Discover Loče: Hiking and Culture

Loče combines a long circular hike with tangible evidence of church and architectural history. For planning your trip, the different scales are especially useful to keep in mind: with its stated walking time, the Loško-Zbelovska planinska pot takes up a large part of the day, while the local cultural themes offer their own sightseeing and points of interest. This helps you decide whether your trip should focus more on hiking or historic sites.

The Loško-Zbelovska planinska pot

The Loško-Zbelovska planinska pot starts in Loče at the Lopan tourist farm. The circular hike is 21 kilometres long, involves 630 metres of total ascent, and is listed as taking eight hours. Allow this time for walking and add breaks on top; this makes it easier to fit the length of the route into your day. With these details in mind, it is a good choice for travellers planning a longer day of hiking as a fixed part of their stay.

Along the way, the route offers beautiful views. Highlights include the Church of sv. Matere Božje na Ljubični, the Marijine stopnice, numerous chapels, the railway underpass on the Maribor–Celje line, and pleasant villages.

On the third Sunday of September each year, the Planinsko društvo Loče organises a guided or group hike on the Loško-Zbelovska planinska pot. Participants collect stamps along the way. The tradition is repeated annually; confirm the details for the current year before making plans.

The church and market centre

In the centre of the small settlement of Loče stands the Cerkev Svetega Duha. It was first mentioned in writing in 1434, and its richly Baroque interior has three altars. A free visit is possible by prior arrangement with the TIC – Turistično informacijski center Slovenske Konjice. Confirm the current arrangements with the TIC in advance. For historical context, it is important to note that 1434 is the date of the first written mention, not the year the church was built. The date refers to the church's documented history, while the Baroque interior describes its furnishings.

The protected market centre of Loče is intended to preserve its historical function, urban and ground-plan design, and the characteristic features of traditional development. The architectural heritage therefore extends beyond individual buildings to include the layout of the market centre.

Dvorec Pogled and cycling routes

Dvorec Pogled stands on a gentle rise above Loče. The present-day Dvorec is believed to have been built around 1524. The Loško-Zbelovska planinska pot passes the manor house, which is also accessible via a marked cycling route. As route conditions may change, check them locally before setting out.

A cycling trip around Loče offers beautiful views of the Dravinja Valley. When planning your trip, you can choose between the circular hike, described by its length, ascent and walking time, and a cycling excursion that takes in the landscape around Loče.

Discover more destinations:

Zreče, Paka, Stranice, Slovenske Konjice, Rogla, Resnik

Return to the main travel overview: Slovenske Konjice.