Zagorje Ob Savi: Mining History, Culture and Nature

Zagorje Ob Savi brings together themes from mining history, culture, landscape and outdoor activities. These include the Pot Srečno hiking trail, the Mining Museum Zagorje and traditional dishes, as well as the Delavski dom Zagorje cultural centre and Evropark. When planning your trip, it is worth considering the different highlights: mining history features along a themed trail and in the museum, while paths and green spaces reveal other sides of the town.

Pot Srečno: Mining History on the Hiking Trail

The Pot Srečno is 29.7 kilometres long in total and connects Laško, Hrastnik, Trbovlje and Zagorje ob Savi. The trail is shaped by the area’s mining heritage. Its section in Zagorje ob Savi is 4.9 kilometres long. This makes it possible to distinguish between the length of the entire route and the length of the section within the municipality. Hikers interested in mining history will find a thematic connection here that extends beyond Zagorje ob Savi while also having its own section in the municipality.

Mining History, Museum and Culture

The Mining Museum Zagorje is located in the former engine house of the Loke pri Kisovcu mine shaft. The former engine house was converted into a museum, making its mining history part of the place where the history of mining is presented. Photographs and documentation, along with various tools and pieces of equipment, offer insights into the work of miners. The mining history of the municipality of Zagorje ob Savi goes back more than 250 years. The museum connects this long history with practical tools and glimpses into miners’ everyday lives.

The Delavski dom Zagorje cultural centre is also an established part of the municipality’s cultural life: it has been its cultural centre since 1960. The Church of St Peter and St Paul in Zagorje ob Savi was built in 1872 and 1873. It adds a historic building to the picture of the municipality, while the cultural centre has its own institutional cultural history.

In its 2025 event announcement, the municipality described Noč pred nočjo as a traditional event in Zagorje ob Savi. On Miners’ Day, 3 July 2024, a celebration organised by the RMED Zagorje association also took place in Zagorje. If you would like to plan your trip around an event, check the latest announcements for dates.

Landscape and Activities

Evropark is a restored natural area in Ruardi. The site was once used to dump slag and waste from nearby mines. Today, the park has walking paths, a cycling path, a children’s playground and the Argonaut ship. Evropark also has a small airfield with a 450-metre runway. Its former use and restoration offer a different perspective on mining history from the museum or the Pot Srečno.

The nearby hill Zasavska Sveta gora lies on the left bank of the Sava between Zagorje ob Savi and Litija. The hill is 852 metres high and offers beautiful views. For nature lovers, it adds another point of interest to the area’s trails and green spaces.

For a hike, Goli hrib offers an easy route approximately 3 kilometres long, with an elevation gain of 272 metres. The Mountain Bike Park Cilenca offers a different kind of activity. Established in 2021, the park covers 16 hectares and has an elevation difference of 200 to 230 metres. Its four named trails are Forest Bump, Jumanji, Super Mario and French Connection. The hiking route on Goli hrib and the named mountain bike trails therefore offer different options for planning your trip.

Culinary Heritage

Mining history has also shaped culinary traditions. Traditional knapovske dishes such as šmorn, funšterc, krumpentoč and ajmuht have been preserved in connection with this history; they are still prepared in Zasavje today. The theme thus extends from trails and museum objects to regional cuisine. The names of the dishes offer a concrete introduction to this culinary tradition.

Discover more destinations: Zagorje ob Savi, Ribnica, Grosuplje, Koper, Trebnje, Dravograd, Slovenj Gradec, Jesenice.

For the broader travel overview: Slovenia.