Church in Podčertek - Rudnica (above Podčetrtek) (longer circular path)

Access to the starting point:
When you arrive at Podčetrtek, turn right at the roundabout after the centre and immediately at the next roundabout continue straight towards the centre. Pass the municipal building on the left and the school on the right. Then you will see a church on your left, turn left at a sharp bend and you will come to a parking lot on your right.

Path description:
From the parking lot, cross the small bridge and turn right along the macadam, following the signs for the Tower of Health and Joy. After about 1 km at a crossroads (left and right), head straight into the forest, where you will see a mountain sign on a tree and the European Mountain Route E7, cross a small stream and follow the signs up the hill. Soon after the hill flattens out at the top, you will see a signpost indicating that you should turn right uphill in a few metres. After a short climb, you will rejoin the forest path and follow the signs to the left. Follow the signs all the way and after a few 100 metres at the top of the hill you will reach a parking area, a Pony Ranch sign and direction signs. Here you can choose the easier way up the tower or continue along the dirt road to the left towards the more difficult way up the tower. If you take the more difficult route, after a while you will see a signpost to the right and continue past the lock up the hill to the top of the Tower of Health and Joy and a small kiosk.
After successfully descending the tower, continue in the opposite direction downhill. On the descent, turn left to follow the Šmarnica shelter, which is open at weekends. Then continue right along the path, after about 30 metres at the crossroads continue our descent to the right and after a few metres descend to the forest road where you turn left. After about 300 metres you will see a signpost, where you turn right again and after a short descent through the woods you will reach an asphalt road where you will turn left. At the macadam parking lot, you can either continue at the first turning to the right towards the parking lot, straight ahead on the asphalt road, or follow the forest path towards the castle. If you continue towards the castle, follow the forest gravel road and keep to the signs for the castle at the junctions. When you reach the castle, turn left along the road and soon you will reach the asphalt road again, where you will turn right towards the centre. Walk about 600 m along the pavement and keep right. When you have almost reached the valley, turn right towards the church parking lot.
The route is 7. 5 km long with 480 m of total ascent. A video of the route can be found at: https://youtu. be/Ri3ZkEUOAfQ All other places of interest and routes are available on the VISIT RUDNICA facebook and instagram pages. You can use @visitrudnica in your social media stories or leave the hashtag #visitrudnica under your pictures so everyone can admire your views and highlights from your trip.

On the way: Stolp zdravja in veselja na Rudnici (620m)

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