The Tower of Love on Žusem

The Tower of Love on Žusem is located on the north-eastern part of Veliki špiček (669 m), the highest point on Žusem, representing the northern edge of the Kozjansko region. 

In addition to its well-preserved nature, blooming meadows, and rich forests, Žusem also boasts a remarkable cultural heritage. Here you can find ancient megaliths aligned with the constellation Ophiuchus, the ruins of the medieval Žusem Castle on the northern slope, and, on the pass between Veliki Špiček and Mali Špiček, two churches with a large presbytery.

Interesting Facts about the Tower of Love on Žusem

The idea of setting up a 25.90 m-high outlook tower from larch wood, which is the highest wooden tower in Slovenia, arose in the Žusem Mountaineering Association some time ago. The tower was named “The Tower of Love” because a church consecrated to St. Valentine, the patron saint of lovers, is located on the hill of Žusem. The princes of Žusem, first mentioned as early as 1203, found their shelter on Žusem, as still proven by castle ruins and numerous legends circulating about them. 
  
There are 116 stairs leading to the top of the tower, with 22 landings in between and two viewing platforms. In addition to the wood, concrete and more than a half of ton of stainless metal also had to be transported to the top of the hill, with no road leading to it. Thus, the tower, including the material and voluntary work, is worth more than Euro 150,000. 
  
The view from the 25.9-metre-high tower is breathtaking. You can see Croatia, Hungary, Austria, as well as Triglav. In general, the Tower of Love already connected parts of Slovenia during its construction: The larch wood came from the Koroška region and was processed in Komenda. The tower obtained its operating permit only two days before its official opening, and is said to last for at least 50 years! A wishing bell was also placed on top of the tower, for all visitors rather than just lovers. The Žusem Mountaineering Association believes that it will be the Tower of Love which will bring more visitors to their place. They also wish for a wedding, or at least an engagement, to take place right there on their tower. 

Hiking Trails on Žusem

Žusem is accessible by several well-marked hiking trails, as well as the themed Žusem Castle Adventure Educational Trail, which also takes visitors around the surrounding area. It is an excellent choice for families with children.

Trail Žurej Tourist Farm – Žusem via the Panoramic Trail

Our starting point is the Žurej Tourist Farm in the hamlet of Ječovo (Javorje 32, 3263 Gorica pri Slivnici), where free parking is available. From there, we return to the road and turn left, heading west past the bus stop and the recycling bins. Within a few minutes, we reach a crossroads, but we continue straight along the road that follows the valley by the stream Drobinski potok, leading us to the scattered settlement of Hrastje.

After about 1 km (15–20 minutes on foot), we arrive at a crossroads with a small chapel and a traditional hayrack. Here, we turn left onto a road that offers the first ascent and marks the beginning of our steps onto Žusem. Following the signs for the Tower of Love, the road takes us past a homestead. Above it, the asphalt ends, and we continue along the gravel road on the right, which brings us just above the Hrastje quarry. Soon, the road enters the forest. After a short while, we reach an abandoned homestead, where we turn right.

The gravel road leads us through the forest and, after about 300 meters, connects to an asphalt road. We turn left and soon reach a crossroad where we turn left again onto a forest footpath. After a few minutes of walking through the woods, we arrive at a hayrack, and just beyond it stands a linden tree with a table and bench. The path continues straight past the hayrack and the linden, climbing uphill across a meadow. When the slope evens out, we reach Ravne Njive, a scenic viewpoint with an orientation board showing directions and peaks.

From here, the meadow path descends slightly before rising again toward the forest. After a short forest walk, we emerge onto another meadow with a beautiful view of the churches of St. Valentine and St. Jacob on Žusem, with Mali Špiček visible in the background. The path passes a homestead on the right, but we keep an eye on the trail markers that lead us straight into the forest. After a few minutes of walking along the forest ridge path, we reach the Tower of Love.

The return can be made along the same path, or you can extend the hike toward the castle ruins and then return via the road, or choose a more challenging, steeper route.

Short summary: Žurej Tourist Farm – Žusem via the Panoramic Trail

• Easy marked hiking trail
• Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours (one way)
• Suitable for families with children accustomed to longer walks
• Starting point: Žurej Tourist Farm (Javorje 32, 3263 Gorica pri Slivnici), with free parking available
• At the Tower of Love, a mountain hut is open on weekends, offering drinks and snacks. A vending machine with drinks and snacks is available every day of the week. Refreshments are also served at the tourist farm.
• A dry toilet is available near the tower.
   

Trail Žurej Tourist Farm – Žusem via the Steep Trail

The hike begins at the Žurej Tourist Farm (Javorje 32, 3263 Gorica pri Slivnici), where free parking is available. From the parking area, we pass the stable and follow a path leading into the forest. After crossing the stream Drobinski potok, we reach the foot of Žusem Hill. Beyond the stream, we turn left and follow the trail markers that bring us to the first ascent, known as Kurčev breg. Higher up, the path levels out and descends slightly behind Geršinski hrib. Another ascent follows, leading through Kurčeva dolina, which brings us to a gravel road.

We cross the road and continue along the marked forest trail toward the Tower of Love. Soon, we cross another gravel road and follow the signs for the steep path, which leads deeper into the forest and becomes progressively steeper. The trail climbs onto a steep slope where safety cables are installed in some sections. A short but demanding part of the trail, well-secured, takes us along the edge of the quarry on Žusem. From here, the path continues upward until we reach the Tower of Love.

The return can be made along the same path, or alternatively via the panoramic route or the Žusem Castle trail, from where the road leads back to the tourist farm.

Short summary: Žurej Tourist Farm – Žusem via the Steep Trail

• Challenging marked hiking trail
• Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes (one way)
• Suitable for hikers experienced with climbing on fixed cables
• Starting point: Žurej Tourist Farm (Javorje 32, 3263 Gorica pri Slivnici), with free parking available
• At the Tower of Love, a mountain hut is open on weekends, offering drinks and snacks. A vending machine with drinks and snacks is available daily. Refreshments are also offered at the tourist farm.
• A dry toilet is available near the tower.
   

Žusem Castle – Tower of Love (Easy Trail or “Chamois” Very Difficult Trail)

The trail begins at the ruins of the medieval Žusem Castle, where roadside parking is possible - it is an unofficial parking site. Please note that Žusem Castle is an active ruin with no arranged visitor paths – the walls are unstable and crumbling, so caution is required.

From the castle, we follow the road uphill, following the signs for the Castle Educational Trail. After about 200 meters, we turn right onto a gravel road leading into the forest (the junction is marked with hiking signs). We then follow the trail markers that take us left onto a forest path. Soon, we must decide whether to continue along the easy trail or take the “Chamois” very difficult trail.

Easy Trail
This path winds gently through the forest, well-marked and steadily ascending. It leads us to a fence above the quarry, then continues uphill along a marked forest trail on the quarry’s edge, eventually bringing us to the Tower of Love. Along the way, we cross a gravel road.

“Chamois” Very Difficult Trail
This route involves climbing steep rock faces. The most demanding section follows an overhanging rock wall, where we first ascend using iron rungs and then traverse part of the rock face on them. The trail is secured with a fixed steel cable. Higher up, the “Chamois” trail merges with the easy trail. The forest path then continues along the quarry edge until it reaches the Tower of Love.

For the return, hikers may retrace their steps or, from the tower, follow the trail markers toward Žusem. This path leads to the hunting lodge on Žusem, near the churches of St. Valentine and St. Jacob. At the hunting lodge, we turn left. The descending road leads through the forest, past a chapel, and back to the crossroads by the castle.

Short summary: Žusem Castle – Tower of Love (Easy Trail or “Chamois” Very Difficult Trail)

• Two route options:
  • Easy trail: suitable for everyone, including families with children
  • “Chamois” very difficult trail: suitable for experienced hikers with proper footwear; protective equipment recommended
• Duration: approx. 30 minutes (one way)
• Starting point: Žusem Castle ruins, with free roadside parking available
• At the Tower of Love, a mountain hut is open on weekends, offering drinks and snacks. A vending machine with drinks and snacks operates daily.
• A dry toilet is available near the tower.
   

Žusem (from the Churches) – Tower of Love

On the pass between Veliki Špiček (669 m) and Mali Špiček (662 m) on Žusem stand two churches facing each other. The older church, St. Jacob, is recognizable by its white facade; its oldest parts date back to the Middle Ages, and inside, medieval frescoes and Gothic furnishings are still visible. The younger church, St. Valentine, has a yellow facade, was built in the Baroque style, and features a beautiful Baroque altar and rich frescoes. Both churches have luxurious glass chandeliers made in former glassworks factory in Loka pri Žusmu.

Our starting point is at the churches. Free parking is available at the gravel lot on the left side of St. Jacob Church or on the grass by the road below St. Valentine Church. From the parking area, we head back along the road. At the second crossroad, between two houses, hiking trail signs indicate the way. We turn left onto a gravel road. Upon reaching a cross, the road begins to climb. After a left turn, a signpost directs us to the right onto a steep forest path. Higher up, we follow another signpost to the right, or alternatively continue along the road past a homestead and turn right onto a path leading into the forest. Both routes bring us to the Tower of Love.

The return can be made along the same path or via Žusem Castle. When reaching the asphalt road, turn right. The road climbs through the forest, and after passing a chapel on a curve, the churches will come into view in about 100 meters.

Short summary: Žusem (from the Churches) – Tower of Love

• Easy marked hiking trail
• Duration: 15–20 minutes
• Suitable for families with children, and for carrying infants
• Starting point: the churches on Žusem, with free parking available
• At the Tower of Love, a mountain hut is open on weekends, offering drinks and snacks. A vending machine with drinks and snacks operates daily.
• A dry toilet is available near the tower.
   

Trail Gorica pri Slivnici – Žusem (via Sveta Helena Hill)

The trail starts at the bus station in Gorica pri Slivnici (276 m), where free parking is available. If the lot is full, parking is possible at Primary School Slivnica pri Celju, about 200 meters away. At the bus station, we follow the hiking signs for Gradišče, Sveta Helena, Col, and Žusem, which lead left onto the main Šentjur–Kozje road. First, we cross the Voglajna River and reach a roundabout. We pass a large building housing a self-service store and continue on the road toward Loka pri Žusmu and Sodna Vas. The road passes through the village, with residential houses on the left and apartment buildings on the right.

Midway up the hill, a hiking sign points right toward Peseke and Sveta Helena. We cross the road and continue along a side road leading to a cluster of houses by the forest. At the last house, trail markers guide us right onto a gravel road into the forest. After a fairly steep climb, we reach the Peseke viewpoint (428 m), which includes a bench as part of the “From Bench to Bench” hiking trail. A trail register and stamp are also located here.

The path continues uphill on a road, ending at an isolated homestead. We carefully follow the markers to a forest track, turning right and, after a few minutes, arriving at a small vineyard estate. The road then descends to a chapel at a junction, where we turn left into the village of Javorje. Following the markers, the trail climbs through the forest, soon opening to panoramic views of the rolling hills of Kozjansko. On the ridge of Sveta Helena Hill (528 m), with vineyards and small estates on the southern slopes, we reach another bench on the “From Bench to Bench” trail, along with a trail register and stamp. Nearby is St. Helena Church.

From the bench, we continue along the road atop the ridge, enjoying fantastic views of Boč and Donačka Gora to the northeast. The road then begins a winding descent along the slopes of Sveta Helena Hill. At junctions, we follow the trail markers, which lead us into the valley of the Drobina Stream. Turning left onto the road, after about 100 meters we reach Žurej Tourist Farm (Javorje 32, 3263 Gorica pri Slivnici).

From the farm, hiking markers direct us toward Žusem. We turn right from the road into the parking area and continue straight past the stable along a meadow track toward the forest. After crossing the stream Drobinski potok, we turn left onto a marked path and climb steeply over Kurčev Breg. The trail levels out, then descends slightly behind Geršinski hrib, followed by another ascent and descent through Kurčeva dolina. We reach a gravel road, which we cross, and continue along the forest path following the markers. Another gravel road is crossed, then we follow the signs for the Steep Path, which becomes increasingly steep, climbing over rocks with iron rungs and secured with a cable. The trail leads along the edge of the Žusem quarry, offering views of Sotelsko, and continues uphill to the highest point of Žusem, Veliki Špiček (669 m), at the Tower of Love.

The return can be along the same route, via the panoramic trail, or along the path to Žusem Castle, returning from the castle via the road to the tourist farm.

Short summary: Gorica pri Slivnici – Žusem (via Sveta Helena Hill)

• Challenging marked hiking trail
• Duration: approx. 3 hours (one way)
• Suitable for hikers experienced with climbing on iron rungs
• Starting point: bus station in Gorica pri Slivnici, with free parking available
• Nearby amenities: self-service store, Lesjak inn, and Aurea café
• At the Tower of Love, a mountain hut is open on weekends, offering drinks and snacks. A vending machine with drinks and snacks operates daily. Refreshments are also served at the tourist farm.
• A dry toilet is available near the tower
• About 1 km away, along the road to Loka pri Žusmu and Sodno Vas, lies Slivniško Lake, with Ramna Slivniško Lake Café
• At the roundabout in Gorica pri Slivnici, Grasseli's Park offers a resting spot after returning from the hike
   

Traditional Hikes: 

Two traditional hikes are organized every year:”

• Valentine’s Hike (on the Saturday closest to 14th February) 
  The circular hike starts from Dobrina. Part of the hike includes a holy Catholic Mass, usually held at St. Valentine’s Church. 
• The traditional Hike to Žusem on 27th April 
  The hike follows the route: Žurej Tourist Farm – Tower of Love on Žusem.