Natural sights

Geo-morphological sights

Zelena jama (Green Cave) or Brezno presenečenj (Abyss of Surprise), Rovt under Menina
Tinetova jama (Tine's Cave) or Jarekov brlog (Jarek's lair), Čreta pri Kokarjah
Štebirnica, Pusto polje
Krapletova jama (Kraple's cave), Čreta pri Kokarjah
Lomski brlog (lair of Lom), Čreta pri Kokarjah
Ovčja jama (Sheep cave), Čreta
Jama v Žlabru (Cave at Žlabor), Žlabor
Kokarska zijalka, Kokarje
Orlova peč, Čreta pri Kokarjah
Kokarska Suha, Kokarje, Čreta pri Kokarjah

 

Zelena jama (Green Cave) or Brezno presenečenj (Abyss of Surprise), Rovt pod Menino

Near Tolsti vrh at Dobrovlje, at the altitude of 940 meters, in a small hole (60 metres from the road between St. Jošt and Nazarje) there lies a half meter hole, which leads along the inclined edge of almost 900 meters deep. The cave descends in different levels up to the depth of 35 m. Shafts are tight, usually high and hinder movement with its curves. The path is accompanied by a stream, which occasionally turns to an unpleasant cold shower.

If we want to reach the bottom, we need at least 12 hours, more that 250 m of rope, trustworthy companions and stubborn perseverance to endure darkness, cold and wet clothes and reach the record depth. The cave can be visited with guides, who provide the necessary equipment, till the depth of 270 m. This is the deepest abyss in Styria region.
to the top

 

Tinetova jama (Tine's Cave) or Jarekov brlog (Jarek's lair), Čreta pri Kokarjah

The cave, which was discovered in 1882, is named after Martin Gričar, who discovered it.

The entrance of 2 meters of height and 4 meters of width under an upright wall of the northern edge of Dobrovlje leads to a horizontal cave. This cave leads upon gravel to the 4 meters deep hall with stalactites.
to the top

 

Štebirnica, Pusto polje

90 metres long shaft, full of calcareous sinter on a secluded karst of Dobrovlje is distinguished by its stalactite pillars ("štebri"), which gave name to the cave. The entrance was formed when the ceiling of one of the halls collapsed.
to the top

 

Krapletova jama (Kraple's Cave), Čreta pri Kokarjah

The cave is 60 meters long and rich with stalactites. It consists of several halls.
to the top

 

Lomski brlog (Lair of Lom), Čreta pri Kokarjah

A horizontal cave of 35 m of length with calcareous sinter and stalactites is endangered because of destruction of its stalactites.
to the top

 

Ovčja jama (Sheep Cave), Čreta

The cave is an abyss of 27 m of depth, a shaft of 20 m of length.
to the top

 

Jama v Žlabru (Cave in Žlabor), Žlabor

The horizontal cave of 46 m of length is important for being the first site in Styria region, where cave bugs were found. The entrance of the cave is 2 m wide and 1.6 m high and is located 12 m above the road on the rocky slope at Žlabor.
to the top

 

Kokarska zijalka, Kokarje

It is a small cave of 16 m of length above a strong karst water source. It is important as a track of underground outflow of stream Kokarska Suha.
to the top

 

Orlova peč (Eagle's rock), Čreta pri Kokarjah

Beside Zakrajske peči (Zakrajska rocks) raises in the middle of a clearing a big lonesome rock, covered with trees and bushes. It is well seen from the valley and from the farms Lomšek, Rebernik and Kraple.

Orlova peč (Eagle's rock) at Čreta is well seen from valley
(photo: ZRSVN OE Celje)

to the top

 

Kokarska Suha, Kokarje, Čreta pri Kokarjah

A 500 long gorge is cut into a north-west slope of Dobrovlje. The gorge of stream Kokarska Suha is picturesque especially for its upright southern walls. The river sources on impermeable stoneware where the stream disappears underground and reappears in the karstic sources near Zijalka cave. The stream does not flow along the gorge except at strong rains.

The gorge of stream Kokarska Suha is cut into the north-western slope of Dobrovlje
(photo: ZRSVN OE Celje)

to the top

     

Interesting trees

Lipa na prelazu Lipa (Lime tree on the Lipa pass), Rovt pod Menino Mežnarjeva lipa ob cerkvi v Kokarjah (Sacristan's lime tree beside the church in Kokarje) Cerkvena lipa v Šmartnem ob Dreti (Church lime tree in Šmartno ob Dreti) Lipa ob cerkvi sv. Marije (Lime tree beside the church of Holy Virgin), Čreta pri Kokarjah Lipi ob kapelici (Lime tree beside the chapel), Nazarje Lipa na prelazu Lipa (Lime tree on the Lipa pass), Rovt pod Menino
Mežnarjeva lipa ob cerkvi v Kokarjah (Sacristan's lime tree beside the church in Kokarje)
Cerkvena lipa v Šmartnem ob Dreti (Church lime tree in Šmartno ob Dreti)
Lipa ob cerkvi sv. Marije (Lime tree beside the church of Holy Virgin), Čreta pri Kokarjah
Lipi ob kapelici (Lime tree beside the chapel), Nazarje

 

Lipa na prelazu Lipa (Lime tree on Lipa pass), Rovt pod Menino

The lime tree stands on the pass Lipa (Lime tree) which connects the Upper and the Lower Savinja valleys (Šmartno ob Dreti and Vransko). The pass was named after the lime tree. The dimension of the tree is 480 cm (diameter approx. 150 cm). In the height of 2.3 m it splits into two trunks.

The pass Lipa (Lime tree) was named after the tree by the side of the road connecting Šmartno ob Dreti and Vransko

Few meters away from the tree there is an old chapel, from which we can walk 30 minutes along marked path to the churches of St. Jošt and of St. Gervasius and Protasius. The path then continues across Predkovica na Slapi to Menina planina.
to the top

 

Mežnarjeva lipa ob cerkvi v Kokarjah (Sacristan's lime tree beside the church in Kokarje)

A beautiful lime tree with dimension of 393 cm stands beside the church of Holy Virgin in Kokarje. It was named after a nickname of owner of the land, where it grows (Mežnar).
to the top

 

Cerkvena lipa v Šmartnem ob Dreti (Church lime tree in Šmartno ob Dreti)

The lime tree with dimension of 364 cm and 20 m high grows on the church yard beside the church of St. Martin in Šmartno ob Dreti.

Twenty meters high lime tree in Šmartno - in the background the parish church of St. Martin

to the top

 

Lipa ob cerkvi sv. Marije (Lime tree beside the church of St. Mary), Čreta pri Kokarjah

The Turkish lime tree beside the church is important as a local sight, related to the rich cultural tradition. Around the lime tree with dimension of 418 cm stands a square wooden bench.

The lime tree beside the church of St. Mary at Čreta is an important local sight

to the top

 

Lipi ob kapelici (Lime trees beside the chapel), Nazarje

Two lime trees which grow beside the chapel near the new primary school were sawed (dry branches) in the spring 2003. The trunks of both trees split 2 or respectively 3 m high, but higher they come into contact creating a unique, beautiful, round crown.
to the top

   

Menina planina

It is a wide, karstic plateau, overgrown with woods at the altitude of 1300-1500 metres. There were formed several karstic phenomena with caves, lakes and sinkholes. The landscape is invigorated by numerous pastures.

It is east-west oriented and long over 20 km. The width in the north-south direction does not exceed 10 km. On the north steep slopes rise over Zadrečka valley and basin of Gornji Grad. On the south it gently descends to Tuhinjska valley and to the valley of Motnišnica. On the west it reaches to the pass Črnivec (902 m) and on the east it is separated by two passes Slopi (925 m) and Lipa (721 m), important for the local inhabitants for a long time, from the lower plateau Dobrovlje.

View of a mighty mass of Menina planina

On a limy and dolomite ground there were formed several karstic phenomena with caves, lakes and sinkholes. The most famous hollow cave is Jespa. The snow stays at its bottom for a long time. The highest hill is Vivodnik (1508 m) with a belvedere.

Menina was named after monks from the Benedictine monastery, to which it belonged as a feud, together with the entire Upper Savinja valley. In the 19th century, when a lot of charcoal was needed for ironworks, there was a charcoal-burning developed on the plateau. Especially on the northern slopes there were a lot of long dry and water slides.

A wonderful landscape, suitable for mountaineering, is invigorated by numerous pastures, where in the summer we can find flocks of cows, sheep and horses. The visitors, who come to Menina by foot and also those, who drive by the road, can rest and refresh in the mountain lodge at Menina (1453 m). Goli vrh (Treeless peak) (1426), also called Šavnice, is the highest peak of municipality Nazarje.
to the top

 

Dobrovlje

Dobrovlje is a wide plateau, which spreads east of Menina planina, between the lower Zadrečka and the Lower Savinja valleys, with a magnificent view of this valley.

The plateau is mainly constituted of limestone and dolomite, which gives it a karstic nature with many karstic sinkholes and caves. Dobrovlje is covered by extensive forests with scarce farmhouses.

View of Dobrovlje, spread with many roads and marked mountain paths
(photo: ZRSVN OE Celje)

One of the characteristics of the plateau is well preserved natural and cultural heritage, which offers many opportunities for development of different activities. The part of cultural heritage, that is well preserved, are many churches (St. Jošt, St. Gervasius and St. Protasius, St. Catherine at Čreta, St. Urban…).

There are many roads that lead to the plateau and also several marked mountain paths, especially from Mozirje, Nazarje, Šmartno ob Dreti and Kokarje. The well preserved landscape and stay in a wonderful natural environment will make an indelible seal and for that, your first visit will certainly not be the last.
to the top

 

River Dreta

Altitude at the source: 1.100 m
Altitude at the confluence with river Savinja: 339 m
Relative difference in altitude: 761 m
Length of the river: 29 km
Surface of rainfall hinterland: 126 km2

Dreta at Nazarje, a few hundreds of meters before confluence with river Savinja

River Dreta gave name to the Zadrečka valley, which is the most important side valley of river Savinja in the Upper Savinja valley. The river sources under Črnivec and runs through villages like Gornji Grad, Šmartno ob Dreti and Kokarje. It reaches Nazarje, where after 29 km it flows into river Savinja as its right-hand afflux. It is a low and hilly land under the slopes of plateaus Menina and Dobrovlje, where the river with its numerous small affluxes creates a distinctive landscape.

View of Zadrečka valley from Menina planina, in foreground Volog and Šmartno ob Dreti

In the past the river was known for lumbering work and many mills. Nowadays it is especially interesting for fishing and different sports. As an indispensable element of the landscape and for well preserved natural banks, it is suitable for relaxation and long pleasant walks.
to the top