RIDGE PATH
Length
15.3
Length 15.3 km ​
Time needed
06:00
Time needed 06:00 ​
Največja strmina vzpona[%]
20
Greatest slope of the ascent: 20 %
Greatest slope of the descent: 14 %
Average slope of the ascent: 9 %
Length of ascents above 5%: 3.90 km
The lowest point of the route: 639 m
The highest point of the route: 303 m
Difference in altitude: 641 m
​
Poraba kalorij
5878
Consumption of energy for men: 5878 kJ (1404 kcal)
Consumption of energy for women: 4823 kJ (1152 kcal)
​
Difficulty
Difficulty: Medium demanding ​
Quality of the surface
Quality of the surface: Forest path
Primerna obutev: Hiking boots
​
Short description

The route runs along the terrain with ascents and descents. A larger part of the route runs along nicely trodden cart tracks and a part of it on the road and in the urban area. The paths in the forest are easy to follow as they are well marked.

Course

Parkirišče za kulturnim domom v Mengšu- Športni park-Staretov grad-Oranžerija- Mengeška koča-Rašica vrh Staneta Kosca-Zgornje Dobeno-grad Jablje-Loka pri Mengšu-Lovska koča Mengeš-ŠC Harmonija-parkirišče za kulturnim domom v Mengšu

Mengeš
The starting point is a car park behind Mengeš Culture Centre . The route leads past Stare Castle and Orangery to the foot of Gobavica Hill. The ascent to Mengeš Hut starts there. Many paths lead to Mengeš Hut. The recommended one is the path that starts at the beginning of the fitness trail, one of the first in Slovenia . Before you get to Mengeš Hut, a marvellous view of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps opens up and a little further, a view of Soriška planina and Triglav in the background.
Mengeš Hut is located at the top of Gobavica which steeply ascends above Mengeš. It was opened already in 1954, but it soon became too small, so Jurček annex was built in 1962 .

From Mengeš Hut to Rašica
The marked path leads along the forest paths which are clearly marked with blazes and direction boards of the Mountaineering Association .
The route runs along the ridges which lead to the top of Rašica. Already at the hut, the road steeply descends to the nice surroundings of a farm with meadows . A hiking trail, cart tracks and a footpath lead from here to the observation tower. The route runs entirely through the forests and no view opens up until the observation tower. Short ascents are followed by short descents, while some completely flat sections appear on the way as well. Somewhere in the last third of the route, sinkholes appear on the left and right sides - some are very deep - which denote a real karst world .

Observation tower
The route takes you to the top of Rašica where the famous observation tower is located , offering views in all directions - over Ljubljana, Limbarska gora Hill, Menina planina Mountain, the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, the Karavanke and the Julian Alps, all the way to the Polhov Gradec Hills and Nanos in the distance. This is Vrh Staneta Kosca, named after the national hero and a Rašica local.

From the top of Rašica to Dobeno
The path ascends along the marked path to Zgornje Dobeno past the Mountain Hut of Rašiška četa , built in the memory of one of the first partisan companies established in 1941. The Hut is open on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
Quite a large section of the route continues in the forest, including a steep way down to the first houses in Dobeno which is due to its elongated size divided into Zgornje Dobeno, Srednje Dobeno and Spodnje Dobeno. The hilly village is a popular hiking point on gentle ledges of the eastern slope of Rašica. The country characteristics of the village faded away as holiday cottages and residential houses prevail, only here and there a farm appears. Pri Blažu Tourist Farm soon appears. You can take a break there and get a snack or lunch while enjoying the beautiful view. Only a few metres below is Dobenski hram Inn with excellent cuisine. The route continues on the asphalt road to Spodnje Dobeno where the oldest inn - Pri Ručigaju Inn - is located .

Towards Jablje Castle
Walking down the asphalt road is not pleasant, so just above Pri Ručigaju Inn at an old tree - Trojanšek pear - turn right off the road to the cart track towards Jablje Castle. The narrow cart track leads to the high voltage power line . When you cross the power line, continue between the network of cart tracks and choose the most used one . You're slowly moving away from the power line. After a pleasant walk down the gentle slope, the path brings you to Dolga dolina ski slope . A wooden hut is located at the foot of the ski slope. At the open place which is used as a car park, a nice macadam road starts descending towards Jablje Castle which was renovated and is a real pearl of Jablje with Jablje Agricultural Institute located next to it. At the castle, you can take a look at the wedding hall decorated with Jelovšek's frescoes, multi-purpose hall and castle courtyard with arcades .
The surroundings of the castle is well arranged, everything seems calm and dignified, as it should as this is a state property. It is impossible for a casual visitor to guess what purpose the castle serves today.
Historical records tell us that the castle situated at the foot of Rašica was first mentioned in the 14th century and was built by the Lamberg family. It has had many different owners since then. The extensive interior equipment, including paintings, tapestries and wall paintings was 'lost' after World War II, because the castle was used for various purposes and activities.

Across the Mengeš Field and Mengeš
The route leads along the Church of St. Primus and Felician which has excellent acoustics and where numerous cultural events are organised.
The route continues to the settlement at Gmajnica to Mengeš Hunting Lodge . Cegvanški Pond is nearby, but you turn to Mengeš instead and continue along the road to Harmonija Sports Centre . Orientate according to the Church of St. Michael on the right where a famous Plečnik's baptistery, the birth house and a monument of Baroque painter France Jelovšek and the birth house and a monument to writer Janez Trdina are located. Left, somewhat hidden behind the houses, are the open-air theatre and scouts' house. Only a few minutes and you've already past Harmonija Sports Centre at the sports park. When you cross the Pšata River, you arrive at the car park where you started about five hours ago.

Mengeš
Mengeš, today a nicely developed town, is one of the oldest settlements in Slovenia. The mediaeval Mengeš was first mentioned in written sources in 1154 because of the castle where the Mengeš knight had his seat. The settlement was divided into Mali Mengeš or Farovška vas (the church owned most of the land there in the 14th century, thus the name farovška - parson's) and Veliki Mengeš or Gorenji Mengeš.
In the period of J. V. Valvasor, craftsmanship developed in the town, primarily pottery, stove making and straw weaving. Interestingly, there were 83 workshops and as many as 25 inns in Mengeš in the mid-19th century.
Mengeška godba - one of the oldest brass bands in Slovenia - has been active in Mengeš since 1884.

Mengeš Culture Centre
The main part of the Culture Centre is the hall, which has been hosting performances of Špas teater theatre in the past decade. Špas teater shows attract visitors from all over Slovenia.

Stare Castle
Nowadays, the large complex barely resembles a castle, rather a neglected outbuilding, because the present owner is in a dispute with the municipality and uses the complex to dump waste material there. He also breeds goats which freely roam around the complex.

Orangery
An inn with a soul is located in the marvellous surroundings below the top of Gobavica.

Mengeš Hut
Mengeš Hut is located at the top of Gobavica which steeply ascends above Mengeš. It was opened already in 1954, but it soon became too small, so Jurček annex was built in 1962.

Rašica observation tower
At Vrh Staneta Kosca above the village of Rašica, a famous observation tower is located, offering views in all directions - over Ljubljana, Limbarska gora, Menina planina, the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, the Karavanke and the Julian Alps, all the way to the Polhov Gradec Hills and Nanos in the distance.

Mountain Hut of Rašiška četa
It was built in the memory of one of the first partisan companies in 1941 during World War II. It is open on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

Dobeno
Due to its elongated size, Dobeno is divided into Zgornje Dobeno, Srednje Dobeno and Spodnje Dobeno. The hilly village is a popular hiking point on the gentle ledges of the eastern slope of Rašica. The country characteristics of the village faded away as holiday cottages and residential houses prevail, only here and there a farm appears.

Dolga dolina ski slope ,
A small local ski slope of Trzin Ski Society.

Jablje Castle
Historical records tell us that the castle situated at the foot of Rašica was first mentioned in the 14th century and was built by the Lamberg family. It has had many different owners since then. The extensive interior equipment, including paintings, tapestries and wall paintings was 'lost' after World War II, because the castle was used for various purposes and activities.
At the castle, you can take a look at the wedding hall decorated with Jelovšek's frescoes, multi-purpose hall and castle courtyard with arcades .
The surroundings is nicely arranged, in a peaceful and dignified manner.

Church of St. Primus and Felician
The church is nicely renovated and located amid the plain on the right bank of the Pšata River. The church is a monument of art; it hosts concerts of choir and chamber music.

Mengeš Hunting Lodge at Gmajnica
Picnic place is beside it.

Sports park and Harmonija Sports Centre (Wellness)
The wellness centre was constructed under the principles of feng shui. It enables recreation and various wellness services on 5,000 m2 of indoor surfaces; it also has 12 hotel rooms, a restaurant and a café.
The Sports park extends between Mengeš Cultural Centre and Harmonija Sports Centre. It is nicely arranged and has numerous golf courses, as well as football, basketball and tennis grounds.

Church of St. Michael
The church is the oldest and most valuable monument of art in Mengeš, especially because of its 15th century Gothic presbytery with remarkable frescoes by Janez of Ljubljana. The older Romanesque design was replaced with a Gothic and later a Baroque one. The baptistery and confessional were made according to the plans of architect Jože Plečnik.

Birthplace and a monument of writer Janez Trdina
Trdina was born on 29 May 1830. This is also the day the Municipality of Mengeš celebrates its municipal holiday. Who is not familiar with Trdina's Fairytales and Stories about Gorjanci? The monument is placed near the Church of St. Michael.

Birthplace and monument of painter Franc Jelovšek
The monument to the father of Baroque painting in Carniola stands in front of the Church of St. Michael.

Open-air theatre
The hut of scouts detachment is located in a natural amphitheatre below Gobavica.

Harmonija Sports Centre
The wellness centre was constructed under the principles of feng shui. It enables recreation and various wellness services at 5,000 m2 of indoor surfaces; it also has 12 hotel rooms, a restaurant and a café.

Mesing Bar, Mengeš

Mengeš Teater Bar

Orangery

Mengeš Hut

Mountain Hut of Rašiška četa

Blaž Tourist Farm, Dobeno
Rich gastronomic offer. It is open every day.

Dobenski hram Tourist Farm
An inn built and equipped with taste, serving excellent food. It is open every day.

Ručigaj Inn
A good offering of fresh daily prepared meals.

Michael's Fair in Mengeš - last week in September

Floating lights on the Pšata River on St. Gregory's day

First of May bonfire at Gobavica

March Festival in May

New year's concert of Mengeška godba brass band

Špas teater theatre's shows

Ski jumps

At first, the route runs along asphalt roads through Mengeš. At the end of the settlement, it becomes macadam and remains so until Cegvanški Pond where cart tracks and trodden paths interchange over the saddle to the other side to Puhliški Pond. 15 to 20 minutes' walk along the main road follows next; the road is quite busy and thus less appropriate for walking. The last part of the route is flat and runs along nice cart tracks and trodden paths along the Pšata River and continues almost to the starting point at Mengeš Cultural Centre.