St Thomas Church (Sveti Tomaž) in Slovenia
I did as much research as I could before embarking on my Slovenia Road Trip. Usually it’s full of main cities and thoroughfares, then I remembered stumbling upon Sveti Tomaž somewhere on social media. Since I decided to rent a car, and since this small village is just a short distance away from Ljubljana, it was a no brainer. You don’t come across small, storied churches that exist on pristine mountaintops above the clouds all the time.
In this post, you’ll see my latest video from this spot, my best photos of St. Thomas Church, and tips on how to get there.
St. Thomas Church
I can’t summarize the history of the church better than what is shown on the church placard when you arrive. It states:
The age of St. Thomas Church above Praprotno (Sveti Tomaž nad Praprotnim) is uncertain; its origins date back to the Roman period. The church underwent repairs and a fresh coat of paint during the 15th and 16th centuries. Renovations in 1848 introduced the Baroque style, seen in the presbytery’s Gothic design and the Baroque belfry and altar. Only fragments of the arch wall’s paintings remain today, showcasing the Friulian masters’ craftsmanship.
The belfry, located on the presbytery’s south side, houses the sacristy at its base and a portico on the first floor that opens into the church. WWII bombing severely damaged the church in 1944. Post-war, workers made provisional repairs until a thorough renovation took place from 1965 to 1967. They paneled the badly damaged vaulted ceiling and refurbished the inner and outer facades. Oak shingles now cover the belfry, and workers used slate for the rest of the church. Another round of renovations took place in 1997.
St Thomas Church Photos
How to get to Sveti Tomaž
The easiest and most convenient way to reach Slovenia is to fly. Book your flight to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, via Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport (Airport Code: LJU). From there, you can take a taxi or bus to Ljubljana city center (there are no ride sharing services just yet in Slovenia like Uber, Lyft, or Bolt).
For those who want to save a few Euros, taking the Ljubljana airport bus is a great, cost-effective way to reach the city center of Ljubljana. The bus journey takes 45 minutes and costs 4 Euros. Just take public bus number 28 (Bus timetable here).
From Ljubljana city center, I rented a car and drove 45 minutes Northwest of Ljubljana to reach the village of Sveti Tomaž.
As far as other options to get here if you don’t have a car, you can see if there is a local tour operator that will do a custom trip for you and you can make Sveti Tomaž one of your points of interest.
There is also a way to get to Sveti Tomaž by bus, albeit it is a bit longer:
First you take a bus from Ljubljana Bus Station to the town of Škofja Loka. Buses go there every 30 minutes to 1 hour in frequency and the ride takes 37 minutes. You can search for exact times and buy tickets here.
Then you transfer buses in Škofja Loka and take the next bus towards Železniki and stopping at Praprotno pri Selščic. This part of the journey should only take about 8 minutes and 3 stops.
From Praprotno pri Selščic bus stop, it is then a 2.6 km walk (about 45 minutes), uphill to finally arrive at Sveti Tomaž.
