Take the opportunity! This weekend, rush to the picturesque Lovrenc Lakes

In Slovenia, you can see everything, especially if you are looking for a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and spend hours walking in nature.

One such great destination are the Lovrenc Lakes, which consist of as many as 20 beautiful pearls hidden not far from Maribor.

Lovrenc Lakes – Lovrenška jezera, Photo: erikzunec Depositphotos

Situated in the heart of Maribor’s Pohorje, not far from the famous Slovenian ski resort Rogla, the Lovrenc Lakes are located at 1,500 meters above sea level, surrounded by a dense spruce forest that was created by surface erosion during the last ice age, i.e. about 8,000 years ago.

They do not have any surface or underground inflow but are exclusively filled with precipitation, so the best time to visit is in the spring and fall. They are a great place to escape from the heat during the summer.

Lovrenc Lakes – Lovrenška jezera, Photo: erikzunec Depositphotos

Protected as a nature reserve, the Lovrenc Lakes stretch between Rogla and Ribniško sedlo on an area of 531 hectares, which makes it the largest wetland reserve in Slovenia. It is home to diverse flora and fauna, such as carnivorous plants, cattails, mountain kingfishers, and the extremely endangered grouse – a forest bird similar to a chicken.

Lovrenc Lakes – Lovrenška jezera, Photo: Tomo Jeseničnik, www.slovenia.info

The reserve can only be reached on foot via three paths that start from the Rogle stadium and is about 15 kilometers long (circular). In order to arrive and visit the entire area, you will need 3-4 hours of free time, but of course, everything depends on your speed and desire to spend as much time as possible in nature.

There is a beautiful paved path around the lakes, but also a viewpoint from which you can admire the whole area.

Lovrenc Lakes – Lovrenška jezera, Photo: erikzunec Depositphotos

Of course, Lovrenc lakes also have their legend, namely that of Jezernik, a man who lived in a swampy area.

Legend has it that a greedy villager woman, who wanted all the wealth of this world, forced her husband to cut down the mighty trees that grew around the lake. To prevent the cutting of the forest, Jezernik promised to provide them with money.

Although the villager Jera was satisfied at first, her greed was still greater, so she sent her husband to go to the forest again. When Jezernik saw that the trees had been cut down, he decided to cause a storm to flood the area. Large amounts of water then rushed downstream and collapsed the house of the greedy villager, and the water swept away both her and the guests who were there at the time. 

Lovrenc Lakes – Lovrenška jezera, Photo: erikzunec Depositphotos

Now that you have all the most important information, it’s time to rush to the Lovrenc Lakes and see their beauty for yourself. The hiking trail is really not difficult and anyone can walk it, even the youngest ones.