Visitors looking to combine culture and outdoor activities will find two distinct highlights in Mengeš: St. Michael’s Church and the local tradition of making musical instruments on the one hand, and hiking trails at the foot of Gobavica on the other.
Church Art, Museum and Musical Instruments
St. Michael’s Church is considered worth a visit. Its present-day chancel was built in the mid-15th century in the Gothic style. The frescoes in the presbytery date from around 1460 and are attributed to the workshop of Janez Ljubljanski. The dates refer to different parts of the church: the chancel and the frescoes. The church also has a baptismal font designed by Jože Plečnik.
The history of the area goes back a long way: archaeological finds from prehistoric, Roman and Slavic periods have been discovered around Mengeš. The Mestni muzej Mengeš preserves archaeological and ethnological collections, as well as a collection of musical instruments. In Mengeš, several ways of exploring history and culture sit side by side, from finds spanning different periods to museum collections.
Music is also connected with local craftsmanship. Musical instruments made in small workshops in Mengeš are particularly well known today. The collection at the Mestni muzej and the instruments made in the workshops offer two different perspectives on musical instruments: collecting and local craftsmanship.
Hiking to Rašica
The area around Mengeš lies at the foot of Gobavica, with numerous hiking trails around the town. For the hike to Rašica, the Stane Kosec Peak, the recommended starting point is the Mengeška koča on Gobavica. The route from the hut to the peak connects two mountain huts, runs entirely through the forest and has no exposed sections. These features give a specific impression of the route’s character without equating it with the characteristics of other hiking trails.
In good weather, the observation platform on the tower at Rašica offers views of the Kamnik–Savinja Alps, the Karawanks, the Julian Alps and the lower hills around Ljubljana. The view from the tower adds a different experience to the forest hike: vistas of several mountain ranges and the hills around Ljubljana.
You can reach the Mengeška koča from Ljubljana by bus to the Mengeš Pavovec stop. From there, follow the signposts either along the road or via the fitness trail to the hut. As transport details may change, check the current timetable before setting off.
Cycling and Places to Eat
Cyclists also have several options. The regional Kamnik–Mengeš–Trzin–Ljubljana cycling route passes through the center of Mengeš and the settlement of Loka pri Mengšu. The Domžalski slamnik cycle route also passes through Mengeš. It is 49.4 kilometers long, has an elevation gain of 280 meters and is rated difficult. These details answer different planning questions: for the regional route, its passage through Mengeš and Loka is important, while the Domžalski slamnik’s length, elevation gain and difficulty rating give an indication of the route’s character.
The Mengeška koča serves hot stews and homemade cold-cut platters; at weekends, lunch featuring traditional Slovenian dishes is available. Children can feed and observe goats, Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs, chickens and friendly horses there. As the food options and availability of this animal activity may change, check in advance what will be available during your visit.
Discover more destinations: Radomlje, Domžale, Trojane, Dobeno.
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