The Tower of Love on the Žusem Hill
| Region | Savinja Statistical Region |
| Starting point | The Church of St. Valentine |
| Route length | 1,4 km (0.15 miles) |
| route duration | 0,5-1 h |
| Best time to visit | spring, summer, early autumn |
| Appropriate for | Baby Carriers , 1-3 years of age , 3-6 years of age , 6+ years of age |
| Level of difficulty | Easy route |
Route Description
A visit to the Tower of Love makes for a nice family trip, easy enough for younger hikers. This construction was named “The Tower of Love” because a church consecrated to St. Valentine, the patron saint of lovers, is located on the Žusem Hill nearby. Anyone who loves love should come here!
The surroundings are spectacular and you are surrounded by the positive energy of the tower. The view from the top extends to Croatia, Hungary, Austria, as well as the Kamnik Alps, Peca Mountain, Pohorje Hills, Boč Mountain, Donačka gora Mountain, Lisca Hills and Kum Mountain. When the weather is nice, you can even see Triglav, Slovenia’s highest mountain.
The Tower of Love is a 25.90-metre (84.11 feet)-high outlook tower, built in 2015 on the northeastern part of Veliki špiček Hill (669 m), the highest point of Žusem Hill. The idea of setting up such a construction arose some time ago. It was originally supposed to be an iron tower (which already stands in the Municipality of Šentjur); however, it was soon decided it would be made of wood. Based on a visit to a similar tower built by the Vrhnika Mountaineering Association, a 1:20 scale model was erected on Žusem with only one platform. In April 2014, the Žusem Mountaineering Association laid the foundation stone, and construction began in August of the same year. The Tower of Love was inaugurated on April 26, 2015.
This trip is an easy hike even for the youngest members of the family. The well-maintained forest path leads you to the foot of the tower. The 116 stairs are worth the climb, because you are rewarded with a stunning view from the top. There, a wishing bell awaits every single visitor, so make a wish while you soak up the landscape.
There are several trails going to the very top and all of them are well marked and maintained. We chose the easiest one for our 3-year-old child. Older kids can walk other slightly more difficult paths:
- Martin's Path: starting point at the Žurej Ječovo Tourist Farm (turistična kmetija Žurej-Ječovo),
- The Chestnut Trail: starting point in the Loka pri Žusmu Village, at the Loka Well (Loški vodnjak),
- The Castle Trail: starting point at the Žamerk Castle.
Interesting Facts
- Tower height: 25.90 m
- Number of stairs: 116
- Number of landings: 22
- Viewing platforms: 2
- Altitude: 669 m
Material:
- 45 m3 processed larch wood
- 33 m3 of reinforced concrete for the foundations
- 1,500 kg of stainless metal (inox)
In general, the Tower of Love already connected parts of Slovenia during its construction: The larch wood came from the Carinthia statistical region and was processed in Komenda (Upper Carniola statistical region).
Map
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Nearby Restaurants
Gostišče Bohorč
Guest House Bohorč in Šentjur is a family inn with more than 100 years of tradition, currently
run by the fourth generation.
They offer traditional Slovenian dishes and a pleasant ambience. In the immediate vicinity, you
can find tennis courts, a swimming pool and other sports facilities.
Ulica Dušana Kvedra 44
3230 Šentjur
+386 3 7461430
Vita, Olja and Juna Recommend
Not far from the tower stands the Žusem Castle, haunted by many folk tales talking about its history and its owners.
Have you heard of the one about the evil nobleman who loved money?
In this castle lived a nobleman who was a very bad man and did not say much. He communicated with his caretaker only, giving him daily orders. He preferred to go hunting in the morning because he hated company. The nobleman loved money, so he robbed his subjects. He overcharged the tithe and demanded they work harder and harder. The local people hated and avoided him. The nobleman, on the other hand, thought about how he could make even more money. One evening he sat pensively in his room. When he could not think of a clever idea, he cried in his bad mood “Only the devil can help me now!” He barely uttered a word, the door opened silently, and the devil himself entered the room.
What happened next? Listen to the rest of the tale.
