, is perfect for this. Next to the church, built on the site of an ancient shrine, is a Franciscan monastery. An eye-catching sight in the church yard are the 380-year-old linden trees. The crown of the largest one features a treehouse that can accommodate up to 20 people. The first tree house was built as early as 1878! The church is accessibly by a well-maintained road or on foot along the Way of the Cross with 12 granite stations.
Things to see and things to do
Things to see
- Outside: Baroque architecture with a rectangular sanctuary and an octagonal nave, vaulted domes, a mighty bell tower and holy steps;
- Inside: three golden altars and a 17th-century pulpit;
Things to do
- Walk the forest Way of the Cross from Matic’s Ethno-House to the Chapel of St Joseph below the church and take time to reflect at each station;
- Admire the architectural features and carving masterpieces from the 17th century;
- Climb up the wooden stairs to reach the linden tree crown and admire the views of the church and the surrounding area from the unusual tree house;
- Join the pilgrims for the High Mass on 15 August and take home some holy water;
PILGRIMAGE CHURCH OF ST MARY OF THE ASSUMPTION
Nova Štifta Franciscan Monastery, Nova Štifta 3, Sodražica
3) WHY IS THIS MOUNTAIN SO FULL OF MEADOWS?
From the Nova Štifta church, a gravel road and a waymarked mountain trail lead to Travna gora (Meadow Mountain). The 5-km-long trail is also suitable for occasional hikers and children. The karstified plateau at 900–1200 metres above sea level is covered by meadows and forests full of game. The Travna gora area is the home of various protected plants, e.g. martagon lily, orange lily, spurge-laurel and others. The lodge on Travna gora with a WW2 memorial commemorates the establishment of the First Ribnica Squad.
Things to see and things to do
Things to see
- Take a closer look at all the special features of the karst plateau and of the meadows that Travna gora was named after;
Things to do
- On your way, stop at the monument and other WW2 memorials commemorating the national liberation war;
- Have some refreshments at the Mountain Lodge (Planinski dom) and ask for the way to the most beautiful view of the valley;
- Enjoy nature and discover some unusual flora;
- Walk to the next mountain lodge on Kamni grič;
HUNTING LODGE ON TRAVNA GORA
Travna Gora 42, Sodražica
4) WHO WAS MAGDALENA GORNIK?
From Travna gora you will reach the village of Petrinci on Gora nad Sodražico. On the viewpoint next to the church, you can see the grave of Magdalena Gornik (1835–1896) also known as Lenčka of Gora. She is believed to have survived 47 years without earthly food, with nothing but mystical communion, which she received while experiencing ecstasy. Her visions and stigmata have been studied by numerous priests and physicians. Following beatification process, she could be canonised. From the church, walk down to the village of Janeži with Magdalena’s birth house, the apparition cross and a wayside shrine.
Things to see and things to do
Things to see
- The Church of Saint Mary of the Snows in Petrinci with a cemetery and the grave of the mystic Magdalena Gornik;
- The birth house of Magdalena Gornik and other shrines in Janeži (the apparition cross, a wayside shrine);
Things to do
- Discover the story of the mystic Magdalena, her visions, levitation, materialisation, stigmata, the languages she spoke although she had never learnt them, her prophecies and miraculous healings;
- Buy a book about Magdalena’s life: “Magdalena Gornik” by Martina Kraljič.
- On 19 July, join the annual pilgrimage to mark Magdalena Gornik’s birthday;
GORA OF THE MYSTIC MAGDALENA GORNIK
Gora pri Sodražici Parish Office, Petrinci 15, Sodražica
5) HOW DOES LOVE AFFECT THE DOG-HEADED MEN?
From Gora, follow the way to the centre of Sodražica, the home of numerous craftspeople, which is known for a one-of-a-kind story about dog-headed men. A mother is said to have cast a spell on her headstrong son, making him turn into a wild dog during the full moon. It took a drop of his beloved wife’s blood to save him. The story of transformations from bad to good is illustrated by a large sculpture of a dog-headed men in the Chestnut Park (Kostanjev park). Every year, the nearby square provides the venue for the Days of Dog-Headed Men – the largest cultural and ethnological event in the region. A part of this event is the Market Day, which features the craftspeople of Sodražica and other villages in the area.
Things to see and things to do
Things to see
- The sculpture of a dog-headed men in the Chestnut Park;
- Interpretation boards with information about the special local features and the history of Sodražica;
- The Church of Mary Magdalena in the centre of Sodražica and the memorial park of prominent Slovenians next to the church;
Things to do
- Reflect on your life transformations! Find inspiration in the story about the dog-headed men;
- Visit the workshops of two local craftspeople, a sieve maker and a basket weaver;
- Pick the finest natural and cultural heritage spots in the area around Sodražica with the help of photos and descriptions on the information boards in the Chestnut Park;
- In the early summer, follow the event schedule so you don’t miss the Days of Dog-Headed Men and the Market Day;
- Drive to the Church of St Gregory and visit the special features of the Slemena circular route by bike;
- Visit the Saturday market and see all the local produce and products on offer;
CHESTNUT PARK
In the centre of Sodražica, between the Cesta Notranjskega odreda road and the Zavrti street
6) WHAT KIND OF SIEVE IS IN SODRAŽICA’S COAT OF ARMS?
There is no such thing as a pack peddler without a sieve and a riddle. Large sieve rims and bases are peddlers’ signature wares. You can see how a sieve – which is also the symbol of Sodražica – is made in the handicraft workshop of Andrej Mihelič, who learnt the sieve maker’s trade from his father. He handcrafts sieves and riddles from spruce rims and bases, metal and horsehair. He is the bearer of the living woodenware heritage and one of the few craftspeople who still know how to assemble the kind of peddler’s pack that was carried around by the famed pack peddler Urban.
Things to see and things to do
Things to see
- Sieves and riddles – the handicrafts Sodražica has been famous for ever since the early beginnings of woodenware in this area;
Things to do
- Ask the sieve maker to show you how he makes sieves and riddles;
- Use the opportunity to buy some handicrafts in a sieve maker’s workshop;
SIEVE-MAKER’S WORKSHOP – ANDREJ MIHELIČ
Andrej Mihelič s. p., Zavrti 11, Sodražica
7) HOW DO YOU MAKE A WOVEN BASKET?
In the area between Sodražica and Ribnica, basket weaving was not just a men’s trade by also women’s. On the slope of a viewpoint hill in the village of Zamostec, look for the workshop of Danica Benčina, who runs basket weaving workshops at the Ribnica Handicraft Centre. Learn all about her hamper baskets which were used to take Easter treats to the church to be blessed back in the day. You can also try your hand at making a basket from willow switches. The friendly basket weaver also makes shopper baskets, bread baskets, woven trays and other products with an art & craft certificate.
Things to see and things to do
Things to see
- Baskets and other products woven from willow switches;
Things to do
- Watch a skilful basket weaver handcraft her wares;
- Try your hand at basket weaving;
- Use the opportunity to buy some handicrafts;
BASKET WEAVER’S WORKSHOP – DANICA BENČINAA
Danica Benčina, Zamostec 60, Sodražica
Bike rental
RICIKEL CITY BIKE RENTAL
The Ricikel bicycle-sharing system is a cheap, active and environmentally friendly means of transport. It is available to all users within the municipality 24/7. It allows users to use 8 conventional bicycles in front of the Community Health Centre – Zdravstveni dom and the Cooperative Hall building (Zadružni dom) in Ribnica.
ELECTRIC BICYCLE RENTAL
Rent a bike and ride through the Ribnica Valley.
Tran-Sport d.o.o.
Kot pri Ribnici 1
1310 Ribnica
+386 51 814 858
info@tran-sport.si
www.tran-sport.si
Evropski kmetijski sklad za razvoj podeželja: Evropa investira v podeželje.
Projekt »SKUPAJ SMO LAHKO TURIZEM ITP ROKODELSTVO«.