Slovenske Konjice
Above the plains along the Dravinja river, you will find the carefully cultivated fields, meadows, a forest here and there, the rise of the wine-growing slopes, which embody the kindness, sunshine and tradition of life of the locals. A walk through the wine-growing region of Škalce remains unforgettable at any time of the year and in any weather.
They were first mentioned in 1373 under the name Schalcz, and later as Schkaltz (1387), Scalz (1409) and, in the Franciscan cadastre, as Skallitz (1825).
Škalce is one of the most beautiful and best wine-growing locations. All this belongs to the Podravje wine-growing region, with the Maribor wine-growing district, the Obronki Pohorja – southern Pohorje district and the narrower, Konjice district. They are located on the northern side of Slovenske Konjice. The wine-growing tertiary hills are marly and thus suitable for the cultivation of noble grape varieties.
The best positions are located in the central and western part of Škalce. In these areas, vineyards were larger, as they were once owned by wealthier owners, churches, nobility, merchants and the burgeois. Among the vineyards, we can still find some vineyard cottages belonging to the owners of that time, e.g. a vineyard mansion once owned by Duke Windischgrätz. The building from the 15th century is now protected as a monument, and there are three beautiful apartments within it.
Today, in the heart of the vineyards, there is also one of the most modern wine cellars, the Zlati Grič Wine Cellar. The 3,500 m2 facility with a capacity of 1.3 million liters has been dug into the ground, and the roof is covered with grass and other vegetation. Externally, only some individual facade elements are visible which form part of the existing wine-growing ambience.
In addition to the wine cellar, this idyllic environment also features a 9-hole golf course , which is completely surrounded by vineyards and is extremely diverse due to its natural features.
Walks under the Konjiška gora mountain and in its forests offer an experience of beautiful nature and an immediate retreat from the fast-paced city life. The network of hiking trails, hunting lodges, parks, forest educational trails, diversity of plant and animal species and remote villages brings experiences of authenticity, pristineness, purity and soothing green colour of the Slovenian forests.
Srobotni vrh (996 m), Stolpnik (1014 m), Jelenov vrh (924 m) in Tolsti vrh (870 m) are the highest peaks of Konjiška gora. Here, the peaks rise above 1,000 metres for the last time, as all the others to the east of Konjiška gora no longer reach such heights.
It is made of carbonates, triadic limestones and dolomites which, despite their resistance to erosion or removal, are not resistant to corrosion or dissolution. This is the reason why high and steep peaks were formed, and the surface is sprinkled with numerous karst phenomena, such as grooves, sinkholes and springs etc. The local inhabitants use this carbonate rock for road and building construction, as a large number of quarries can be seen from afar at the foot of Konjiška gora.
The steep slopes are covered by forests, which were once completely leafy, but today, due to reforestation with spruce and fir, a mixed forest prevails. Due to the harsher climatic conditions, the highest areas are overgrown with conifers, and in the lower parts, due to neutral soil, deciduous trees such as beech, hornbeam, ash and oak have been preserved. In the Konjiška gora area, we can also find protected yew, as well as red pine and heather on poorer sites.
Mountain trails open up views of natural beauty that are often overlooked due to their fast pace and different lifestyle. With the joint cooperation of the Pod goro primary school, the Municipality of Slovenske Konjice, the Forestry Service, hunters and the planning association, the Zmajček Forest Educational Trail was created at a length of 3 km with as many as 12 information points.
If you are looking for a way to relax and exercise, Konjiška gora is a great choice. The hiking trails are mostly easy and accessible to a wide range of hikers. Among the more famous and popular is the hiking trail that leads past the Old Castle. The people of Konjice also like to stop at the Three Crosses, which are at the crossroads of many other trails near the settlement of Kamna gora. For those who want more demanding routes, the Konjice mountaineering association has arranged a path to the Skala, a lookout point where you can also try climbing using wedges and steel cables.
In addition to educational and hiking trails , the mountain also offers the possibility of mountain biking, a running track and a paragliding runway.
The Dravinja river has its source on the central Pohorje under Ovčarjev vrh and as the central watercourse of the valley, it leaves the most significant mark in the of Slovenske Konjice area. Over the years, the once lazy and unpredictable water flow has been changed and made more controllable with regulation measures. In areas where the river has enough natural space and is not significantly altered, it shows its true beauty and character. Parts of the valley, which are located lower, are often exposed to flooding, especially grassland areas, as the settlements are located away from the river.
The riparian overgrowth provides special, natural protection to the watercourse, as well as the diverse structures of the preserved streams, which encompass an even wider belt of wet meadows, as they provide a habitat for many plant and animal species. There are 5 areas in the municipality of Slovenske Konjice that are included in the European Natura 2000 ecological network. These areas completely overlap with ecologically important areas and cover just over 12% of the territory in the district.
In these areas, due to the extremely diverse habitats, gravel beds, backwaters, swamps and rich flower meadows etc., we can find the living environment of one of the more numerous populations of frogs in Slovenia, habitats of endangered species of cultural landscape birds, white storks and brown shrike, snakes, several species of fish, carob beetle and endangered species of butterflies.
The Natura 2000 area includes two educational paths. The Prežigal water educational trail is an outdoor classroom, a laboratory for different target groups and a polygon for researchers. In this area, we also find a protected forest of rare, preserved lowland oak. The Petelinjek Nature Trail is primarily intended for pupils and students who, by actively participating in 13 thematic boards, learn about life in ponds, swamps, wet meadows, alder and forest.
On the way to the Žiče Carthusian Monastery is the site of a botanical landmark – the Žiče Grobeljnik.
Two localities are known in the area of the Žičnica valley. The first, less known and more difficult to access, is located on a steep slope along the motorway stop between the Golo rebro and Pletovarje tunnels. Another, more famous, is on the way to Žička Kartuzija on the rocky slope of the former quarry.
Žički grobeljnik belongs to the subspecies of alyssum montanum. It is a widespread European-Mediterranean species that occurs throughout the territory of Slovenia, mainly in the area of Nanos and Divača in the Primorska region. However, the subspecies of the Žički grobeljnik is considered endemic, as it occurs in Slovenia only in the Žiče area. This herbaceous perennial, which shows its yellow flowers in April and May, grows to a height of somewhere between 10 and 20 centimeters. This botanical specialty was first described by the Austrian botanist Baumgartner in 1907.
The special value and importance of the Žički grobeljnik was also recognised in the local community. In 2001, the Municipality of Slovenske Konjice protected this site as a natural botanical monument (Ordinance on the Proclamation of the Site of the Žički grobeljnik as a Natural Monument, Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, no. 4/2001) and thus assumed the responsibility for its protection and preservation.
(Taken from Boldin, A. (2016). Konjice: 870 let prve pisne omembe (p. 211-212). Slovenske Konjice: Občina.)
In the immediate vicinity of the town centre at the foot of Konjiška gora, there is a park that was previously owned by the Windischgrätz family. It was under family management from 1828 until the end of World War II. The park is located next to Trebnik Castle, which served as the family’s summer residence.
“In the 19th century, during the period of the Windischgrätzs ownership, next to the mansion, , a large, 10 hectare English landscape park with sculptures, ponds and gardening shed was created, probably on the instructions of Princess Christiana, born Auersperg (1864 – 1962), and executed by its gardener. The park also once housed an ornamental farmhouse with a straw roof (described as Minatur-Bauernhäuschen), which was intended for princely children.”
The image of the lower part of the park has been significantly changed. In the place where the pond with the bridge is preserved, there used to be two ponds. In the aftermath of World War II, one of the ponds was covered and a tennis court was built over it, as well as a new bridge leading to an islet in the middle of the pond.
The upper part of the park, located above the Trebnik mansion, has been preserved almost entirely. Many tree species have been planted in groups, with tree-lined avenues, or individually spaced. The park boasts both indigenous and exotic trees. Among them, we can find various types of maples, beech, hornbeam, linden, horse chestnut, birch and alder etc. After the flood in 2014, the rehabilitation of damaged trees was necessary so many trees were also newly planted.
The park represents a special value both for its tidiness and preservation, as well as for the varied planting of various tree species.
The central role in the park is played by the Baronvaj Mansion, the former Prevrat Mansion, named after Baron Vay de Vaya by the people of Konjice.
After their marriage, the spouses Adelma and Ödön Vay de Vaya lived in Hungary for a while, and in 1867 they bought the mansion Prevrat and moved to the then Gonobitz. The purchase of the mansion is also recorded in the Land Register, where Adelma von Vay was registered as the owner of the mansion on February 4, 1867. The one-storey mansion, which was built and richly furnished by the couple, stood next to the park with selected trees. Today, preserved old tree species prevail here.
Baronvaj Park is located near the bus station and the health centre. We can say that it is located in the middle of the town’s hustle and bustle, as the main road through Slovenske Konjice also passes close by. Throughout history, the park has successfully faced numerous changes and urbanisation. The green areas in the immediate vicinity of the mansion are intended primarily for walkers and those who like to sit on the benches there. While walking through the park, you may remember the popular Baroness Adelma, who used to walk among the trees of this park.
Adelma von Vay, born Countess Wurmbrand – Stuppach in Tarnopol, Galicia, was considered a pioneer of spiritism and theosophy in addition to humanitarianism. She used various methods of natural and energy (magnetic) healing and homeopathy. She was known for her mystical abilities, including talking to ghosts and medial writing.
