Salek Valley with the center Sostanj

A recently constructed road connecting the Savinja and Salek Valley runs along the valley of the Lokovšek stream past the rolling hills near Lokovice to the east. It enters the Valley between Šoštanj and Velenje.

Near Šoštanj, not far from the spot where the Paka enters a narrow ravine, is the Rotovnik Cave with its interesting aragonite formations. The entrance to the cave is on the west side of Skom. It is open to visitors.

Šoštanj lies squeezed on a flat stretch of land along the Paka, below the remains of Pusti grad (Bleak Castle), which once controlled the passage through the narrow Paka valley. The largest thermal power plant in Slovenia is located in Šoštanj. The entire region below Šoštanj and Velenje is extremely rich in coal, which is still mined today.

Šoštanj was first mentioned in written sources in 1199. In 1348, after becoming the center of the Šalek Valley, it obtained market rights.

Only a few kilometers north of Šoštanj in the valley of the Toplica stream is the charming thermal health resort Topolščica. The qualities of its thermal spring were already known in the 16th century.

In Zavodnje above Topolščica, on the slope of Petrov vrh, stands the old, renovated Kavčnik homestead – a true miniature museum and a souvenir of old peasant architecture in these parts.Bele vode, a settlement of farms scattered below castle ruins, lies west of Šoštanj at an altitude of 700 to 900 meters.

So, we are done. We hope you have enjoyed it. To learn more read also everything about Ljubljana, Bled Lake and Bohinj Lake, Postojna Cave and do not forget the Cost with Portorož, Piran, Koper, Izola and many more places on the sunny side of the Alps, that is Slovenia

From Salek Valley back to the Savinja-Sotla Region