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Way of St. James – Gorenjska Branch

Majdag27. 05. 2019 22:53:31

From Bled to Krnica, going along Jakob's Path again. I like to make someone else happy too, and Blanka is coming with me. It's spring and everything is green, and the walked path is different every time. The weekend weather held, the sun shone too, and the wandering was wonderful. nasmeh

https://jelenkamenmajdag.blogspot.com/2019/05/po-oznakah-rumenih-skoljk-od-bleda-do.html

- Blejski grad in the greenery is wonderful

- Church of the Assumption of Mary on the islet

(+6)

bagi11. 04. 2023 12:05:23

This year we haven't done any more serious hikes yet, so our soles were itching badly velik nasmeh

. The travel backpacks were sadly idle in the corner waiting for better times. And they came nasmeh

. In a period of bad weather a sunny window appeared and it was to last at least a few days. Quickly we chose the goal and arranged everything needed for departure. Direction ... Holy Višarje via Jakob's Path.

For the first day we chose the path from Ljubljana Castle to Sv. Duh near Škofja Loka. The path has several variants at the start, the most strenuous part over Polhograjce to Puštala is shared. The continuation to Sv. Duh is also shared, where we booked dinner and lodging in the Bread House. The next day is long too, so it's worth overnighting there. More details follow in the photo story ...

For good morning we first ascend to Grajski grič, then descend to the old town part.

The official start of the path is at St. James Church on Levstik Square.

We continue along the Ljubljanica embankment. It's early, everything is still quiet.

Franciscan Church at Triple Bridge, one of the most visited in Ljubljana.

We already turn earlier onto Kongresni trg, direction Tivoli.

Through the underpass at Modern Gallery we go and already we are in the greenery.

The path leads us past Tivoli hall and further past Koseški bajer.

We walk in quiet areas not far from the main thoroughfare. Traffic is rare.

We search for the passage over the western bypass and climb past Pržan into the hill.

For a while we will be in the forest. It climbs in the direction of Trate …

In many places additional climbs over fallen giants follow.

Descents on fresh tracks join this. Nothing else, varied path :)

At Slavkov dom there is a bunch of signs, so it will surely be safe :)

Further on it's similar too. Many branches, but hard to miss the right direction.

Another of Jakob's churches on the path. This one is at Petelinac.

There is also a stamp box for Jakobova pot nearby.

The sun pleasantly warms, the path is excellent.

Marks of Jakob's Way ... yellow arrows, scallops, direction signs and more to be found

Video surveillance present everywhere, even in the most nonsensical places. Here it didn't perform well :)

Another church of St. James. This one is above Topola

The church stands on a hill and is an excellent viewpoint. A visit is also fitting for the theme

After a short break we descend the opposite side towards Tehovec

Spring is already awakening strongly, but the trees are not yet much in leaf

In Tehovec a very special Triglav greets us :)

Village church of St. Florian, patron saint of firefighters

Right behind the homestead at the end of the village we turn left downhill

In this section there are several forest skid trails and the direction is not always clearly visible

Follows descent to the main road for Trnovec and ascent past Osolnik to Mrtancova planina

Shady slopes above Puštal glow in saffron colour

The central star of the panorama … Škofjeloški grad

Being all courageous, we go directly across Hudičeva brv :)

Town square with Jakob's church in the background

We leave Škofja Loka and along the hillsides above the main thoroughfare reach Sv. Duh settlement

Dinner and accommodation await us here in the Ursuline Monastery. Recommended, tried several times

Main portal. We conclude the first day of the trail

Monastic part of the complex, the visitors' facility is right at the entrance

House of Bread. We ring the bell again and are kindly invited inside.

The day is saying goodbye, see you tomorrow...

GPS track - day 1. It came to 35 km and 1500 m elevation gain.

(+10)

bagi12. 04. 2023 10:44:54

The second day the path from Sv. Duh all the way to Bled awaited us. Long stage, so we departed with first light. So early only birds greeted us with spring chirping, then long no one anywhere. Good markings led us to Crngrob and Planica, then past Sv. Jošt over the ridge to Besnica. In Podnart we soothed our souls, at Brezje peeked into the basilica and along Bohinjka headed to Ribno and further to Bled to lodging. Long day full of beautiful views and sights nasmeh

. More in photo story …

Very early only birds greet us, loudly rejoicing in spring

Soon the first directional sign awaits us. It's freezing and we quickly head onwards

A slightly larger signpost turns us the right way. Sleepily sorting thoughts

Yippee, Crngrob is already basking in the sun :). We too soon get our share of warmth

We're making good progress. The sun has given us new impetus and the day is immediately nicer :)

It has tilted, but the nearby one supports it

Past Sv. Jošt above Kranj we descend to the opposite side of the ridge

Zgornja Besnica and the church of Sv. Tilna. Here we take time for the first rest

Between homesteads we continue to the hillside where the slope drops towards the Sava

We just missed the train, so we go on foot instead :)

We walk along a pleasant gravel road right by the railway and the Sava

We join the main roads at the fire station in Podnart

Next comes restocking supplies and a traffic jam :)

Work group in action. It doesn't motivate them and they stride resolutely onward …

Sava. It has accompanied us for a long time, this time we are closest to it

Another municipality change and there will be a few more to come

Ljubno, the village that catches the eye from the Gorenjska motorway

There is something to see in it. The roots go far back and it has soul

You have to start small :) It has chugged up the steep slope around the bend

Church of Mary Help of Christians in Ljubno

Here the signposts are very nicely arranged

Follows a steep descent into the Peračica valley and ascent along the Pilgrimage Path on the other side

Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in the village of Brezje

It is adorned by powerful organs that have undergone several renovations

From Brezje we continue through Mošnje and further towards Radovljica

Here were once the city's defensive moats around the old core of Radovljica

Not everyone even knows them, but they are certainly interesting

The central part of old Radovljica, Linhart Square

We descend past the railway station in the direction of Lancovo

The path leads us along the left bank of the Sava Bohinjka. Here there are plenty of houses built in the old style

After a few kilometers we cross the river and head towards Ribno

Bodešče climbing area. Everyone is looking up worriedly :)

This is the reason. The girl is looking for the route, especially good holds

Just before the Mill there are some interesting low hayracks

Not many tourists yet, most of them Hungarians.

GPS track - day 2. Totalled 39 km and 1300 m elevation gain.

(+10)

bagi13. 04. 2023 11:24:54

On the third day we set out from Bled to Kranjska Gora. Morning started with abundant breakfast, then with slow warm-up trudged to church of Sv. Martin nasmeh

. Below Blejski grad continued to railway station, ascended under forest edge to Poljščica and a bit further to Zgornje Gorje. There descended to Radovna valley and crossed it to junction for Mojstrana. Followed obligatory stop at Kot pizzeria, then easy walk to Martuljek along left edge of Dolinka. Then hop to other side of Sava and on nice forest trail reached Kranjska Gora. This surprisingly still winter decorated. More in photo story …

Morning of a new day. At the church of St. Martin we join the St. James's Way.

Beautifully painted interior. We are alone, the atmosphere is peaceful.

We descend to the Veslaška promenade and continue right above the lake.

Vila Zlatorog by the lake, intended for protocol affairs.

World-famous islet in the middle of the lake with the church of Mary's Assumption.

From the rowing center we ascend to the railway station.

Jakob's Way continues along the slopes right above the villages.

Offers a nice view far around. The path is forested and pleasantly shady.

It reaches a more populated area at Poljšica and continues on asphalt to Zgornje Gorje.

There is no traffic, this is more of a village scene :)

Zgornje Gorje and the church of St. George.

Construction works are ongoing outside, but the interior is nicely arranged.

Right after the shop, we descend deep into the Radovna valley, more precisely to Grabče.

Spare parts for those who have equipment problems on the long path :)

Follows some gravel up to the bridge in Krnica.

From here on, there is flat asphalt along the Radovna valley for some time.

It's not ideal for walking, nor is it dusty :). Few tourists, so little traffic.

Still operating hydroelectric power plant Gorje from 1906.

Remains of the ironworks and foundry by the Radovna river. The complex operated until 1901.

We go on, kilometer by kilometer. We stopped counting them long ago.

Smolej homestead, which the Germans burned in 1944. 24 locals died.

At this homestead we turn right onto a parallel gravel path.

Artificial lake Kreda. Chalk was mined here until 1985, then water slowly filled the pit.

Gogal homestead with the famous, about 400 years old linden tree.

At the Psnak homestead we gradually end the crossings of Radovna and soon after turn towards Mojstrana.

Follows a steep ascent to Kosmačev pass and from there only descent.

At the tennis courts we turn left and descend past the via ferrata to the Pot kurirčkov along the Triglavska Bistrica.

Soon we cross the river and switch to the main link to Mojstrana - Vrata.

Well-deserved break in pizerija Kot with huge pizzas and more than reasonable prices :)

After abundant overeating we search for the nearby left branch-off.

Fortunately the path is of the flat kind so the food excess can settle :)

It runs along the left bank of the Sava. Some parts of the bed have newly piled-up slopes.

These heavyweights probably have the greatest merit.

The path along the Sava is more and more rutted, at this time of year also without undergrowth.

But surprisingly some white remains of Aunt Winter have been found :)

On sunny exposures there is no trace of any snow. Soon we will join the cycle path.

Newly arranged railway bridge. The works were completed recently.

Empty cycle path. The frost has driven away even the most eager.

At hotel Špik we leave the cycle path, cross the bridge and continue along the right bank of the Sava.

The path is marked and arranged, constantly running near the river.

We arrive in Kranjsko Goro in Bezjah, then crossing the main road and we are already in the village.

The day is departing, we only need to find accommodation.

Here we won't stop, it is way too expensive.

GPS track - day 3. It came to 38 km and 700 elevation meters.

(+12)

bagi14. 04. 2023 10:42:48

The fourth day of our journey dawned, this time from Kranjska Gora to Holy Višarje. Again up early as we had to return home same day. Set off through nicely lit old village part, then in morning glow stepped on cycle path. This is only sensible link to Trbiž. Unmistakable and whoever strays here is real artist of sort nasmeh

. Even in Italy occasional signs of our Jakob's Path appear.

This joins Italian Camino Celeste in upper Trbiž. Also pilgrimage path, just starts in Aquileia, ends elsewhere than Višarje. And there we ended too, not first time nor last surely. Always happy and grateful anew when succeeds nasmeh

. Nothing self-evident, each path own story. Hug of luck and see you next time ...

Kranjska Gora is still decorated as in the middle of winter

The morning is wonderful, but the cloudy veils do not promise a really nice day

Jezerce Ledine in this frost fully justifies its name

We're going to check on the neighbors too. There a white surprise awaits us

Snow at the last moment keeps whitening the peaks again

This is the mentioned surprise. The cyclist is thickly covered with snow

Soon she realizes that in winter a cross-country ski track was laid from Fužine

Further on everything is dry, which is appropriate for this time of year

The only remains of the tracks of the abandoned railway.

One of the former railway stations of the abandoned line.

Even on the Italian side, no one is encountered.

Another station of the discontinued railway.

But the old track has gained new life as a cycle path.

Church of Apostles Peter and Paul from 1399 in the old part of Trbiž.

In upper Trbiž we detour for coffee at David's and continue to the Pilgrims' Path.

At its start stands one of the rare markers of a very special Camino.

This is Camino Celeste, the Heavenly Path from Oglej to the Holy Višarje in our language.

Another information board on the subject...

We two continue along the path already walked countless times.

Here too there are still extensive areas of hard-packed snow that the sun is steadily melting.

But in shady spots it is still proper winter.

But spring is here and love is in the air, oops... on the tree :)

Towards the summit, the cooling of recent days is noticeable.

The ski slope is still groomed, but bare patches are already visible in places.

Anyone interested in Camino Celeste should read Nace Novak's book ... Nebeška pot.

The tourist village certainly has its charm, for me especially in winter.

View of the freshly whitewashed Kamniti lovec

Svete Višarje from the nearby elevation Monte Santo di Lussari

After four days of walking from Ljubljana we are finally at the goal :)

GPS track - day 4. It came to 31 km and 1300 elevation gain

GPS track of the entire walked path from Ljubljana to Višarij

(+19)

panda14. 04. 2023 11:30:24

congratulations to both nasmeh

(+3)

bagi14. 04. 2023 15:51:16

Thanks a lot @Panda, we already missed longer paths nasmeh

(+2)

marchy15. 04. 2023 17:48:45

Sincere congratulations to both for the hiked path and all the others you've hiked together, and also thanks for sharing these snapshots from your wanderings with us. 🙂

(+2)

mukica16. 04. 2023 08:04:36

Bravo you two, how nice it is to follow and read your tours, hikes and adventures... you are an inspiration nasmeh

(+2)

KarmenT16. 04. 2023 16:31:51

Congratulations on the hiked path and excellent report! Maybe also note how you returned to the starting point? Good luck on your further paths. nasmeh

(+4)

ejti16. 04. 2023 20:46:16

Mateja and Emil, I always read your reports with pleasure.

(+2)

bagi17. 04. 2023 08:07:00

Thanks to all for the nice words nasmeh

. For me, posting our adventures is a kind of pleasant compulsion to actually edit the photos and write the story. For you and also for us. We already sometimes read our own contributions posted years ago. Many memories get lost in the multitude of similar ones velik nasmeh

(+7)

mosovnik17. 04. 2023 12:11:47

@bagi: you two are of course kings and culprits, hi hi, nasmeh

, that I cycled the Camino (French route) in 2019 and hiked it in 2022. I looooove following your adventures and hope to repeat some of it, despite my age. All the best to you!!!

(+4)

2061alessio17. 04. 2023 18:14:51

hey you two, I was just thinking where you've been wandering lately, welcome back and thanks for the report, thanks also for pic no.23 because I see someone has put up the pole with signs that I installed then, I'll have to put it in the right place before the cycling stage "Giro d'Italia" because it will go to Višarje, because path 612A will be useful for pedestrians because they will come to watch the stage; as it sounds around here the gondola to Višarje will be available that day only for the first 3,000 reserved people mrk pogled

and then only for the organization team so all others will have to go up on foot via the pilgrims' path or from the cold valley via path 612A.

(+6)

Spelcarocket11. 11. 2023 10:34:38

Nice words should be shared. I concluded my autumn pilgrimage in warm and sunny weather after five days in a beautiful winter idyll. The sky spared me also on the last day, when it only drizzled a little, so it wouldn't be too kitschy. Very few people on the whole path, on the last ascent to St. Višarje none at all. Wonderful path through Polhograjsko hills then over Jošt to the valley along the rushing Sava to Brezje and unknown trail to Radovljica then sighing in silent but beautiful Bled. The path from Krnica along Radovna valley was a special experience. The beauty and extent of nature, which this year expressed itself in a different way. Seeing the force of water leaving traces left me humbly silent and accompanied me for the next days. The path through the forest in Zelenci is impassable, because water from no longer so flooded Rateče flows there. Nice cycling path, lonely at this time. Suitable for meditation. Sun penetrates through clouds, peaks peek, and soon the fog is replaced by soft white snow. The calvary to the top is really the cherry on top for the last day.
Joy and gratitude... that's it.

also a visit to the first Martuljek waterfall

sometimes the only conversation partners :)

here it soon turns downhill and does not continue straight as I initially went

first time here and definitely not the last

(+8)

ejti11. 11. 2023 13:00:20

Very nice. How did you divide the stages and where did you overnight?

(+1)

Spelcarocket11. 11. 2023 14:44:55

Thanks

1st day Lj-sv.Duh (stay at the Ursulines)
2nd day sv.Duh-Lesce (hostel)
3rd day Lesce-Mojstrana (Veranda)
4th day Mojstrana-Kranjska Gora (day for strolling and rest nasmeh

)
Of course there were some 'detours' (jump to Jošt and visit to Martuljek waterfall) but I adjusted the path to arrive at the bed before the end of daylight since days are shorter..

(+6)

bagi11. 11. 2023 14:59:15

Congratulations also from my side nasmeh

. This path is a bit different every time, although the route is principally always the same. Yours was really special for many reasons velik nasmeh

(+2)

MatejaP14. 11. 2023 15:01:02

I remembered you several times and wondered how you're doing velik nasmeh

.
Well spent last autumn days velik nasmeh

Good luck and lots of enjoyment ahead.

(+2)

Spelcarocket18. 11. 2023 07:28:23

Oh, thanks and likewise 🙂 your journeys are an inspiration 😉

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Way of St. James – Gorenjska Branch