The Wayside Shrine

A key landmark along the former pilgrimage route and an integral part of the cultural landscape of Trška Gora is the tall, built wayside shrine, built in the early 19th century. It stands on a ridge between Trška Gora and Golušnik, at a crossroads of paths leading to the Church of the Nativity of Virgin Mary.

This local heritage monument is distinguished by its four-sided roof covered with traditional bobrovec brick roofing tiles and topped with a simple yet elegant iron cross. Its most striking feature is the square base with niches on all four sides, each housing a religious statue and giving the structure a spiritual and artistic presence. In the western niche stand two statues of female saints, the northern niche contains a figure of the Virgin Mary, the eastern one features two gentle angels, and the southern niche holds a statue of a priestly saint holding a crucifix. The concrete base bears the inscription “1990,” marking the year of its full restoration.

The shrine carries deep symbolic meaning and a rich history closely tied to the lives of the local people and their spiritual traditions. It was once part of the Stations of the Cross, guiding pilgrims and villagers toward the church during Lent. Until around 1960, the shrine also served as a site for the blessing of Easter food, a tradition with both religious and social importance—bringing the community together in a moment of shared faith and festivity.