Savinja and Šalek Valley

The Savinja and Šalek Valley is a sub-region in northern Slovenia, close to border with Austria.

Understand

Solčava in Logarska dolina is a great place to experience history and nature.

The area consists of the valles of the Savinja river, and Šalek Valley (or Velenje Basin). The latter is named after the castle near Velenje.

Get around

• 1 Toristično informacijski center (TIC) Luče, Luče 106, ☏ +386 3 839 35 55, info@tic-luce.si. Jun-Sep: M-F 08:00-15:00, Sa Su holidays 09:00-13:00; Oct-May: M-F 08:00-15:00, closed on Sa Su holidays. (updated Apr 2017)

See

There are a few notable towns in the region:

• 1 Gornij Grad. A municipality with intact environment and absence of pollution, a member of the European Climate Alliance. Situated at the foot of Menina Plateau, it is most visited because of 1 The Church of St. Mohor St. Fortunatus, the largest baroque building in Slovenia. (updated Aug 2019)
• 2 Luče. A subalpine valley, perfect for mountaineering. The most popular tourist attraction is 1 Snežna jama Cave under the Mt Raduha. Nazarje with its Vrbovec Castle and Franciscan monastery is absolutely worth visiting for the culture-seekers.  
• 3 Mozirje.  
• 4 Velenje. A vivid cultural city well-known for its festival life, especially traditional Pippi Longstocking family Festival. Here you can find the world biggest Tito Statue on the Tito Square, 2 Coal Mining Museum (Awarded as European museum of the year; A 120-year-old elevator takes you 160 m deep into the former mine tunnels of the mine Škale) and 3 Velenje Castle - all well worth visiting. Modern city architecture and picturesque lakes are good choice for taking pictures.  
• 5 Solčava (German: Sulzbach, out of “Sulze”, a mineral spring and “Bach”, a stream). One of the most important municipalities, first mentioned in documents in 1268. Archaeology has shown the region has been home to settlements as early as the Palaeolithic. During the 11th and 12 century, settlements reached the higher parts of the areas. Slovenia's highest located farm is located here at 1327 meters above sea level. The most notable building of the village Solčava itself is its church, built between 1461 and 1485, with further works reaching into the 17th century and dedicated to Mary of the Snows. It is home to a sitting Mary figure made out of stone about 1250, which is also shown on the municipality's coat of arms.  

And also a few villages/hamlets:

• 6 Logarska Dolina (German: Locherstal). A village in the valley of the same name (Logar Valley). The settlements belong to the national heritage. Amongst others, they feature a small church built in 1930/31 by architect Martin Golob, dedicated to Christ the King, being part of national heritage. Furthermore, several houses (nos 5, 7, 8, 12, 15 and 18) and other buildings (21, 27) also belong to the national heritage.  
• 7 Matkov Kot. A settlement, listed as heritage together with its small chapel “Kapelica v Matkovem kotu”. Located in the same-named Alpine glacier valley.  
• 8 Podolševa (German: Ebersdorf).  
• 9 Robanov Kot (German : Markt). A settlement in the same-named nature park.  

There is also a lot of nature to explore, for example:

• 4 Črna spring. 
• 5 Rinka waterfall. One of the most well-known and most visited waterfalls in Slovenia, flows over smaller rocky sections to a magnificent 90-m fall.  
• 6 Palenk waterfall. 
• Brložniški waterfalls
• Rastovški waterfall
• Logarjeva linden
• 7 Mozirski gaj. A botanical garden 
• 8 Žagerski mlin (at km 9 of the road from Kamnik (via Črna, Kališe)). One of the rare mills that is preserved functional. The municipality of Luče had over 20 mills before World War II, which have thereafter been replaced by more modern and efficient works - the old mills degraded. This mill has been first documented in during Maria Theresa's reign, making it about 250 years old. After a destruction by a flood in 1990, it has been renovated in 1996. An information is given and there is an 800-m hiking trail leading to a lookout. (updated Apr 2017)
• 9 Snow cave (10-minute walk along a steep footpath from the parking lot). Open from July to the end of August on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.. Highest underground cave in Slovenia arranged for visitors, 630 m out of 1062 m can be visited. (updated Jan 2024)
• 10 Potok cave. 115m long cave, with a permanent exhibit open for tourists at 'Firšt Inn and Museum' in the nearby village. (updated Jan 2024)

Do

• 2 Logar Valley. A glacier made valley sometimes dubbed the "green valley", situated between the Karawanks in the North and the Kamnik-Savinja Alps in the South and West and is part of the Pohorje-Savinjska region. Formerly part of Styria, now it belongs to Slovenia's Savinja statistical region. The 2- to 3-hr-long walk through the valley is not too exhausting - quite the opposite, the surrounding nature is very relaxing. The path is asphalted, which makes the accessibility with children or bikes easy. (updated Apr 2018)
• 3 Raduha. A peak past the nearby Koča na Loki mountain hut.  
• 4 Solčava Panoramic road. Nice vistas on the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, Landscape Parks. The whole Solčava region is perfect relaxing in unspoiled nature, hiking in the picturesque mountains and tasting good local food in eco farms. 
• Planina Ravne (mountain pasture) and Dlskovec and Smrekovec peaks offer some great views
• 5 Topolšica Spa. Thermal pools surrounded by nature. 
• 6 Ljubno ob Savinji. This town has a tradition of wood rafting which could be observed during tourist event Flosarski bal (every first Saturday in August). Women Ski-Jumping World Cups and other competitions are organised in the winter.  
• 7 Menina Pasture Plateau. There is a lookout tower at Mount Vidovnik (1508m), about a 15-minute walk from the Menina Pasture Lodge. (updated Jan 2024)

Eat

Savinjski želodec, a top-level dry meat speciality, produced in the traditional manner for hundreds of years, can be found in many of the local eco-farms.

• Pri Gamsu, Podvolovljek 35, ☏ +386 3 584 43 29. Daily 10:00-22:00. (updated Apr 2017)

Sleep

Logarska dolina

Splurge:

• 1 Hotel Plesnik, Logarska dolina 10, ☏ +386 3 839 23 00, info@plesnik.si. (updated Apr 2017)

Go next

• Celje the regions biggest city
• Kamnik a nice medieval town in central Slovenia, just some kilometers away but separated from Logarska Dolina by a crest of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps
• Carinthia in Austria is accessible via a small pass; interesting places there are for example:
  • Klagenfurt in Austria, accessible via the village of Eisenkappel-Vellach/Železna Kapla-Bela via the 2 Paulitschsattel pass
  • the lakes such as Wörthersee next to Klagenfurt