Uršlja Gora, a mountain with a church on top

Uršlja Gora, between four valleys

Uršlja Gora stands 1,699 m high in Ravne na Koroškem municipality, right in the middle of the Koroška region. Its position is what makes it. From the top you look over the land between Peca and Pohorje, with the Mežica, Mislinja and Drava valleys, and to the south the Šalek valley, already in the Savinjska region.

It isn’t the highest peak around. That’s Peca, at 2,125 m, followed by Raduha and Olševa. But it is, according to the regional tourist board, one of the most accessible, which is why families and pilgrims climb it.

St Ursula’s church on the summit

The church of St Ursula, which gives the mountain its name and still draws pilgrims. The Koroška tourist board describes it as the highest-lying church in the region. For me that’s what makes the climb special, because you don’t arrive at a cross or a trig point but at a building with a story, surrounded by meadow.

On a clear day the view covers a good part of northern Slovenia, which is why I’d wait for settled weather before going up.

What you pass on the way up

The walk isn’t only about the summit. The regional tourist board suggests watching out for the Brančurnik sarcophagus, the Apohal chapel, a spring of fresh water and the stone steps of St Ursula along the route. They’re small details, but they turn a hill walk into a short journey through local history.

On the north side, at 723 m, there’s also a ski hut, Smučarska koča pod Uršljo goro, a reminder that the mountain gets used for skiing in winter.

Once your dates are set, check which hotels are still free in Slovenj Gradec before prices climb.

A day on Uršlja Gora

I’d stay in Slovenj Gradec, climb in the morning and come down to the valley for lunch. The Koroška tourist board counts more than 100 km of marked trails in the region and says you’ll rarely meet crowds on them, so even on a summer weekend the path should feel quiet. Keep an eye out in the forest for the capercaillie, the shy wild grouse that locals call the king of the woods. In the afternoon, the Mežica mine under Peca rounds off the day with Koroška’s other big draw, its underground world. If you’d rather sleep on the mountain, the Kope lodges, in the municipality of Mislinja, are across the valley.

For those who want more

If Uršlja Gora isn’t enough, Koroška has its own challenge, the K24, which means climbing the region’s five highest peaks against the clock. Among them is Peca, Slovenia’s easternmost 2,000-metre summit, with the Austrian border running over the top. The Slovenia mountains have something for every level, and this is one of the best places to start.

If you would rather have a local show you round, book a guided tour in Uršlja Gora and choose by the reviews.

Once your dates are set, check which hotels are still free in Slovenj Gradec before prices climb.