Trail to the Kugla Hill , Kropa
| Region | Upper Carniola Statistical Region |
| Starting point | The town of Kropa, Mercator parking lot (right next to the playground) |
| Route length | 1,17 km (0.12 miles) |
| route duration | 0,5 h- 45 min |
| End Point Altitude | 626 m (2,053 feet) |
| Best time to visit | spring, summer, autumn |
| Appropriate for | Baby Carriers , 3-6 years of age , 6+ years of age |
| Level of difficulty | Moderately demanding route |
Route Description
Hiking trips for toddlers are supposed to be interesting, as the focus should be on destinations with kid-size fun rather than peaks or views! The Kovačkova pot Trail is the perfect thematic path to the Kugla Hill, made for little explorers who have to find hidden dwarves and other fairy-tale forest creatures.
The children will be happy to try hard and look for the mysterious forest creatures during their hike. Parents can carry smaller babies in baby carriers and kids from the age of 3 and on can tackle the trail by themselves. An adult needs about 15 minutes of walking to reach the finish line, whereas small hikers need an hour or more. The treetops provide a nice shade for the whole journey and if your legs get tired, you can rest on the benches.
Access to the town of Kropa by car:
Turn off the Gorenjska motorway at the Podbrezje exit and follow the signs towards Podbrezje, where you turn right in the direction of the village of Podnart. Cross the Sava River and turn left on the main road. Drive past the villages of Prezrenje, Spodnja and Srednja Dobrava and Brezovica. In Lipnica, follow the left main road, which leads to Kropa. Leave the car in one of the marked parking lots in the town. We parked next to the Mercator store, at the blocks of flats. Only 20 meters ahead at the children's playground, you will notice a signpost that says “Kovačkova pot”. Above it stands the Church of the Mother of God.
The signpost directed us from the main road to a side trail rising rapidly towards the forest. We made the first short stop at the Church of the Mother of God, which has a fantastic view of the whole town of Kropa. On the opposite side of the Kroparica stream, you can see the St. Leonard’s Church.
We continued past the church on a forest path that slowly climbed towards our destination. The Kovačkova pot Trail was prepared by the local kindergarten children, so it is definitely easy enough for kids aged 3 and above. We started looking for hidden dwarves at the church. Some of the local sights you encounter even have their own fairy-tale names!
We saw the Brbotavček Stream, stopped by the church and woke up a dragon at the Dragon's Cave (Zmajeva jama). There is even a secret path called “Skrivna pot” and we could not help but follow it out of curiosity. We did get a bit lost to be honest ;).
Time passed by too quickly and a signpost appeared in front of us, directing us towards the Kugla Hill. We made a short snack stop, and then walked a few more steps and arrived at our destination. The hilltop is nothing special, as it is strewn with radio towers and the view of the surroundings is obstructed by treetops.
The descent was quite short and we managed to find the dwarves we missed on our way up. We arrived back in Kropa, where we visited the Iron Forging Museum.
If you want to extend your trip, stop by the Jamnik Church, or drive through the village of Besnica and see the Šum Waterfall.
Interesting Facts
In Kropa, which is located below Jamnik and is also called the blacksmith's town, you can visit the blacksmith museum and the ‘FOVŠARITNICA’ House.
WHY 'FOVŠARITNICA'?
The multi-level house next to Kropa's central square got its name from 'fovšija' (envy). In the old days, as was the case in the majority of ironworkers houses, multiple families lived in the house. According to local tales, there were once 72 people living in the Fovšaritnica house at the same time. In Kropa's rented accommodation, kitchens were substituted by a group hallway where there were several fireplaces. Since all the housewives cooked there, they could easily see what others had in their pots and the contents were probably often the subject of 'fovšija' – envy.
Map
Take me to the starting point
Show route in Google mapsRent a car
Nearby Restaurants
Moby Dick
They offer top-quality pizzas, salads, meat lasagna and selected drinks. Enjoy delicious food on the outdoor covered terrace with a beautiful view. They have 50 parking spaces, and for the children, a renovated playground and a changing table. Even our dog Juna got a bowl of water since dogs are allowed on the outdoor terrace.
The pizzeria and pub has been operating since 2001, which really shows it has a high-quality service and friendly staff.
Črnivec 26,
4243 Brezje
info@mobydick.si
04 / 530 95 95
Vita, Olja and Juna Recommend
Visit the Iron Forging Festival in Kropa, which takes place every year during the first weekend of July. On the eve of St Gregory's Day, the iron-foundry pool in the village of Kropa and the Lipnica Stream in the village of Kamna Gorica are illuminated with candles affixed to the floating art creations of local children. One of the best preserved houses in Kropa – the ‘FOVŠARITNICA’ - can also be visited by making a prior arrangement.
Children here is an interesting Story about Kropa...
-188.jpg)
