Rocen (Rutzing) Manor
The manor dates back to the 16th century and was first owned by the Lamberg family. Then it had several owners until it was finally nationalised after World War II. Today it houses the management of the Police Academy. On the outside, the manor is beautifully renovated, but the interior is, unfortunately, heavily modified. The park is also partly preserved.
Hot spring
Next to the River Sava, a hot spring Straža with a small spa is situated. The water with the temperature between 17 and 23°C flows into a small overgrown wetland where numerous bird species may be observed. The area is interesting for amateur explorers.
Holy Cross Church
It is situated on an archaeological site. It was first mentioned in 1362.
Birthplace of Franc Rozman–Stane
Today, the birthplace of the legendary national hero, Franc Rozman - Stane—commander of the main headquarters of the National Liberation Army—houses a museum. Franc Rozman died towards the end of 1944 while testing a new mortar which was sent to the partisans by the British allies. A few days later, he was pronounced a national hero. Otherwise, Pirniče is a birthplace of another national hero, Tine Rožanc, after whom a known folklore group is named.
Birthplace of Jakob Aljaž
Jakob Aljaž, a priest and composer, played an important role in the development of Slovenian mountaineering. As a nationally conscious Slovenian, he bought Kredarica and the very summit of Triglav from the Municipality of Dovje for five guilders, and put up a modest shelter, called the Aljaž Tower. A miniature replica of the tower can also be viewed in front of his birthplace. The tower of thick galvanised tinplate was made by Anton Belec from Šentvid near Ljubljana. In August 1895, it was brought to Triglav bit by bit and assembled there. This stirred up anger of the Germans, mainly from the Alpen Verein – Sektion Krain mountaineering society which claimed the right to the Slovenian mountains and was the owner of almost all mountain huts in our Alps. The Germans sued Jakob Aljaž and claimed that, by erecting the tower, he destroyed the state triangulation point of the first order, which, of course, was not true as there had been no such point on that spot. In court, Aljaž managed to prove that with the help of an honest captain of the Austro-Hungarian army, Schwartz, who achieved that the tower was later actually used as a triangulation point and it has been state-protected since then.
The front of the birthplace contains a memorial plaque which shows a relief of the north face of Triglav with the Aljaž Tower on the top. Our route which starts in the courtyard of Aljaž's birthplace takes us to Šmarna gora.
The Matjaž Cave
The Matjaž Cave is located on the slope of the Gradišče Hill (471 m). This is the lowest of the three summits of Šmarna gora in its broader sense. The remaining two are, of course, Šmarna gora (669 m) and Grmada (676 m). As a summit, Gradišče, which is approximately 200 metres lower, is only visible from the north and west sides. We reach it if we take the steep path–only on foot, of course. This is a small Karst cave almost devoid of cave ornaments, approximately 30 metres long and 11 metres deep, consisting of two 'rooms'. The ceiling of the larger one includes a 'window' through which daylight penetrates. You may view the cave at your own risk!
In the shelter of the forest of Šmarna gora
The forest is shady, moist and pleasantly cool, the scent of mushrooms seems to float in the air. No wonder, since Šmarna gora is known for its botanical diversity. Its slopes host over 260 species of fungi and no less than 832 plant species including delicious raspberries. You'll find plenty of those along the path.
Šmartin
Šmartno was originally called Šmartin (with the stress on i) after the Church of St. Martin, which is so big that you won't be able to miss it. It was built between 1838 and 1841, and is famous for the art of the painters, Langus, Šubic, Bradaška and Layer.