Žička kartuzija - Stolpnik (via Tri križi 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 by the inn, after which we quickly reach the complex of the monastery Žički samostan, from where we continue right over a bridge (straight on the road the path over Sojek), and we bypass the monastery complex on the right side. Signs for Stolpnik and Slovenske Konjice then by a smaller stream direct us right onto a path that ascends diagonally through the forest over a steeper slope, where in wet conditions more caution is needed, and we continue steeply ascending for a few minutes on a once well-maintained path, but today the wooden fences and stairs are falling apart. Higher up, the path flattens and brings us to a meadow below the farm Štrekel. Here, on a grassy cart track, we ascend near the farm, then continue left on a road that turns right and ascends toward the next hamlet with nice views.
From a smaller crossroad, we continue on the left side of the chapel and ascend on a poorer cart track past some holiday cottages to the farm Kumen, where the course of the path has recently changed slightly. The old path led straight upward through the pasture, but the new one leads through the yard and then along the access road to a slightly wider road, which we follow to the left. At the bus stop, where there are also signs for the changed course of the path, we join the old closed path, and on the road, we quickly reach the next marked crossing.
We continue straight on the asphalt road (sharply right Skala), and higher up, at two smaller crossroads, we keep to the right direction.
When we reach Trije križi, we go left, and about a minute ahead, the path splits once again.
To the right continues the path to Stolpnik, which leads over Krniški rob, but we continue straight, where there are signs for Stolpnik via Kamna Gora.
Next follows some descent, then we reach the settlement Kamna Gora, where we go right behind the cross onto a narrower, ascending road. We continue past the last houses, then the asphalt ends, and in the forest, we join the path that leads over Sojek.
We continue slightly right, and the path soon turns a bit more to the right; after the water storage, 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 - Trije križi 0:55, Trije križi - Vratca 0:35, Vratca - Stolpnik 0:45.
The description and pictures refer to the condition in December 2024.

On the way: Štrekel (553m), Trije križi (727m), Vratca (809m), Grofov štant (799m)