Home » A4 Koča na Golici » Prešernova koča na Stolu
Region / Land / Canton
Province / department
Municipality Jesenice, Žirovnica
Massif / Valley Karavanke
A4 Koča na Golici » Prešernova koča na Stolu
Difficulty | Walking time 5h25 | Distance 13.6 km | 759 m | 161 m
This stage has some truly spectacular views. Gorenjska lies on one side and Kärnten in Austria on the other. The route follows the southern slopes, which are not very steep, but the ridge climbs and falls several times. A number of the cliffs on the northern side can be rather frightening. The last stretch on the Belščica ridge is especially spectacular.
Koča na Golici
Sedlo Kočna
Medvedjak
Vajneževo sedlo
Prešernova koča na Stolu
Detailed route description
Walk down the hill from Koča na Golici (1,582 m) past the hunting lodge to the junction with the path leading to Planina pod Golico. The route leads eastwards along the southern slopes, across small glades and through woods to the edge of Golica, where the slopes face east. Descend the wooded and gently sloping eastern slopes of Golica to the Suha pass (1,438 m). 30 min. At the Suha pass, a road branches off to the right and leads through the valley towards Planina pod Golico, traversing an area known as Savske jame. Our route leads towards Ptičji vrh.(1,550 m) Walk up the grassy edge of the western slopes and through a beech wood, then turn towards the eastern slope. The Kočna pass (1,469 m) is accessible from here. 30 min. The Kočna pass connects Struška and Ptičji vrh and offers a good view of the Dravska dolina valley to the north. The northern side of the pass is a sheer cliff. Take the route across the southern slopes of Struška and climb up the steep and bare terrain. The path gradually levels out and leads to the southern slopes, where a gradual ascent begins again. Climb over the wooden fence and continue on a short but steep climb that ends at an Alpine dwelling on Belska planina. Struška is a stubby mountain located between Kočna and the Seča or Medvedjak pass, whose tallest peak is Veliki vrh (1,944 m). The route continues upwards along the slopes of Struška through woods and meadows. A short descent leads to the Seča pass, also known as Medvedjak (1,698 m). The pass marks the border between Stol and Golica. Crossing Struška requires 1h 45 min. One path runs north to the Stouhutte hut. Take the other route down a steep hill to a large basin called Rida where it meets the path from the hamlet of Javorniški Rovt. The route continues southwards and begins climbing towards Kamnitnik (1,858 m), a peak overlooking the Hrašenska planina pasture, and continue to the spectacular ridge of Belščica. This is the beginning of one of the most panoramic routes in Slovenia. The route leads to the Vajnež pass (1,972 m), above which towers Vajnežev vrh (2,104 m), the highest peak of the Belščica. 1h 30 min. Follow the ridge running below the peak of Potoški Stol (2,014 m) and continue along a partly grassy and partly rocky path along the state border. This leads to the junction with road from Valvazorjev dom. A steep, 20-minute climb leads to Prešernova koča na Stolu (2,174 m), which lies below Mali Stol peak. The stage takes 5h 30 min.
Source: Dobnik, Jože; Slovenska planinska pot: planinski vodnik, Planinska zveza Slovenije, Založba PZS, 1998; Klinar, Stanko; Karavanke: planinski vodnik, Planinska zveza Slovenije, Založba PZS, 1997; Atlas Slovenije, 3. izpopolnjena in razširjena izdaja, Mladinska knjiga in Geodetski zavod Slovenije (GZS), Ljubljana 1996; Karavanke, 1:50.000 GZS, Planinska založba PZS št. 149, Ljubljana 1995 Julijske Alpe - vzhodni del, 1:50.000 GZS, Planinska založba PZS, Ljubljana 2003 Gorenjska, izletniška karta1:50.000, GZS, Ljubljana 1998
(Peter Šilak)
Natural and cultural heritage
Iron ore has been mined and processed on Golica's hillsides since time immemorial. Planina pod Golico is one of the oldest settlements in the Karawanken and has had a foundry since the 14th century. The richest deposits were at Savske jame, where mining was only abandoned as late as 1907. Because of long distances and poor traffic connections, ironworking was transferred down the valley to Jesenice the 15th century. Jesenice became an important ironworking centre with a population of over 13,000. Production was based on imported ore as the nearby deposits were poor and soon abandoned. In addition to steelworks, Jesenice also has metal processing, chemical, textiles, food processing, and construction industries. Jesenice is an important border town and a busy crossroads at the junction between the Gorenjska (Ljubljana - Jesenice) and the Rosenbach/Podrožca-Trieste/Trst railway lines. It is one of Gorenjska's major education, health, cultural and sports centres.
The Prešernova koča hut lies at 2,174 m and offers a spectacular view. Because of this, it is often referred to as the "queen of the Karawanken huts". The hut and Stol (2,236 m), the tallest peak in the Karawanken range, are related to the origins of mountaineering in Slovenia. The Carniolan branch of the German-Austrian alpine association, which built several huts and furnished them with German inscriptions, began operating on the territory of present-day Slovenia in 1874. Nationally aware Slovenes were dispirited by the German image of the mountain; among them were three young mountaineers who, whilst sitting atop the Stol peak in 1892, resolved to found a Slovene association. A year later, in 1893, the Slovene Alpine Association was founded in Ljubljana, and was later renamed the Alpine Association of Slovenia (www.pzs.si), the biggest mass organization in Slovenia.
The hut below Stol was built in 1909 and is named after Slovenia's greatest poet, France Prešeren (1800 – 1849), who was born in the village of Vrba at the foot of Stol. He introduced the spiritual and aesthetic essence of European Romanticism and Romance (sonnets, tercets, stanzas and gloss) to Slovene poetry. His poetic creativity coincided with the beginnings of national revival. His poems deal not only with the aspirations of his own people, but with unity and brotherhood between nations and freedom for all people, regardless of affiliation. His political poem "Zdravljica" ("A Toast"), first published in the revolutionary year of 1848, is the national anthem of the independent state of Slovenia, and his portrait adorns the banknote for 1,000 tolars.
Bibliography: http://www.preseren.net/slo/default.asp Rjazancev, A. (1997). Od fužin do železarne. Jesenice.
(Mimi Urbanc)
Karavanke ~ Planinska zveza Slovenije (1 : 50 000)
Julijske Alpe ~ Planinska zveza Slovenije (1 : 50 000)
Gorenjska ~ Geodetski zavod Slovenije (1 : 50 000)
Slovenska planinska pot ~ Planinska zveza Slovenije (ISBN 961-6156-11-x)
Karavanke ~ Planinska zveza Slovenije (ISBN 961-6156-04-7)
Vodnik po planinskih postojankah v Sloveniji ~ Planinska zveza Slovenije (ISBN 961-6156-10-1)
Die stillen Pfade der Via Alpina, Evamaria Wecker ~ Bruckmann (ISBN 978-3-7654-4857-7)
In the place where nations connect
Feel Green