Stare gore above Podsreda
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. At the end of the Stations of the Cross, which starts at Dom krajanov Podsreda, at the top of the hill at an altitude of 386m, is the Gothic Church of St. Mary.
The central, former pilgrimage church of St. Mary was first mentioned in 1347, while the present building dates from the beginning of the 15th century. The church is distinguished by a large late Baroque main altar from the 2nd half of the 18th century with a statue of Pietà, which was made in a workshop in Ptuj in 1410.
The Stations of the Cross chapels were built by the parish in 1834. It was rebuilt in 1893–94, when the chapels were given new paintings by Ferdinand Stuflesser. The last station of the Stations of the Cross is in the former chapel of St. Hermagoras and St. Fortunatus.
Two chapels at the foot of the hill are not part of the Stations of the Cross, the first is St. Florian’s and the second is dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi.
In 2015, the inhabitants of the hamlets of Podsreda parish, the Municipality of Kozje, the Podsreda Local Community, the Podsreda Volunteer Fire Brigade, Kozjanski Park, and sponsors restored the chapels and committed themselves to their maintenance.
Above the church stands the 14th century Chapel of St. Anne, behind which is a vast meadow with an interesting relief – a sinkhole, which testifies to the presence of the karst world in our region.
There is said to be a strong energy point at the top of the hill.
Stare gore offer a beautiful view of the town and Podsreda Castle.
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.