Whenever I want to escape the lively city center of Slovenia’s fairytale capital, I head out to Golovec. ‘Gol’ means ‘naked’ in Slovene. When that came to my ears, my imagination started running wild. A nude forest on my doorstep? Dude! Alas, it merely refers to the hill’s past. Apparently, during the late nineteenth century, barren green grasslands decorated the slopes of this ‘naked’ hill. The afforestation began early twentieth century. Anyhow, the folks who planted those trees made sure that, nowadays, the locals get to relax amid nature.

Those in search of more substance before visiting a patch of trees, be patient. On top of the ridge you can find the Astronomical-Geophysical Observatory. Sometimes, it opens its doors to the public on special astronomical occasions. Another interesting fact is that the ‘Path of Remembrance and Comradeship‘ cuts through Golovec. Now, do mind your step when going downhill. I have slid down this path numerous times with my mountain bike resting on top of me (clumsy by nature, what can I say?).

You can reach Golovec from different districts, but I usually start my hike near the observatory. It’s a dream to live within ten minutes’ walking distance of a dense forest on a mountain! I realize that my Dutch definitions of a forest and a hill differ from the local ones. Nevertheless, the trees create an ideal scenery for a quick retreat. Take a deep breath, move at nature’s pace, and enjoy the basics of life.