Ribnica valley’s hiking trails

The river Ribnica is a typical karst exsurgence, which rises from the three springs between the foothills of Velika Gora and the northern part of Bukovica. It winds its way across swampy grassland-covered plains, before finally disappearing into the caves at the Chapel of St. Margaret on Dolenjevaško polje (Dolenja vas field). Underground, part of its waters flows into the river Rinža near Kočevje, and the other part into the river Krka. The riparian areas, which are home to numerous plant organisms inhabited by many animal species, boast wild swampy nature that is almost impossible to find anywhere else. The karst spring is characterised by shades of turquoise that have a beneficial effect on the body and mind. Due to its one-of-a-kind features, this area is part of Natura 2000, an EU network of nature protection areas.
A walk to the source of the river Ribnica is suitable for all age groups, including children under the age of two. The only section where you should pay a bit more attention is when crossing the footbridge. The entire trip is doable with a baby stroller. The path is flat with a macadam surface and no hiking equipment is needed. There are some tables and benches by the source, where you can have a bit of a rest and enjoy some refreshments.

The Trail to the Tobacco Pear Tree is part of the path that runs from the village of Dolenji Lazi towards the Church of St. Ana. The starting point is at a large parking lot at the Dolenj Lazi Fire Station, where you can leave your car, before continuing on foot along a marked route. The macadam path is a low difficulty level and no hiking equipment is required. The trail is suitable for both young and older hikers who would like to fill their lungs with some fresh air.
If you need to rest for a bit there is a bench in the shady shelter of the mighty pear tree. You can combine the themed trail with the Ribnica Nature Trail, as part of which you can also visit the Cavers’ House (Jamarski dom) at the Francetova jama cave, which is considered the first cavers’ house in the former Yugoslavia. If you feel like a longer hike, you can continue all the way to the Church of St. Ana (964 m), which was built in the 16th century.

The starting point of the trail is at the asphalted parking lot by the cemetery at the Church of St. Thomas, one of the oldest and most important churches of the former Ribnica Parish. It was built by Count Otto of Ortenburg in the mid-14th century. A road marked with signposts leads to the starting point. Pay attention to a white sign board with a cemetery symbol that reads ‘pokopališče’ (cemetery). From the parking lot, walk back along the same path until you reach the first wooden signpost that reads Grmada and then along the waymarked hiking trail.
The seven-kilometre-long, low-difficulty-level circular trail with an asphalt and macadam surface is a perfect choice for longer family walks. At the top of Grmada, there is a mountain hut, which is open at the weekends. In fine weather, the viewpoint at the hut offers wonderful views of Snežnik, the Julian Alps, the Karavanke and the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. This is also a perfect spot to enjoy a well-deserved snack and a refreshing drink.

Today, however, the only things still standing are the castle and church ruins, a testament to their fascinating history. Only certain parts of the castle church equipment have been preserved and are now stored at several locations in the Dolenjska region. The main altar of the Church of St. George is on view at the National Gallery of Slovenia in Ljubljana.

Hiking along this highly interesting and educational trail you will learn a number of interesting historical facts. You need to follow the yellow-red or yellow markings on the boards and trees. There are two information boards next to the former castle and church buildings with all sorts of useful information.

The trail was marked in 2016 by Mirjam Trdan, president of the Lions Club Ribnica.

Velika gora is a mountain range of medium height, consisting of limestone and dolomite. The southern, limestone side, where the slopes are very steep and high, has a mostly highland climate with low temperatures and large amounts of rain and snow. The highest peak of Velika gora is Turn (1254 m), which boasts views of Mt Triglav (2864 m) – the highest peak of the Julian Alps and Slovenia’s highest mountain – in clear weather.

With its length of 6.8 km and a starting point in the village of Rakitnica, the hiking trail, which runs almost entirely along the waymarked Ribnica Mountain Trail, is a low difficulty level, however, hiking equipment is recommended.

*** A suggested extended route for hikers with a higher level of fitness: continue along the Ribnica Mountain Trail to Turn, Korita, Jelenov Žleb, Glažuta, Korita and back to Rakitnica. Due to its length (an additional 17.6 km), this is quite a demanding hiking route and good hiking equipment is recommended. The highest point on the hiking trail is the Turn peak, from where you can enjoy fine views of Snežnik and the woodlands of the Notranjska region, and in fine and clear weather, also views of the Julian Alps and the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. An important historical point along this trail is the abandoned settlement of Jelenov Žleb, where a World War II battle took place between a battalion of the Italian Macerata Infantry Division and two brigades of the Partisans (the National Liberation Army). The Jelenov Žleb battle is one of Slovenian partisans’ most successful national liberation war battles. If you walk along this trail, you will also pass the Glažuta, where Prince Karl of Auersperg had a glassworks – with the first steam boiler in the historical region of Carniola – built in 1835, and later also a steam-powered sawmill. Remains of both buildings are still visible. Along the way, you will also see the Wayside Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is a replica of a former chapel built in 1926 by Countess Auersperg.

The Mala gora hill stretches in the northwest-southeast direction. The highest peaks are Stene svete Ane (964 m) and Črni vrh (961 m). At the site of the Church of St. Ana, the remains of a fortified Iron Age fort with a triple rampart are still visible today. During the time of the Ottoman incursions (in the 15th and 16th centuries), this was the location of one of the beacon fires that made up the so-called ‘fire telephone’, a network of fires to warn the wider area against invading pillagers. The Church of St. Ana overlooking the valley is visible from afar. Since the 16th century, the church has been a popular destination for pilgrims who come here for some solace in times of distress and prayers of intercession, and in recent decades, also an increasingly popular hiking destination.

Along the trail, there are a number of tips and explanations encouraging hikers to think about their surroundings and watch it closely. Walking the trail is a perfect opportunity to take some time off from the daily grind and see a different side of the forest. Nature never lacks diversity and offers something new every single day. Today you can listen to the sounds of animals, tomorrow you can watch the leaves change colours with the season, on days with fine weather you can head to the viewpoint, and another time you can forage for herbs or wild berries.

Legend has it that the way out from a mighty dragon’s cave used to be located at the site of today’s chapel. To drive the dragon away for good, the local people decide to fill up the cave with rocks and stones. The dragon stormed around the underground in fury, making the ground and Velika gora shake. As a result, the cave walls collapsed, burying the dragon underneath, and the people were free.

For the easy circular hiking trail with a starting point at a large asphalted parking lot right next to the Prigorica cemetery, you need low-cut hiking boots. Part of the trail leads on asphalted roads and part of it on macadam country road and forest paths. A section of the trail follows the Ribnica Mountain Trail – marked red on the map, and with red-white markers along the trail itself.