Mountain ranges / Polhograjsko hribovje and Ljubljana / Severjev grič

Severjev grič

Country: Slovenia

Mountain range: Polhograjsko hribovje and Ljubljana

Elevation: 401 m / 1316 ft

Lat/Lon: 46.06601°N 14.31655°E

Type: peak

Weather forecast:

Views: 271

Popularity: 14% (3090th place)

Number of pictures: 8

Number of paths: 1

Number of GPS tracks: 0

Description of mountain:
Severjev grič (401 meters) is indeed low but a panoramic solitary hill in Polhov Gradec, more precisely, it rises above the bend of Božna (the left source branch of Gradaščica) east of the market town center. Mainly from the south, we easily recognize it by the large wooden cross and national flag on the top. Almost the entire hill, except for the peak and some vertical slopes, is covered with forest.

The first cross on this spot was placed in 1936 in memory of the Yugoslav Eucharistic Congress, which took place in Ljubljana the previous year. After World War II, the authorities removed it for ideological reasons; it was reinstated at independence in 1991. As time had worn it down, the current one, 15 meters high, was erected in June 2016.

Immediately after erecting the current cross, a pole with the national flag was also placed next to it. According to the Heraldica Slovenica association, it is 5 meters long (some locals claim it is half a meter longer) and ranks 17th on their list of the largest national flags publicly and permanently displayed on a pole.

The hill has two distinct peaks. The main and higher one is the westernmost, where the mentioned cross and flag stand; slightly to the east lies another, slightly lower peak (unofficially about 395 meters high per GPS tracker measurements), separated from the main one by a small saddle (unofficially about 392 meters). Due to forest cover, it is not as noticeable as the main peak.

More than for its height (after all, it is about 60 meters lower than nearby Kalvarija), it impresses with its steep slopes; the northern and some southern walls are even vertical. From the main/western peak, a slightly different perspective offers beautiful views over much of Polhov Gradec and its surroundings (except for the part obscured by Kalvarija), including nearby hills, where, looking west, the church of St. Lovrenc on (Polhograjski) Gora will surely catch our eye.

It is possible to climb it in just a few minutes via an unofficial, unmarked but well-trodden path from the westernmost point in front of Severjeva house, after which it is named, and it will likely serve as just an "addition" if we have some time and energy left from trips to other nearby points. Appropriate footwear and a careful stride are definitely needed to avoid slipping on the mostly steep sections.