Peca

Petzen, or Peca, is the highest mountain in the eastern Karawanks range. Two-thirds of it lies in Austria, the rest in Slovenia, and its highest point is Kordež Head at 2,125 metres. The mountain’s tableland shape rises above rocky peaks, with steep slopes dropping into valleys like Meža and Topla. Beneath the surface lie Triassic limestone and dolomite, once rich in lead and zinc ore. Traces of rare minerals such as wulfenite and calcite remain underground. A narrow valley called Bela Creek separates it from the nearby Hochobir. The mountain’s slopes show two distinct worlds. Lower areas on the Slovenian side are thickly forested, while higher up, Alpine plants and wildflowers grow among the rocks. A mine once operated here, and its shafts now belong to the Topla and Mežica mines. A mountain bike trail leads through part of the old workings. The mountain’s past includes mining history and geological discoveries that still draw interest. At Little Peca stands a small mountain hut built in 1928 and rebuilt after the war. Nearby, the chapel of Sts. Cyril and Methodius has stood since 1936. A short walk away is Matjaž Cave, named after a legendary king. Inside, a bronze statue of the sleeping King Matjaž was placed in 1962, crafted by Marjan Keršič and France Rotar. The cave and statue mark a place where history and legend meet on the mountain’s slopes.