Radensko polje


Useful Information

photography
Ponor south of Grosuplje, at southern end of Radensko Polje near Račna, Slowenia. Public Domain.
Location: Žabja hiša, Mala Račna 20, 1290 Grosuplje
(45.8975326, 14.6937212)
Open: no restrictions.
Žabja hiša:
MAY to OCT Tue-Fri 10-16, Sat, Sun 10-18.
NOV to APR Sat, Sun 10-16.
[2025]
Fee: free.
Žabja hiša:
Adults EUR 5, Children EUR 3, Family EUR 14.
[2025]
Classification:
Light: n/a
Dimension: L=4 km, W=1 km, Ar=4 km², A=325 m asl.
Guided tours: self guided
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: yes
Bibliography:
Address: Žabja hiša, Mala Račna 20, 1290 Grosuplje, Tel: +386-1-786-25-74.
Organizacijska enota Krajinski park Radensko polje, Zavod za turizem in promocijo »Turizem Grosuplje«, Adamičeva cesta 15, 1290 Grosuplje, Tel: +386-8200-7157. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

2012 Krajinski park Radensko polje created.
2021 Žabja Hiša (Frog House) opened in a newly renovated mill.

Description

Radensko polje is known as Račna Karst Field in English, anmed after the two villages Velika Račna and Mala Račna. The Slovene name of the polje is based on the older form of the settlements’ name. It is rather small with only 4 km², 4 km long and 1 km wide, and has an elevation of 325 m asl. The whole area is protected by the Krajinski park Radensko polje

Three different rivers cross the polje. The Dobravka river flows from a not karstified area on the surface into the polje. The name is funny, it virtually means "Good Morning". When it reaches the northern end of the polje, the water vanishes in a labyrinth of meanders and wetlands. When the area is dry, mostly in late summer, it is quite interesting to have a walk around and see the deep holes of the ponors in the riverbed. The trails start at the southern end of the village Zagradec pri Grosupljem.

The second river through the plain is called Šice. Izvir Šice (Šice spring) is located in the village Mala Račna, and actually a little hard to find as it is surrounded by trees and private properties. Nearby is the Žabja hiša (Frog House), the first nature conservation center in Slovenia which was created as part of the Interreg project ‘Vezi narave‘. The building was originally a mill which used the water from the spring, and there is stil a mill pond. Later during the Yugoslav era the building was used as a secret intelligence service center. It was renovated in 2021 and now contains the museum and information center. It’s a good starting point for exploring the polje, as you will get information about acces and trails in the park. And it is the starting point for the short hike to the Šice spring. The river flows across the polje in numerous meanders and finally sinks in two caves and several other small ponors at the northeastern rim. The biggest ponors are Zatočna jama (Inlet Cave) and Lazarjeva jama (Lazar Cave).

The third river is named Zelenka which has its spring on the western side at road 647 close to the hamlet Pirka. The spring lloks like a doline, when it produces water it a several meter deep blue lake, but most of the year it is dry The river crosses the polje eastwards, then turns south and meets the Šice right before the swallow holes. This river has much less water and is dry most of the year.

The polje is also famous for several estavelles, which are locally known as a retje, derived from vretje (gushing spring). For a few weeks every year the polje is flooded and becomes a huge lake. Rather unusual is a depression which retains water throughout the entire year. The polje is not only protected as a nature reserve, and has a museum, it also offers guided tours of the park. All guides have a licence to guide in the municipality of Grosuplje.