St. Catherine's Church (Cerkev sv. Katarine)

St. Catherine's Church, Cerkev sv. Katarine in Slovene, is one of the small churches that give the Logar Valley and the neighbouring Solčava area their character. The upper Savinja valley is a landscape of scattered farms on steep slopes, and in such a landscape the church is a point of gathering, a place where people from isolated farmsteads came together for worship, weddings, funerals and festivals. The church near the entrance of Logarska Dolina belongs to this tradition. It is not a grand building, and it is best understood as part of the valley's rural heritage rather than as a major monument, but its setting among meadows with the high walls of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps behind it is one of the loveliest in the Slovenian Alps.

The patron saint, St. Catherine of Alexandria, is one of the most widely venerated early Christian martyrs. According to the traditional story, she was a learned young woman of the fourth century who debated with pagan philosophers and was condemned to be killed on a spiked wheel, which gave rise to the wheel that appears in her images and to the name of the Catherine wheel. Churches dedicated to her are common in the Alps and often stand on a rise or at a crossroads, and she is invoked by students, scholars and wheelwrights. Her image can often be recognised inside by the wheel and the sword, and by a palm of martyrdom. The details of this particular church, its date and its furnishings, are best confirmed on the spot or with the parish, since small alpine churches have often been rebuilt and altered over the centuries.

A typical church of this region has a plain, whitewashed exterior with a steep shingle or tiled roof, a small tower or a bell turret, and a few windows, and inside there is a single nave with a painted ceiling, a main altar and one or two side altars, often with figures carved in the local style. The tradition of woodcarving in the Alpine valleys of Slovenia is strong, and many small churches hold pieces that were made by local craftsmen. The church remains a place of worship, so visitors should dress modestly, be quiet inside and avoid disturbing services. It is generally open only at limited times, outside which the door may be locked, so ask at the visitor centre or at a nearby farm. There is no admission fee, but a small donation is customary.

The church is a good addition to a day in the valley. The Logarska Dolina Visitor Center is the place to ask about opening times, Logarska Dolina Nature Park protects the surroundings, and the Logarska Dolina Waterfalls and Alpine Meadow are within a short walk or drive. Mount Rinka rises at the head of the valley above the Rinka waterfall, the Solčava Pastoral Landscape is one of the most distinctive farming landscapes in the Alps, and the Kamnik-Savinja Alps offer walks of every length. Historic farmsteads and the Chapel of Christ the King complete the picture of the valley.

It suits walkers, photographers and people who enjoy small churches in beautiful settings. Late spring and autumn are especially lovely. For many valley people, the Catholic faith is part of daily life, and the Savinja River below the church rings with the same bells. Visitors who take a moment here will understand the valley better.