Valvasor’s circular trail

The three-hour circular trail around the slopes of the Bogenšperk Castle estate is 11 km long and connects five castles: Bogenšperk, Črni potok, Lihtenberk, Selo and Slatna. The starting point of the trail is the car park in front of Bogenšperk Castle, named after the noble Wagni family, who probably built it in the 15th century. The trail is not difficult, but hiking shoes and equipment are recommended, walking sticks if you wish. It leads past Tičnica to Leskovice, and from there to the Črni potok Castle, which was owned by Valvasor until 1689.

Continue in the direction of Šmartno pri Litija, towards the former manor house of Sela. A few years ago, there was a mighty linden tree with eighteen peaks. Two of them were broken off by lightning, and visitors have repeatedly lit fires in the hollow part of the tree. On the way from the lime tree to the former Slatna manor house, you can see the view of Šmartno with St Martin’s Church, where Janez Vajkard Valvasor and Ana Rosina Grafenweger were married in 1672. The Slatna Manor was burnt down during the war and only the remains of the castle park are visible. Valvasor’s first wife, Ana Rosina, was from Slatna and brought him a large dowry, which they used to buy the manors of Bogenšperk, Lihtenberk and Črni potok. Continue towards Bogenšperk, past the barely visible remains of the former Lihtenberk Castle, to the restored chapel on the site of the ruined castle. From the chapel, the path leads up to Bogenšperk Castle.

Information: JZ Bogenšperk, info@bogensperk.si.