SAVA I
Length
4.2
Length 4.2 km ​
Time needed
01:00
Time needed 01:00 ​
Največja strmina vzpona[%]
2
Greatest slope of the ascent: 2 %
Greatest slope of the descent: 2 %
Average slope of the ascent: 2 %
Length of ascents above 5%: 0.10 km
The lowest point of the route: 310 m
The highest point of the route: 301 m
Difference in altitude: 27 m
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Poraba kalorij
980
Consumption of energy for men: 980 kJ (234 kcal)
Consumption of energy for women: 804 kJ (192 kcal)
​
Difficulty
Difficulty: Easy ​
Quality of the surface
Quality of the surface: Mixture
Primerna obutev: Not relevant
​
Short description

A short and pleasant walking path by the Sava River runs along the routes which hikers rarely choose. During the walk, you visit many sights and attractions that you usually do not even notice. The route is passable in every season and weather; it does not require special physical fitness or special footwear.

Course

Tacen – Brod – Medno – Vikrče – Tacen

The Sava River hums
Today's route, or rather a walk, starts at the well-known and popular car park in Tacen below Šmarna gora . The car park can be reached by bus, bike or car. You can start the trip in the clockwise or counter clockwise direction. It is suggested to choose the clockwise direction in the afternoon and the counter clockwise direction in the morning. The following describes the afternoon trip. Start, as already stated, at the car park and walk to the bridge over the Sava River . The bridge is a nice spot to see river rapids where whitewater kayaking courses are arranged, as well as the Brod hydropower plant which has been operated since 1928. Cross the bridge and continue to the traffic lights on Tacenska Road where you have to turn right to Marinovševa Road. There is a new residential area on the left , built at the site of the former weaving mill. You are only a few steps away from the entrance to the kayak centre.

The Sava River rapids
Walk from the car park to the water and across the arched bridge to the island where you can closely look at the area from competitions and trainings of the kayakers . If you go right and back along the island, you can even reach the Brod hydropower plant and in between you can see, from start to finish, the world-famous course where whitewater kayakers race . On the way back, it is worth to walk to the floodgate at the river threshold. The river threshold creates rapids which led to the idea of competing with special boats; the floodgate regulates the surface and flow of the water through the channel, and the channel supplies turbines in the power plant with water. For optimal functioning of the power plant, the flow must be approximately 24 m3/s. Before the floodgate was built, there were only rapids on the river and a mill on the left bank which still stands, but no longer operates. Kayak races used to start below this mill until a hero who dared to descend along the rapids at the floodgate, made an appearance. Then the whole thing began...
After visiting the historical site of the first adrenalin kayaking competitions in our country , return across the arched bridge to the right bank of the Sava River. Continue along the route that runs right next to the water. After approximately 500 metres – beautiful views of the Sava River and Šmarna gora open up while walking – you arrive to the Kayak Canoe Club and continue by the settlement to the edge of the forest where the route turns away from the water . Similar, mostly oak forests used to grow on the both banks of the Sava River but now they have almost disappeared. Walk by the edge of the forest, across farmlands and through a small settlement , which is a part of Medno, to the suspension bridge over the Sava River in Medno. This part of the route does not offer any views of the Sava River, only here and there you can see a path which descends through the forest to the embankment and promises more beautiful views of the surroundings to the curious hikers.

Across the suspension footbridge to the other side of the Sava River
From the embankment, descend to the bridge . The route used to end right next to the water, as the ferry ran at this location which was, of course, no longer needed after the construction of the bridge. A railway station was located in Medno (on the right bank of the Sava River); therefore, many locals crossed the river at this site. Naturally, citizens of Ljubljana and visitors of Šmarna gora who came to Medno by train wanted an easier crossing of the Sava River as well. The then city authorities considered their wishes and built a suspension bridge that you see today. Two pylons, made of reinforced concrete, bear steel cables to which the entire construction of the bridge is hung by racks. The construction is wooden, intended for pedestrians and light traffic. The wooden parts of the bridge are covered with a roof for durability. The bridge was open in 1934 and was considered a huge relief for many users, as they were relieved from the unreliable ferry. However, this delight was not free of charge. A bridge toll, collected in the shed on the right bank, had to be paid for crossing the bridge. This is not the case anymore – you can cross the bridge without worries and payment. Due to its narrowness , the bridge seems longer than it actually is. This is especially evident when you encounter a cyclist. It is barely possible to meet.

Rocen estate
Interesting views of the river open up from the bridge . In the middle of the bridge, the oscillation of the construction is more than obvious. Both make us stop for a while and when you finally arrive to the opposite bank, walk to the houses and turn right onto an asphalt road . Then you come to the main road (Kajakaška Road) just at the bar where you can have a drink, snack or rest while observing Grmada. You can see a polygon nearby where the future policemen practice various skills, needed in their profession. Cross the main road there and continue towards the edge of Grmada. The road has no pavement, so you have to walk carefully along the edge. When the road flattens, you are in the avenue at the Police Academy which used to belong to Rocen Manor. The manor from the 16th century is somewhat remote from the road; you are the closest to it if you walk left across the car park (at the reception). In addition to the preserved, but thoroughly reconstructed manor building which today houses the office of the Police Academy, the park is partially preserved as well . Rocen was, in addition to Goričane and Smlednik, the only fiefdom in our country with a dominion and court estate, that is, the estate which was cultivated solely for the feudal lords. The other fiefdoms had – if any – mostly rustic (leasing) and common (shared) estates. The rustic estate was cultivated by serfs in exchange for tributes and socage, while the common estate could be exploited either by feudal lords or serfs – in this case, it was mostly pastures and forests. The manor is today a part of the police academy; therefore, it is not freely accessible. If you ask at the reception, you may be allowed to peak through the fence and see it up-close.

End of the route, unfortunately
Continue along Rocenska Road and through the settlement to Kajakaška Road where you can again walk along the pavement. Only 100 metres separate you from the end at the car park below Šmarna gora. If you rather turned to Janez Rožič Street instead of Rocenska Road at the previous junction, you would come to the Church of St George , which used to be a chapel of the Rocen Manor. You would reach the chapel after 400–500 metres in approximately the same direction and along Thumova Street. This is, however, another story.

You walked along the areas that most of the citizens of Ljubljana does not even know about, as they are a bit removed from the everyday hustle and bustle, although close to the city. Enjoy them while you still can. Observe the beauty of the Sava River and listen to its humming. This soon will not be possible anymore. The reason lies in the construction of the new Tacen hydropower plant, planned opposite of Rocen Manor, that is, where the route moved away from the water (at the forest on the right bank). The hydropower plant will thoroughly change the appearance of yet relatively unspoiled nature.

Brod Hydropower Plant
The abundance of water power on the Sava River, local needs and close proximity of Ljubljana were the reason that in 1908 Ignacij Česenj constructed the hydropower plant in Brod with the power of 200 HP. In addition to other facilities, the electric street lightening of the new bridge in Tacen was also connected to it. In 1928, the power of the plant was increased to 1,200 HP, with the annual capacity of the power plant rising to 6,500,500 KWh. In 1934, it was connected with the city power plant of Ljubljana which operated at today's Slomškova Street. The Brod hydropower plant exploits a two metre drop in water level which through two Francis turbines powers two generators, each with 510 kW rated power. At the rate of flow of 2 x 12 m3/s, it produces approximately one megawatt of power; therefore, it can be classified as a small hydropower plant by today's standards. Approximately 800 metres upstream, the construction of a new Tacen hydropower plant is anticipated, which is one of the nine or ten hydropower plants planned on the middle Sava River.

Suspension bridge in Medno
The suspension bridge was open on 7 October 1934. The bridge promenade is wooden, more than 90 metres long. It hangs on the cables, born by two pylons, made of reinforced concrete, one at each bank. The bridge is covered with a roof which prolongs its life span. It was built to facilitate access of the citizens of Vikrče to the railway station in Medno, as well as to bring the beauty of Šmarna gora closer to the citizens of Ljubljana. On the initiative of Josip Wester, a scholar, Slavicist and amateur mountaineer living in Vikrče, the bridge was built by the then city authorities of Ljubljana with funds for the development of tourism according to the plans of engineer Slavko Dimnik. Before the beginning of World War II, the bridge toll was being collected for crossing the bridge. The tollhouse was situated in the shed on the right bank of the Sava River.

Rocen Manor
The manor was built in the 16th century; it is also mentioned in Valvasor's Glory of the Duchy of Carniola. Depiction in this book indicates that there were initially two manors. The smaller one was converted into a pristava in the 18th century and the larger one, significantly reconstructed, has been preserved until today. The estate changed many owners; it belonged to the Schweiger family for the longest period who then sold it to the Lazarini family in 1808. Later, Rocen Manor again changed several owners; until it was bought by Jelačin and Kraft, merchants from Ljubljana, in 1922. They sold it to the Franciscans in 1930. They arranged a holiday home for clerics in the manor, named Antonianum. After World War II, the building was nationalised and People's Militia started using its facilities. In the 1950s, the School of Internal Affairs was moved there and the three-year cadet school for policemen was established later. In 1999, it developed into a police academy where candidates for the profession of police officers are being educated.

Ljubljana Kayaking Centre
A mill used to be located on the rocky threshold where the Sava River runs in rapids. It was located on the left bank. In 1928, a power plant and floodgate for water supply was built on the right bank. Rapids of the Sava River have always been challenging the kayakers who at first tested themselves on the left bank (at the mill) and later on the floodgate at the hydropower plant. Slalom races have been organised there since 1939. Although the start was below the floodgate at first, the ride was a severe test for the then boats. Consequently, only nine competitors out of the sixteen registered finished the race. Better equipment and more knowledge allowed attempts of descending over the floodgate. The attempts were a success, so the start of the course was moved to the other side of the floodgate in 1952. This was, due to the large force of the falling water, dangerous; in consequence, an artificial wooden bottom, which somewhat slowed down the flow, was built at the site were the water bumped against the ground. Naturally, this kind of a floor lasted only for a few days, so a new one needed to be made before every race. After 1953, the races became more frequent and our kayakers gained enough experience and reputation to allow Slovenia to host the world championship in 1955, which took place from 29 to 31 July. The formal organiser was the Boating Association of Slovenia. However, most of the preparation and the organisation was done by the Kayak Canoe Club of Ljubljana. The championship involved competitors from fourteen countries and 15,000 people came to watch the races which was an incredible number for those times. This championship made the course in Tacen known as one of the most beautiful ones in the world, but also as one of the most difficult ones.

Košir Inn, Tacenska 142, 1211 Tacen pri Ljubljani
Type: inn. Gastronomic offer: Homemade Slovenian dishes, snacks, lunches. Distinguishing features: car park, playground; the inn is open every day of the week.

Žibert Inn, Tacenska 118, 1000 Ljubljana
Type: inn. Gastronomic offer: Slovenian cuisine with the emphasis on the traditional Sunday lunch, snacks.

The route is passable in all seasons, also with trekking or mountain bikes. If you decide for a cycling trip, bear in mind that a mayor part along the right bank of the Sava River is maximum one metre wide; therefore, meeting other cyclists is difficult. The same applies to the suspension bridge. You are kindly asked to give priority to the pedestrians at these sections. Due to tree roots, the route is problematic for a bike at some sections and in one part (at the kayaking centre), you come across steps which can be avoided by riding on the edge of the path.