Slake (church of the Virgin Mary on Pesek) - Rudnica (above Podčetrtek) (Slake - Tower of health and joy)

Access to the starting point:
a) from Podčetrtek: when you come to Podčetrtek from any direction on the main road, turn north-west at the first roundabout (direction "centre"). After a few metres, there is a second roundabout (next to the Podčetrtek Tourist Information Centre), where you turn left (direction "Olimje"). As you drive (or walk along the parallel track) towards Olimje, you can almost always see the Church of the Virgin Mary on the Sand, or at least its "leaded" bell tower, on the right-hand side of Olimje almost all the time. Just after the signpost marking the beginning of Kozjanski Park, at an unmarked turnoff at a slight angle, turn right onto a side road which immediately starts to climb. After a few bends the road reaches the church, park in a small parking lot a few metres further on from the church.

b) From the route of the monastery to Olimje: drive towards Podčetrtek. After approx. 300 m, when you pass the Haler guesthouse (on your right), look out for a small wooden "trestle" on your left with a very faint "goodbye" sign in several languages. Shortly after this "little goat" there is a marked turn-off to the right towards Virštanj, and we turn LEFT at this point onto an unmarked turn-off at a gentle angle, which immediately starts to climb. After a few bends the road reaches the church, we park in a small parking lot a few metres further on from the church.

Path description:
From the starting point, continue along the asphalted road, which climbs quite steeply and offers some views of the Olimščice valley. After a while the road becomes a macadam forest road, and a little further on it ends or joins the path from the monastery in Olimje. Here, according to the signs, turn right and continue along a fairly level dirt road until you reach a crossroads where you join the trail from the TIC Podčetrtek. Follow the signs and turn left. The gravel road ascends gently and from here on is marked with the standard Knafelch red and white markings. The trail leads to the Ogrizek Pony Ranch parking lot just below the tower. From here, follow the signs leading directly to the tower along one of the two routes: the "easier" and the steeper "harder", both of which are approximately 5 minutes' walk.

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