Trekking the Pohorje Mountain Natural Reserve

We followed narrow back streets to the bottom of the slope of the Pohorje mountain. Above us, tall trees stood silhouetted against the sky. A path zizzaging back and forth, past a series of chapels. We scrambled up and turned to admire the view. Maribor spread below us, merging into farmland and wooded hills that embrance both Slovenia and Austria.

Pohorje mountan massive is perfect for short or long treks, and the crossing of the entire massive is one of the most attractive hikes. Forest reserve and gigantic trees, lakes, and mountain meadows that turn into ski slopes during winter. The tourist center of Kope is located on its highest peak (1522m).

As one of the oldest slopes, it hides in the peat moors and lakes. The Pohorje mountain is something unusual in the Slovene`s mountain world. The gently rounded ridges of this ancient mountain chain attract visitors throughout the year. A volcanic formation of an immense volume, in a longitudinal direction links the Alpine world in the west to the sub-Pannonian landscape in the east, it goes back to ancient geological history. Made of the "Pohorje granite", the grandiorite, the entire massive is covered by dense pine forest, descending into valleyes and steep slopes.

Pohorje, the mighty green hat of oxygen, is crowned by three beautiful peaks: Rogla (1517m) in the middle, Crni vrh (1543m) in the west and Velika Kopa (1522m). The Pohorje cable car glides from the bottom station up to, what is named - the Pohorje of Maribor, after the city below. Another road is leading from Hoce. The mountain top can be reached by the marked footpaths and tracks. We take the cable railway to the hotel Bellevue located on the Bolfenk hill (1040 m). The Maribor Pohorje is of mixed forest gradually turning over to pine, inviting glades, murmuring brooks and footpaths. Several mountain cottages and hotels, accesible also by car, are within a houer walk. Traces of charcoal pits and once flourishing glass making industry are also found here. A fortified Celtic settlement "Postela" on the southern edge, is testimony to to the dwelling culture of Pohorje.

Marked as path number one, past Bolfenk church, the panoramic tower, and further to Areh. Rogla (1517 m) is a wide open area. We continue our hike to the picturesque lakes, the Lobnica gorge, Sumik waterfalls, and the the botanical garden. A short hike along the marked mountain path, the garden offers a celebration of the flowers.

The primeval forests of Pohorje, the Drava river valley below, the steep slopes, villages, wild strawberries, babbling brooks, the sun hanging high over the Pohorje mountain, the spring mornings, the melting snow, the first lilies, stories, tales and legends. All Pohorje tales and legends have a happy ending. The seemingly mysterious world of Pohorje provides a fertile ground for rich mythology. A white lady, dwarfs, witches, dog-headed people, hermits, iron knights, vilens and others, all are living creatures. They continue to live in Pohorje deepest forests or its waters and lakes.

A feeling of mystery that belongs there. Summer evenings, worn out by the heat and bustle upto midnight. A smell of smoke, setting dust, featers, backed potatoes. Autumn days, baskets full of berries and mushrooms. And winters. The red setting sun over Pohorje mountain, promising wind over the slopes. The snow cracking under the feet. The forest growing darker. The silence. There was to be no peace. None until the first leaf appeared on a bright spring day. Then eveything seemed alive. Feathers fly, passions rage. Woodcock fly.

When after painful loos only a hidden wound remains, so it is when trees are cut down. In its place only "cipros" blossoms. During summer, when the meadows of Pohorje are dressed in a red coat, during long summer days, in the place where once stood the tall trees, now only "cipros" blossoms, writes Pohorje best loved poet Janko Glazer. Glazer's lyricism in Peter Andrej`s music floats without pathos and violence. A musician and poet himself, Peter Andrej, who like Glazer is from the area, sings songs of the poets. Accompanied by two guitars, Peter presents his audience music, that is – God send.

WHAT TO DO
Hiking, trekking, acrobatic jumping and snow boarding, tennis, riding, parachuting, gliding and archery, mountain bikers, skiing, camping

Skiing ground are diverse. The Golden Fox - the Wold Cup Race in Alpine Skiing for Women is the most important skiing event during winter.

The Pohorje area offers a range of accommodation, the luxuriously furnished hotel Habakuk, Arena hotel and private accommodation.

The city of Maribor is in the immediate vicinity of the Pohorje range. A university town, the cultural, business, sports, and tourist centre of north eastern Slovenia. The Drava river is the heart of Maribor. In the past, it protected the town, sometimes even divided it – but today it firmly binds it together. Maribor has always been a link between Maribor and Carinthia, Pohorje, and Kozjak, Ptuj, Varazdin and Belgrade to the east. With a river bed of 720 km, the Drava is one of the longest rivers in Europe. It runs 102 km through Slovenia.

Janko Glazer, O ciprosu, fratah in se o cem, Planine ob meji, 1962 ( About cipros, meadows in more. Border mountains, 1962 Slovene)