Svete gore above Bistrica ob Sotli
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. The main church of Svete gore, dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, was first mentioned in 1265 as Monte Sancte Marie. Today, the early Baroque St. Mary’s Church has the appearance of a basilica, painted by Tomaž Fantoni between 1868 and 1871. The most eye-catching feature of the church is the throne of Mary with Jesus in the nave. It is interesting that the clothes of the statue of Mary are regularly changed.
Four smaller chapels stand along the ridge around the main church: Lourdes Chapel, the Chapels of St. Sebastian and St. Fabian, and the Chapels of St. George and St. Martin, which are among the oldest sacral buildings in Slovenia. In the chapel of St George, above the portal, we find the image of Orans – a relief of a praying man carved in stone with an illegible inscription, which has not been deciphered to this day.
Since 2000, 15 stations of the wooden Stations of the Cross, the work of academic sculptor Stane Jarm, have been accompanying us from the foot of the hill to the top of Svete gore.
In front of St. Mary’s Church, you can admire the imposing statue of A. Martin Slomšek, the work of local artist, local resident Franci Černelč.
Svete gore were once a much-visited pilgrimage centre. The main pilgrimage is on 8 September, and a service is held every Sunday from 1 May until St Martin’s Sunday.
The top of Svete gore offers a beautiful view of the Croatian Zagorje, Donačka gora and Boč, and in good weather you can also see the slopes of Pohorje and the Kamnik Alps.
You can also walk to Svete Gore from Bistrica ob Sotli along the former 2.2km long pilgrimage footpath, or from Podsreda Castle along a 9km long forest trail.
More information: www.svetegore.si
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.