Šmartno pri Litiji: Culture, Trails and Local Traditions

Šmartno pri Litiji – the Renaissance Bogenšperk Castle is considered one of Slovenia’s most important cultural monuments.

Culture

Bogenšperk Castle houses museum collections focusing on the life and work of the Carniolan polymath Janez Vajkard Valvasor. The original of the first Russian-Slovenian dictionary is exhibited at the Davorin Hostnik Russian-Slovenian Centre at Bogenšperk Castle. The Ecce Homo Chapel on Pungrt was built in the 18th century. The cellar of Bogenšperk Castle houses the cartwheel room, where dried meat products are dried and matured.

The Church of St Martin in Šmartno pri Litiji was designed in the Neo-Gothic style by the Graz architect Adolf Wagner and built between 1899 and 1901. Inside, it is decorated with frescoes by the renowned Ljubljana artist Anton Jebačin. The oldest house in Šmartno stands above the parish church and was built in 1586.

Šmartno has its own national costume, worn by the well-known local folklore group Javorje. Šmartno is known for its long tradition of goldwork and white embroidery.

Gastronomy

In the surrounding area of Šmartno pri Litiji, the Pivec farm organises workshops on gathering wild herbs and herb tastings, where visitors can make their own herbal preparations. The Pivec farm has a landscaped herb garden with more than 100 different herbs. At the Dremelj beekeeping farm, visitors can see the breeding of queen bees and honey production, and taste honey. In the surrounding area of Šmartno pri Litiji, the Dremelj beekeeping farm offers chestnut, blossom, acacia, forest and linden honey.

Trails

In the surrounding area of Šmartno pri Litiji, a 2.3-kilometre-long fitness trail runs from the Lihtenberk Chapel to Bogenšperk Castle. It has twelve stations with a total of 19 strengthening and stretching exercises. In the surrounding area of Šmartno pri Litiji, Vintarjevec has a 3,000-square-metre paintball field in a disused quarry with trenches, bridges, shelters and natural hiding places.

In the surrounding area of Šmartno pri Litiji are the remains of Lihtenberk Castle, with a few ruins and an excavation along the path where the castle well once stood. In the surrounding area of Šmartno pri Litiji, the Baroque Church of the Assumption of Mary in Javorje was consecrated in 1726. In the surrounding area of Šmartno pri Litiji, Javorje has seven marked energy points that visitors can walk between.

In the surrounding area of Šmartno pri Litiji, the Jablaniška pot hiking trail starts and ends at the fire station in Zgornja Jablanica. It passes the Church of St Anne and runs through Jablaniške Laze, Bukovica and Prelesje; from there, views open up of the Kamnik–Savinja Alps and Mamolj with the Church of St John the Baptist. For day planning, the trails can be compared by length, stations and activity.

Cycling Route

The Na Veliko Presko cycling loop is 38 kilometres long and runs through Šmartno. Its route leads from Litija via Šmartno and onwards from the Church of St Martin towards the Jablaniška Valley.

Other places: Dole Pri Litiji, Slivna, Litija, Vače.

To the overarching travel overview: Litija.