Discover Smrečje through its pilgrimage history, marked hiking trails and Račevsko jezero. When planning your visit, you can choose between a marked pilgrimage route to the Church of the Assumption of Mary and a longer hiking route with additional stops. There are also historical details that are easy to discover on foot.

Pilgrimage Church and Cultural Heritage

For centuries, the Church of the Assumption of Mary has been a gathering place for pilgrims; pilgrimage routes lead to it in Smrečje. It stands there at an elevation of about 715 metres. Its origins are attributed to the 10th or 12th century—the historical dating therefore remains a traditional alternative, not a single definitive founding year.

A marked pilgrimage route starts in the old centre of Podlipa and leads to the church. Beside the former pilgrimage route, the Rusova Chapel stands above a spring; it is registered as immovable cultural heritage. The chapel near the church dates from the 19th century; a discovered fresco bears the date 1868. A keystone depicting the Virgin and Child, dated to the late 15th century, is built into the entrance of the Smrekar House. The route brings together different forms of cultural heritage: a church with a long pilgrimage tradition, a chapel by a spring and an architectural detail on a residential building.

Hikes: Pilgrimage Route or Longer Trail

For a manageable hike, you can follow the route from Podlipa to Smrečje. A local route description from 2013 estimates that it takes about three hours at a moderate walking pace and also describes it as suitable for family outings. There are benches along the pilgrimage route where hikers can take a break. The information about duration and suitability applies to this route; it does not automatically apply to other hikes.

For a longer outing, another hiking route leads from Smrečje via the Church of the Assumption of Mary and Račevsko jezero to the mountain hut at Vrh sv. Treh Kraljev. The two options therefore differ mainly in length and their stated stops: one connects Podlipa with the pilgrimage church, while the other continues past the lake to the mountain hut. For the longer hike, it is advisable to check current trail conditions before setting out.

Račevsko jezero and Other Local Traditions

Račevsko jezero is a periodically water-filled lake and can dry out completely once a year. Its water levels therefore vary throughout the year. The lake also lies at the transition between the Alpine and Dinaric worlds. It is one of the expressly named stops on the longer hiking route; those choosing this route can include it in their day’s itinerary along with the church and the mountain hut.

Smrečje is also associated with local bobbin lace. A 2015 report on a commemorative event mentions traditional lace by Julka Fortuna and Marija Oblak from Smrečje, as well as a more modern version made with coloured thread. This modern version was used as a fashion accessory.

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