LAZE–JANČE TRAIL
Length
14.5
Length 14.5 km
Time needed
05:30
Time needed 05:30
Največja strmina vzpona[%]
18
Greatest slope of the ascent: 18 %
Greatest slope of the descent: 18 %
Average slope of the ascent: 11 %
Length of ascents above 5%: 4.10 km
The lowest point of the route: 263 m
The highest point of the route: 792 m
Difference in altitude: 699 m
Poraba kalorij
5388
Consumption of energy for men: 5388 kJ (1287 kcal)
Consumption of energy for women: 4421 kJ (1056 kcal)
Difficulty
Difficulty: Demanding
Quality of the surface
Quality of the surface: Mixture
Primerna obutev: Mountain footwear
Short description

A somewhat more demanding path from Sava Valley to Janče mostly runs through the wood and is a real balm for the body and mind. The path is suitable for walking in all seasons except for the winter when the hike is very difficult. The path consists of some steeper ascents and descents for which good hiking footwear is necessary. Hiking poles are also warmly recommended.

Course

Laze – Jernač – Janče – Seten brdo – Konjski graben – Gostinca – Laze

Through Laze
The starting point is the Laze train station , . Information board with basic data about the route is at the car park . The set out is on the asphalt road towards a level crossing. Before the crossing, turn left to the marked Badjur circular route (B. K. P. marking) through Laze towards Janče . As the path slowly ascents above Laze, turn right to the macadam road. 150 metres later the road turns right and an interesting chapel is in sight . There is a bench by the small stream. Last preparations can be carried out there, for the harsh ascent awaits. The stream is passable via the iron semicircular bridge and the path literally 'stands up'. A panoramic view of Sava Plain, Dol pri Ljubljani and neighbouring villages opens while looking back.

Shortcut to heaven
The path is very steep , so the legs are working really hard. It is vital to be cautious due slippery ground. The ascent goes up the marked path. How steep are the Zasavje Hills? The road leads past the courtyard's entrance where a greeting to all the vagabonds hangs on a wooden wheel. A little further, the path turns right to a cart track no longer so steep . You soon ascend 200 metres high. Even the air is thinner the evil tongues would say. Power lines can be seen in the distance. Suddenly, a homestead appears in front you. It can be bypassed on the left side and the path continues on the wide macadam road. The ascent to Jernač Homestead and Lipavčev grič Hill is very quick and you are already 550 metres high. The ascent is no longer tough from here on. Now enjoy the hike.

Double views
The hike continues on the macadam road that mostly runs along the ridge. Occasionally, a view on the Posavje Hills opens up on the left , on the Ljubljana Basin on the right, and if the weather is nice, on the Kamnik-Savinja Alps as well. Individual farms can be seen along the road and a chat with their owners is also possible. The road leads downhill sometimes, but a short steep section usually follows the descent. A break for a snack is possible at an arranged rest station. Asphalt starts at one of the crossroads, but the route continues along the macadam . At 740 metres, the road connects to Sadna cesta road between Javorje and Janče , including the turn for Topolovčar Farm 500 metres away. Moving on to Janče. At the crossroads, only a stone's throw below the settlement, take the asphalt road past the church and cemetery. A mountain hut , with refreshments awaits on the right.

Janče
A beautiful view of Slovenian mountains and hills opens up from Janče (794 m) , , . In Janče, the route crosses with several other mountain paths and Besnica regional footpath. Descending begins at the mountain hut towards the main road, where you take a left turn to a marked path in direction of Gostince before triangular crossroads.

Downhill to Seten brdo and Konjski graben
Right below the village, the route goes past the sports ground. The descend continues along its right side. The mountain path runs along a ditch. 300 metres later, a cart track begins and the descend continues down the ridge . There is a kilometre from the chestnut wood to Seten brdo which is 615 metres high . The path is no longer marked. The cart track turns sharply right, however, continue along the forest road up the ridge. After 50 metres, the road starts to descend steeply. After half a kilometre, the forest road turns left from the ridge into the valley and the steep descend continues down the narrow ridge path across a slope, densely overgrown with heather and blueberries . Continue the descent in the dark Konjski graben valley , where numerous smaller streams coalesce. The path continues along a small stream that has to be crossed several times. In rainy months, the path can get muddy in some places.

Gostinca Valley
The macadam road replaces the forest road which leads past many clearings on the left, where you can take a break at the arranged rest stations. Walking downhill, the road turns right to Kramar Hill, but follow the stream downhill and to the hayrack situated on the left. The hayrack is neat, with tables and benches underneath, intended for bigger picnics in the nature. There is a smaller playground beside it. The road goes down along the stream.

The main road by the Sava River
In Gostinca , cross the railway track via underpass and proceed further right on the main road towards the starting point. The road is not full of traffic, but it is worth being careful due to the lack of pavement. The Sava River can be seen on the left , including its plain with fields and meadows. Asphalt road brings you back to the train station in Laze where the route started.

Laze
The village at the foot of the Zasavje Hills is historically connected with the Sava River and the railway. Until the middle of the 19th century, the life in the village was distinguished by the boatmen and rafters and later by the Southern Railway. An architecturally interesting chapel is located at the upper edge of the village and it catches the attention of many visitors .

Janče
There is the Church of St. Nicholas , first mentioned in 1526, in the middle of the village and beside it a nicely arranged village cemetery with many exciting things to be found. Janče (794 m) is located almost in the centre of Slovenia and is the highest lying settlement in the near surroundings offering beautiful views of all Slovenian mountains and hills, from Triglav , Karavanke and Kamnik-Savinja Alps to Pohorje, Snežnik and Gorjanci , .

Nature
A major part of the road runs in the shelter of the forests. The sites are quite acidic, acidophilus plant and tree species prevail there. The environment has a special purple hint in the time of the heather bloom. Chestnut can be picked along the road, those with more patience can find blueberries and skilful mushroom pickers can, naturally, find mushrooms. Don't forget to breathe deeply as you will be forced to do so when hiking on the steeper sections.

Topolovčar Farm (0.5 km)
The farm offers home-grown apples, cherries, honey, spirit, liqueur, vinegar, must, mushrooms and chestnut.

Mountain hut in Janče
Travellers can refresh in the mountain hut every day and in the cooler months warm-up or dry their wet clothes and shoes next to the wood-fired oven. There is a playground for children in the courtyard. The hut offers 25 beds.

How did they used to live with the Sava River?
Why did the people inhabit the northern foot of the Posavje Hills? There is not much sun here; however, there has always been plenty of water which ensured the existence and life. Besides, cargo and passenger traffic via ferry and raft took place on the water. Numerous berths and storage facilities were intended for boatmen and rafters below the village. Laze is the only place in this area of the valley on the right bank of the Sava River. It connection with other places in the valley was the ferry. The Sava's meander was back then closer to Laze. People came and left. Life flowed beside and with the water. In 1848, the black road was built – the Southern Railway, which slowly took over the passengers and cargo from the unsuspecting boatmen and ferrymen. All began to change. The Sava continued to flow, but the life next to it slowly started to die out. The boatmen and rafters still persisted for almost 100 years. Little has been preserved from those times. People still live on the right bank of the Sava, which is murmuring pleasantly, however, there is a touch of anxiety and desolation in the valley...

Mountain hut in Janče houses numerous hikers in the time of traditional annual events such as Strawberry Festival and Chestnut Sunday. Contact persons: Srečko Birk 041 503 964 and Lili Maren 041 233 823; Besnica-Janče Tourism Society.

Chestnut Sunday (first, second and third Sunday in October)
Homemade delicacies, roasted chestnuts, fresh squeezed apple juice, desserts, culinary offer, exhibition of works of the participants of the Ex-tempore art colony, display of spirit distilling and other farm chores. The event is accompanied by entertainment programme and rich culinary offer. Children can play at Strawberry Playground and on the Strawberry-eater, and look for the hidden treasure.

Strawberry Sunday (first and second Sunday in June)
Sale of strawberries, strawberry desserts, homemade liqueurs and spirit, exhibition of homemade delicacies, rich culinary offer and entertainment programme, presentation of foreign and domestic tourist societies included in related programmes of rural development. Children can play at Strawberry Playground and on Strawberry-eater.

The route has two challenging sections. The first is the 0.8-kilometre long and steep ascent up the mountain path from the village of Laze to cart road and the second one is a kilometre long descent from Seten brdo to Konjski graben. Careful, for the ground and stones in Konjski graben are slippery. The last section of the route from Gostinca to Laze takes place on the asphalt road, not too traffic loaded; however, paying attention and walking on the left side is still warmly recommended.