Žička kartuzija - Skala

Access to starting point:
a) From the Maribor - Ljubljana motorway we take the Tepanje exit and continue on the road towards Draža vas and Žiče. In Žiče we turn right towards Špitalič and Žička kartuzija. There is enough parking space available next to the charterhouse for safe parking.
b) From Frankolovo via Črešnjice and the settlement Sojek to Žička kartuzija
c) From Poljčane via Loče, Žiče and Špitalič to the charterhouse.

Route description:
From the parking lot we continue along the road and quickly reach the marked junction by the Gastuž1467 café, which is considered the oldest inn in Slovenia, the TIC and the Spargusod restaurant, from where we continue right in the direction of the road sign for Frankolovo and the mountain signs for the settlement Sojek. The path ahead leads us past the inn, after which we quickly reach the Žička monastery complex, from where we continue right across the bridge (straight along the road the path goes via Sojek), and we bypass the monastery complex on the right side. The signs for Stolpnik and Slovenske Konjice then direct us right onto the path along a small stream, which ascends transversely through the forest over a steeper slope, where in wet conditions a little more caution is needed, and in the continuation we also climb steeply for a few minutes along a once nicely maintained path, but today the wooden railings and steps are decaying. Higher up the path levels out and leads us to a meadow below the Štrekel farm. Here we ascend along a grassy cart track near the farm, then continue left along the road which turns right and ascends to the next hamlet with beautiful views.
Here from a small crossroads we continue on the left side of the chapel and ascend along a poorer cart track past some weekend houses to the Kumen farm, where the route of the path has changed somewhat in recent times. The old path went straight up across the pasture, while the new one leads through the courtyard and then along the access road to a somewhat wider road, which we then follow to the left. At the bus stop, where there are also signs for the changed route, we join the old closed path, and along the road we quickly reach the next marked junction.
We continue sharply right in the direction of Skala (straight ahead Stolpnik) and continue along the forest road which begins to ascend transversely along the slopes of Tolsti vrh. Higher up we temporarily get some views towards the Posavsko hribovje, otherwise the path runs through the forest. When we ascend to an altitude of a little over 800 m we reach the southeastern ridge of Tolsti vrh, where the road turns slightly left, we leave it here and continue slightly right from the road onto the marked footpath, which descends a little, after a short descent turns left and then crosses the gradually steeper slopes of Tolsti vrh towards the north. There follows a short crossing of a rather steep slope, where there is a great risk of slipping in snow, otherwise the path is not technically demanding and is fairly wide. After the steep section there are only a few steps of descent to the viewpoint on Skala.

Žička kartuzija - turn-off for Skala 0:45, turn-off for Skala - turn-off from the road 0:20, turn-off from the road - Skala 0:10.

The description and pictures refer to the situation in December 2024 and August 2026.

Along the route: Štrekel (553m), Odcep za Skalo (680m), Odcep s ceste (814m)

The trip can be extended to the following destinations: Stolpnik (2 h 15 min)

We recommend: trips from the same starting point, similar trips, summit register