Olimje
Olimje is a small village near Podčetrtek with the former name of Sopote, first mentioned in 1208. In 2009, Olimje was awarded the gold medal for the most beautiful village at the Entente Florale European competition.
In Olimje, we are first greeted by the imposing Minorite monastery with St. Mary’s Church, which houses one of Slovenia’s largest Baroque golden altars. On the ground floor of the monastery is the old monastery pharmacy with frescoes by Anton Lerchinger, a legacy of the Pauline Fathers. The Minorite fathers of Olimje continue the tradition of the Paulines, and have a large herb garden with an apiary in front of the monastery, and an herbal pharmacy has been re-established in the monastery.
Near the monastery, in the former school, is the family-run Olimje Chocolate Shop – Syncerus, where you can enjoy a wide range of handmade chocolate products.
A kilometre further from the monastery, the Witch’s Cottage (Land of Fairy Tales and Imagination) is hidden in the forest, where young and old visitors can enter the world of fairy tales and get reacquainted with the fairy tale characters and the many witches who are the main attraction in their land.
Olimje also offers a wide range of tourist facilities and providers: Jelenov greben, Piki Tourist Centre, Amon homestead, haler Homestead…
A 10km long Geology Educational Trail (link to the trail) runs around Olimje, where you can learn about the varied geological structure of the Kozjansko region.
More information: www.olimje.net
Location
Explore other cultural attractions in Kozjansko Regional Park:
The medieval Podsreda market town developed under the eponymous Podsreda Castle and is situated on the right bank of the Bistrica River, along the regional road connecting Kozje and Bistrica ob Sotli. With its position, it belongs to the few areas with an extraordinary cultural landscape.
The Stations of the Cross from Podsreda lead to the Church of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows on Stare gore above Podsreda, or the “Nearby Mountains” as they are popularly called.
The Javeršek homestead (Podsreda 93) is located about half a kilometre from the road connecting Podsreda and Bistrica ob Sotli. It is a secluded farm, which was given the name “v Loki” because of its location.
Kolar’s homestead is located in Trebče, next to a pond by the Podsreda–Bistrica ob Sotli road.
Svete gore is an ancient cult and pilgrimage centre on the hill of the same name above Bistrica ob Sotli (Zagaj).
At the top of the hill, at an altitude of 527m, there are five religious buildings.
On the right bank of the Bistrica River, just off the main Podsreda–Kozje road, is one of the few remaining working mills from the mid-19th century. The Kukovičič mill (Podsreda 3a), today restored, is an ethnological cultural monument.
Kozje is one of our oldest market towns, and the region in the central part of which it is located is named after it.
Pilštanj, situated on a low ridge above the village of Lesično, has one of the most picturesque views over the Bistrica valley and is today a cultural monument.