THE ASTRO TRAIL
Length
8.8
Length 8.8 km
Time needed
01:05
Time needed 01:05
Največja strmina vzpona[%]
25
Greatest slope of the ascent: 25 %
Greatest slope of the descent: 24 %
Average slope of the ascent: 5 %
Length of ascents above 5%: 1.50 km
The lowest point of the route: 286 m
The highest point of the route: 421 m
Difference in altitude: 216 m
Poraba kalorij
3483
Consumption of energy for men: 3483 kJ (832 kcal)
Consumption of energy for women: 2860 kJ (683 kcal)
Difficulty
Difficulty: Demanding
Quality of the surface
Quality of the surface: Mixture
Primerna obutev: Depending on personal choice
Short description

A picturesque and demanding running trail on the Golovec Hill. Most of the trail is set up on hard surfaces (asphalt and macadam), with the exception of its starting point from Gmajna and along the Dolgi potok creek, where it is covered with roots, and often wet and slippery after rain. The runner should be very cautious along the trail.

Course

Športni park Kodeljevo – Štepanjsko naselje – Gmajna – Golovec – Astronomski observatorij Golovec - Pot na Golovec - Roška cesta – Poljanska cesta – Športni park Kodeljevo

Kodeljevo
Our running experience begins beside the Restaurant Pri Jovotu . We run past the Kodeljevo sport park along the new walkway , , beside the Gruber canal , and towards Kajuhova street. We cross the Gruber canal in Kuharjeva street and continue our way on the pavement of Litijska street past the Chinese restaurant and on to the beginning of Štepanjsko naselje, where we turn right past the coffee house and into Hruševska street. Staying on the same street, we run through Zg. Hrušica (Gmajna) along the streets Ulici mira and Ob potoku to the Pod Golovcem restaurant. Passing the restaurant, we run along the bed of the Dolgi potok creek and turn into the forest. This is also the end of the asphalt road.

Golovec
The trail along the bed of the Dolgi potok creek is the most demanding part of our running adventure. At first, we run along a nice cart track , which soon shows us its opposite face . Namely, the track is at first "paved" with round and smooth stones , but once it starts ascending, it becomes wet (especially after rain) or even partially flooded. The higher we get the more roots there are on the track which demand a considerable level of caution while running. There might even be a fallen tree crossing our path . Fortunately enough, we leave the most demanding part behind us after less than a kilometre of running. We turn right after the sign on an old oak tree and after running along a comfortable cart track , we gradually join the forest trail connecting Spodnja Hrušica and Hradecki street below the SW ridge of the Golovec Hill. Although there is not a lot of traffic on the road, we will not be all alone, for we will soon be in the company of other runners, cyclists, walkers, and birds whose singing will bring more pleasure to our running.
Soon after reaching the ridge of the Golovec Hill, our trail meets the Remembrance and Comradeship Trail (PST) , , . Benches along the path will be tempting, yet we bravely overcome and continue running along the road leading to the astronomical-geophysical observatory Golovec . As the observatory is only open for visits for 4 days per year, we start descending towards Ljubljana. Running along Pot na Golovec , we come to Hradecki street where we turn to the east and cross the Griber canal on the renovated footbridge , , then run into Roška street. We can somewhat shorten the way by taking the stairway leading to the footbridge . However, we should be cautious, as the stairs are very steep and narrow.

Poljane
We would happily continue along the Gruber canalbut is impossible for the time being, therefore we turn in the direction of the canal in front of the Secondary school of economics (the former military post in Roška street), and continue running through unattended meadows past the former heliport, the new residential area and two shopping centres , before we turn into Poljanska street. Running on the sidewalk, we return to our starting point.

Kodeljevo
The Kodeljevo sport park is a green "island" on the left bank of the Gruber canal. Besides its rich variety of sporting facilities, the park is also home to the mansion of Baron of Codelli – the Kodeljevo Castle.

Golovec
Golovec is a slope SE from Ljubljana city centre and is part of the Sava Hills. The Golovec Hill is mostly made of clay rocks, black marls , , and sandstones. The most interesting is the black marl, which also composes the Castle Hill.
The highest point is 450 m high (the Mazovnik hill top). The green oasis, which enters some of the densely populated areas of Ljubljana, is a popular walking destination with the residents of Ljubljana. The Remembrance and Comradeship Trail (PST) also runs through the Golovec Hill.

The Astronomical-geophysical observatory Golovec
The trail has been named Astro in recognition of the observatory. Some people will undoubtedly presume that it has something to do with astrology.
The observatory plays an important role in Slovenian astronomy and geophysics. It was founded immediately after the Second World War; its main initiator and founder was Slovenian astronomer and physicist dr. Franjo Dominko.

The Golovec educational trail
A circular educational forest trail with the starting point at the observatory runs along the ridge of the Golovec Hill. The trail informs us about the features of the Golovec Hill, and characteristics of its vegetation , , , , .

Gruber Canal
Despite being almost unnoticed, the Canal is of high importance for Ljubljana. It enabled the growth of the city which was subject to constant flooding. The Ljubljanica River, known after its oscillation in the flow, was flooding on a regular basis. Many years have been spent solving the problem, until the Government of Vienna asked the Jesuit Gabriel Gruber to participate in the project and he designed the Canal between the Castle hill and Golovec as well as the regulation of the Ljubljanica River in Moste. He wanted to divert the excess water past the city centre and increase the flow rate of the riverbed with regulation in Moste. The building of the Canal started in 1773. As work proceeded, the expenses grew and soon the foreseen budget got out of hand. The authorities blamed Gruber who had to withdraw from the project. Vincencij Struppi took over the work and under his lead the construction was finished in 1780. Ljubljana has been protected from the floods ever since, but the stagnated water from the Ljubljana Marshes now constantly runs off, resulting in the slow drainage of the Marshes.

 

Restaurant Pod Golovcem
The restaurant is renowned for its quality and grilled food.

Pri Jovotu
The Pri Jovotu Inn in Ljubljana has a long tradition. The offer is similar to that at the Livada Inn except for the boats on the Ljubljanica which do not come into this neck of the woods. Pri Jovotu also offers food delivery, and special benefits for closed gropes and students.

The Kodeljevo Castle
The restaurant in the Kodeljevo mansion is located in the middle of the park bearing the same name. Besides the daily offers, the restaurant staff also organise diverse culinary events. They also serve excellent pizza and other delicacies from the charcoal oven. Children can enjoy the playground in the restaurant, or play in the park next to the Castle.

The Sign
Upon reaching the ridge of the Golovec Hill, we spot a wooden sign on a tree. According to some sources, the sign was hung more than a hundred years ago in the memory of a victim killed by bandits next to the tree.

Kodeljevo Manor (also Codelli's Turn)
The inventor, Baron Anton III Codelli, the Noble Fahnenfeld used to live there. He was known to have brought the first car of Benz Comfortable make in Ljubljana in 1898 and thus caused a real sensation. It had to be a pretty good car in those times (it was Mercedes after all), for he went on a long trip to Nice the following year, but unfortunately gambled it away. He soon bought a new car, a better one. So the famous Slovenian love for the cars began, which has a venerable tradition. There are over 140,000 cars today. Only in Ljubljana, of course. And barely one hundred years have passed since. Who knows what the situation will be like in one hundred years? Nothing promising, obviously.

Black marl
The black-coloured marl is the most interesting among the rocks the Golovec Hill is made of. It is visible in the bed of the Dolgi potok creek.