The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Šmartno Ob Paki

Nice campsite right on the lake!

Galerija Velenje is located in the heart of the city, next to Titov trg. It is a modernist building erected in 1971 based on a design by architect Adi Miklavc (1937-2002). It focuses on exposition, research, documentation and pedagogical work. With almost a thousand works, its collection is among the most important in Slovenia and includes, in addition to paintings and sculptures of modern and contemporary Slovenian art, also works by ALUO students of graphics, photography and drawings, as well as an international collection of paintings. Since 2015 it has hosted the Center for Creative Industries, an incubator of ideas for the 10 municipalities of the Savinja and Šalek region, both in a strictly artistic and architectural sense, encouraging cooperation between artists and the economy. http://www.galerijavelenje.si/

Kulturni dom Velenje (House of Culture) is a center intended for holding cultural events, film shows, symposiums. It is a 1959 work by the architect Oton Gaspari (1911 - 1991). The building is located north-west of Titova trg, a modern city platform defined by socialist public buildings. The cultural center building is certainly one of the most symbolic of post-war Slovenian architecture. The architectural expression of the exterior and interior, including the concept of the floor plan and all the details, has a distinctive style of the 1950s. https://www.festival-velenje.si/

Completed between the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023, Vista Park is an extremely evocative place to host concerts, festivals and large events. The entire complex extends for more than 46,000 m² and is able to accommodate up to 30,000 visitors. The stage area is one of the largest in Slovenia and offers state-of-the-art technical support. The architectural design of the space was inspired by the mysterious image of the Pozoj dragon, with its attractive viewing platform that invites you to climb 14 meters and enjoy an exceptional view of Lake Velenje. To the east you can see Kinta Kunte, an interesting garden settlement. To the north you can see the surrounding hills (Lubela, Vodemlja, Razborje) and Uršlja Gora, up to the slopes of Peca. Towards the west you can see Smrekovec and Golte. On the south-east side, beyond the town of Velenje, the view opens onto Paški Kozjak. The surroundings of Vista Park invite guests to stroll on the paths among the green islands that are home to more than 11,000 newly planted trees and shrubs. There is a tennis court, a beach volleyball court and even a bowling alley. The area is also designed for the enjoyment of cyclists, skateboarders and skaters. There is also a nice children's playground with huge 5m high anancus and mastodon sculptures. Below the viewing platform there is a tourist information center (TIC) and the BarVista, from whose terrace a 50 meter long pier begins which invites you to observe the water surface up close. www.visitsaleska.si/en/vista-2/

The largest coal deposit in Slovenia is located underground in the Šalek Valley. More than 230 million tons of coal have been mined in that area. Mining activity has permanently marked the image of the valley and its people. Where once there were villages, today there are lakes, the result of almost 150 years of lignite extraction. With a surface area of almost 1.4 km² and a volume of over 30 million m³, Velenje is the largest of the three lakes in the Šalek valley and among the largest in Slovenia, comparable to that of Bled. Its catchment area extends for more than 20 km². The lake is 1.4 km long and 1.3 km wide. With a depth of 54 m it is deeper than Lake Bled (31 m) and Lake Bohinj (45 m). On the south-eastern shore, at Plaža Velenje, there is a very popular beach, declared the best natural beach in Slovenia in 2018 and 2022. This place offers many opportunities for sailing, windsurfing, SUP and rowing. The area can count on numerous rooms, equipment, and an inflatable water park. Nestled among green hills, it is also a fantastic place for family travellers. There is no shortage of entertainment, as well as opportunities to play sports or stay near the lake. Relaxation is ensured by clean water, services, free use of deck chairs and tidy wooden surfaces.

Škalsko Lake is the first of three lakes that began to form in the Šalek Valley following lignite mining activity. The body of water, formed before the Second World War, is the result of the less intense period of the coal industry in the valley. With its 16 hectares it is in fact the smallest of the three. The lake is bordered throughout its perimeter by a cycle/pedestrian path connected to the nearby Lake Velenj, which is much better known and popular. Today sport fishing is practiced in Lake Škalsko. Carp, zander and pike predominate in the lake. The lake is also known for large catfish exceeding 2 meters in length.

At the lake turn left and keep the lake on your right hand you really come around the lake.

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