Discover Fram: Culture and Nature

Fram combines church and local history with a distinctive connection to water. Highlights include the Church of St. Anne, the Chapel of St. Agnes, the ruins of Fram Castle, the Stream of Fram and the Roman Spring. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Fram, these themes can help you narrow down your destination: you may be interested in architectural history, exploring past uses of water, or taking in the nearby trails.

Nature and water history

The Stream of Fram is a protected natural monument of hydrological significance. In its upper reaches, there is a 12-metre-high waterfall. You can get to know the stream both as a protected natural monument and through the specific feature of its waterfall. The height refers to the waterfall; it says nothing about the length or difficulty of an access route.

The Roman Spring in Fram reveals another side of the area’s water history. In Roman times, the spring was connected to an aqueduct system that carried water to the Roman city of Poetovia, now Ptuj. Here, the historical use of water takes centre stage alongside the stream’s natural significance. Both themes offer different ways to explore the area: the landscape in the upper reaches and the Roman connection to Poetovia.

Churches and historic sites

The Church of St. Anne in Fram is a Neo-Romanesque church. It was built in 1875 on the site of an older castle chapel, on an elevated, fortified site above the village. Its history of construction thus connects the present-day church building with an older religious site. Only ruins remain of Fram Castle. They are in the woods on the hill above the church and offer another point of interest in the history of the area.

The Chapel of St. Agnes was built in 1843 and restored in 1997. Its history also includes a recurring religious observance: services are still held in the chapel on 21 January, the feast day of St. Agnes. The traditional Anino žegnanje, the feast of St. Anne, is held in Fram on the Sunday of St. Anne in July. The two dates concern different saints and occasions.

Mills, wine and local character

Once, more than 90 waterwheels powered local mills, sawmills and some oil mills. This past use of water shaped the character of the village. The history of the waterwheels therefore complements the Stream of Fram’s natural significance with a glimpse into the work and economy of the village in the past. This is a historical context, not a description of present-day mill operations.

Wine is also part of Fram’s history: the village was already known for its excellent wines before 1435. The Podpohorje Wine Route wine-growing region also includes the area around Fram. Together, these details point to a historical connection with wine and the area’s place within a wine-growing region. They differ in time and scope: Fram’s reputation for wine is recorded for the period before 1435, while the route includes the area around Fram.

Nearby trails

The nearby Planica nad Framom walking and hiking trail runs through the forests of Pohorje and past pastures and meadows. It is suitable for children and adults. The Fram Primary School’s educational trail, covering natural sciences, cultural history and geography, is integrated into marked hiking trails and is also of interest to tourists. At Planica, the focus is on woodland and open landscapes, while the educational trail brings together natural science, cultural and geographical themes.

For Slap Skalca waterfall in nearby Pohorje, hiking routes are listed from Mariborska koča (1.2 kilometres) and from Reka (6 kilometres). The two routes differ in length. If you are planning a hike, you can use these figures to compare the stated distances; distance alone does not indicate walking time or difficulty.

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