Church St. Bolfenk

The Church of St Bolfenk stands in a forest clearing on Maribor's Pohorje, near the upper Pohorje cable car station. The present Late Gothic church was built in 1501 on the orders of Wolfgang Herzenskraft of Limbuš, probably on the site of an earlier chapel mentioned in records dating to 1291. Built from local Pohorje stone, the church was associated with pilgrims, foresters and mountain communities for centuries.

After the church was abandoned in 1785, it gradually fell into disrepair. In the mid-19th century, Maribor mayor Otmar Reiser purchased the building and began its restoration. In 1878, rooms for hikers and a forester's residence were established inside, making Bolfenk the first mountain lodge in Pohorje. A viewing balcony was also added to the church tower.

A fire severely damaged the building in 1950. Following extensive restoration, it reopened in 2000. Today, it is a cultural monument of national importance, occasionally used for concerts and cultural events. Forest trails and nearby Bellevue connect its history with the development of hiking and tourism in Pohorje.