Discover Sele: Trails, Churches and Franc Ksaver Meško

Sele combines trails with church art and the memory of Franc Ksaver Meško. When planning a trip to Sele, movement, sacred architecture, local history and an annually recurring tradition thus stand side by side.

Trails

The Meško Trail begins and ends at the Church of St. Rok in Sele. It is 14 km long and is suitable for recreational athletes on foot and by bicycle. The route combines physical activity with a clearly designated starting and ending point, which also refers to one of the village’s churches.

The Roman Trail is 10 km long and takes approximately four hours. Guided tours of the Roman Trail can be arranged through the tourist office of the Municipality of Slovenj Gradec or the Ksaver Meško Sele-Vrhe Cultural Association. It passes the marked Roman burial ground of Colatio and runs along the settlement of Sele. Thus, alongside the trail itself, this route also includes an archaeologically designated site and the area of the settlement of Sele.

The two trails differ in length, and the Roman Trail additionally differs in its approximate duration. The Meško Trail also specifies travel on foot and by bicycle, while the Roman Trail has a different thematic framework, with the Colatio burial ground, the settlement of Sele and possible guided tours.

When planning accommodation in Sele, three different details stand side by side: travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions. They can be considered separately from the local attractions of trails, churches and the village festival.

Further destinations: Mislinja, Slovenj Gradec, Stari Trg.

Culture and Remembrance

A memorial room for Franc Ksaver Meško has been established in the rectory in Sele. Sele is referred to as “Meškove Sele” because Franc Ksaver Meško was the parish priest there, as well as a friend and adviser to the local population. The memory of him therefore appears both in a named room and in the name of the place. The Meško Trail also takes up his name, although the two forms of remembrance are not the same.

Churches

The Church of St. Rok and Boštjan in Sele has frescoes from the late 16th century and Baroque furnishings in its star-ribbed vaulted presbytery. Thus, this church interior is described with the frescoes and their dating, as well as the vault and the Baroque furnishings, all taking centre stage.

The Church of St. Miklavž in Sele is first mentioned in 1335. A statue of Saint Erasmus is located on one of the side altars. The two churches therefore bring together different specific points of reference: for St. Rok and Boštjan, the frescoes, presbytery, vault and furnishings are identified, while for St. Miklavž, the first mention and the statue on a side altar are highlighted.

Tradition

For planning purposes, the fixed date of St. Roch’s Day is a point of reference in its own right. St. Roch’s Day is celebrated in Sele every year on 16 August as a village festival. Many pilgrims come to St. Roch’s Day from the surrounding area and beyond. Many pilgrims arrive by car and walk the final short section to the church. The date, the form of the festival, the pilgrims’ area of origin and the described final section shape this recurring event.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Slovenj Gradec.