Šmartno pri Litiji: Culture, Trails and Regional Products

Bogenšperk Renaissance Castle is considered one of Slovenia’s most significant cultural monuments. The castle houses museum collections focusing on the life and work of the Carniolan polymath Janez Vajkard Valvasor. The Davorin Hostnik Russian-Slovenian Centre at Bogenšperk Castle displays the original of the first Russian-Slovenian dictionary. The castle cellar houses the meat-curing room, where dried meat products are dried and matured.

Culture

Šmartno pri Litiji is home to St. Martin’s Church, designed in the Neo-Gothic style by Graz architect Adolf Wagner and built between 1899 and 1901. Inside, it is decorated with frescoes by the renowned Ljubljana artist Anton Jebačin. Above the parish church stands the oldest house in Šmartno; it was built in 1586. Local culture also includes a traditional national costume worn by the well-known local folklore group Javorje. Šmartno is known for its long tradition of goldwork and white embroidery.

Other historic sites can be found in the surrounding area of Šmartno pri Litiji. The Ecce Homo Chapel on Pungrt was built in the 18th century. In Javorje, the Baroque Church of the Assumption of Mary was consecrated in 1726. Only a few ruins remain of Lihtenberk Castle; along the trail, there is also an archaeological excavation at the site where the castle well once stood.

Trails and Exercise

In the surrounding area of Šmartno pri Litiji, a 2.3-kilometre fitness trail runs from the Lihtenberk Chapel to Bogenšperk Castle. It has twelve stations with a total of 19 strengthening and stretching exercises. In Javorje, visitors can walk along seven marked energy points.

The Jablaniška pot hiking trail begins and ends at the fire station in Zgornja Jablanica. It passes St. Anne’s Church and continues through Jablaniške Laze, Bukovica and Prelesje. From there, views open up towards the Kamnik-Savinja Alps and Mamolj with St. John the Baptist’s Church.

The surroundings can also be explored by bicycle on the Na Veliko Presko cycling route. The route is 38 kilometres long and passes through Šmartno. It runs from Litija via Šmartno and onwards from St. Martin’s Church towards the Jablaniška Valley.

Regional Products

In the surrounding area of Šmartno pri Litiji, the Pivec farm organises workshops on gathering wild herbs and herb tastings, where visitors can make their own herbal preparations. The farm includes a landscaped herb garden with more than 100 different herbs.

At Dremelj Beekeeping, visitors can see the breeding of queen bees and honey production, as well as taste honey. Chestnut, blossom, acacia, forest and linden honey are available.

Other Activities

In Vintarjevec, in the surrounding area of Šmartno pri Litiji, there is a 3,000-square-metre paintball site in a disused quarry. The site includes trenches, bridges, shelters and natural hiding places.

These places are also part of the wider destination: Vače, Dole pri Litiji, Litija, Slivna.

Back to the wider travel overview: Litija.