Podčetrtek (sveti Lovrenc) - Zavetišče Šmarnica on Mala Rudnica

Access to starting point:
From the road Šentjur - Rogaška Slatina, between the settlements Šmarje pri Jelšah and Mestinje, we turn right (from the direction of Rogaška Slatina, left) towards Podčetrtek. We continue following the road towards Podčetrtek, and once in Podčetrtek, we follow the road to the parking lot for the church of St. Lovrenc, located at the upper edge of the settlement.

Route description:
From the parking lot, across the bridge, we cross the stream Župnijski jarek, then continue right towards the castle Podčetrtek and the Tower of Health and Joy. The path leads through the gorge of the stream Župnijski jarek, where we ascend along the macadam road. After about 15 minutes of walking, we reach a marked crossing, from which we continue straight (right to the castle Podčetrtek, 5 minutes), and a few minutes higher, we arrive at the next crossroad.
We continue right in the direction of Sanctuary Zavetišče Šmarnica (left St. Mary the Virgin, Monastery Olimje, Banovina and Buče, straight Silavec, or Tower of Health and Joy) and continue walking on a macadam road that leads into a smaller valley.
When we reach a small saddle, where we join the path leading past castle Podčetrtek, we turn left and continue on an asphalt road. Blazes then direct us from the asphalt road to the right onto a footpath that begins ascending along a cart track. Higher up, at an old clearing, we reach a macadam road, which we follow to the left, and from there, a beautiful view opens up. When the road returns to the forest, we turn right onto a marked path that ascends more steeply, and we follow it to a beautiful viewpoint at Sanctuary Zavetišče Šmarnica.
The description and pictures refer to the condition in December 2023.

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