Žička kartuzija - Stolpnik (via Sojek and Vratca)

Access to starting point:
We leave the Štajerska highway at the exit for Slovenske Konjice, and then follow the signs for Draža vas and Žiče. In Žiče, we turn right toward Slovenske Konjice and Žička kartuzija, then soon turn left toward Žička kartuzija. We continue driving a few more kilometers on a slightly narrower asphalt road to a marked parking lot near the Žička kartuzija complex.

Path description:
From the parking lot, we continue along the road ahead and quickly reach a marked crossing by the café Gastuž1467, considered the oldest inn in Slovenia, the TIC, and the restaurant Spargusod, from where we proceed right toward the road sign for Frankolovo and mountain signposts for the settlement Sojek. The path ahead leads us past the inn, after which we quickly arrive at the complex of monastery Žički samostan, from where we continue along the asphalt road (to the right of the monastery, a path leads to Konjiška gora past Three Crosses), which runs alongside the stream Soješka voda.
We bypass the monastery on the left side and continue along the asphalt road, which initially ascends gently, then moderately, until we reach the marked turn-off toward Poharčeva smreka.
Here, if desired, we can make a short three-minute detour to Poharčeva smreka; otherwise, we continue along the road, which ascends past individual homesteads to a crossing at the start of the village Sojek.
We continue on the slightly right road toward Stolpnik (left for Dramlje and Resevna), and a few steps further, we turn right onto a grassy cart track that ascends along the edge of a meadow. We continue briefly with beautiful views, then the path returns to the forest and begins ascending diagonally across the slopes of Gradišna peč. At the point where the path flattens, we reach the marked turn-off for Gradišna peč.
We continue straight along the marked path (left for Gradišna peč, five minutes), which, upon leaving the forest, joins a cart track that we follow to the left. Next follows a short ascent by a field, then the path flattens and descends slightly at a farm; we then follow the blazes through the village, gradually starting to ascend again.
From the crossing by the road sign marking the start of the settlement Kamna Gora, we turn left toward Stolpnik and ascend along a somewhat steeper road past a few houses. Behind the last house, the asphalt ends, and the road leads into the forest, where there is a marked crossing.
We continue left toward Stolpnik (right for Žička kartuzija, the path past Three Crosses); the path soon turns right, and after a water reservoir, it begins to ascend steeply. At Vratca, the path flattens, and we continue straight along the marked path (slightly left, an unmarked path leads to the summit of Stolpnik, which is a few minutes shorter but more challenging to navigate), which starts to descend gently. After a few minutes, we reach a forest road, which we follow slightly to the right, continuing to the crossroad at Grofov štant, where we turn left and immediately notice numerous signposts.
We take the cart track that branches off slightly to the left from the road, marked with signs for Stolpnik. The cart track soon becomes a mountain path continuing through the forest; we ascend mostly moderately to steeply, with the path occasionally flattening entirely. In the final part, after a moderate ascent, we reach the summit of Stolpnik, where a metal lookout tower stands.
Žička kartuzija - Poharčeva smreka 0:30, Poharčeva smreka - turn-off for Gradišna peč 0:15, turn-off for Gradišna peč - Vratca 0:40, Vratca - Stolpnik 0:45.
The description and pictures refer to the condition in December 2024.

On the way: Poharčeva smreka (505m), Sojek (535m), Vratca (809m), Grofov štant (799m)