Berg Boc

Boč is the long, wooded mountain that rises above the countryside between Rogaška Slatina, Poljčane and Slovenske Konjice in Štajerska, in eastern Slovenia. It reaches about 978 metres, which is modest by Alpine standards, but it stands apart from the surrounding hills and plains and so looks bigger than it is, and from the summit the view is wide. Local people sometimes call it the Triglav of Štajerska, a half-joking comparison to the highest peak in the country. Together with the neighbouring hill of Donačka gora, Boč is protected as part of a landscape park, and it is a well-loved destination for walkers from the spa town below.

The mountain is a limestone massif, and its ridge is a high plateau with open meadows and old forest. The geology gives it a particular importance for plants. Boč is known among botanists for its flora, which includes species that thrive on sunny limestone slopes, and in spring the open ground is covered with flowers, among them the greater pasque flower, a large violet bell that is one of the symbols of the mountain and appears early in the year. Forests of beech and mixed woodland clothe the lower slopes, and the area is also known for fungi, birds and insects. As with all protected places, flowers should be left where they grow and paths should be followed.

Several marked paths climb to the top, so the mountain can be approached from different sides. Routes start from villages on the northern and southern slopes and from the road at the foot of the mountain near Rogaška Slatina, and they vary in length and steepness. Most are steady walks on forest tracks and paths that take a couple of hours to the summit, so the climb suits people of average fitness. The top has a mountain hut serving food and drink, and an observation tower that gives a view above the trees over the hills of Štajerska, the plain of the Dravinja and, on clear days, the peaks of the Pohorje, the Kozjansko hills and the ranges beyond the border. A small church and an old chapel on the heights add a quiet note of history.

Boč makes a good counterpart to the town of Rogaška Slatina, where the spa park, the glassworks and the mineral water pavilion are the main sights. A morning on the mountain followed by an afternoon in the spa is a classic combination.

The hill suits walkers, families with older children, botanists and photographers. Spring, for the flowers, and autumn, for clear air and colour, are the best seasons. Wear sturdy shoes, take water and a rain layer, and check opening times for the hut and tower before relying on them.