Slovenia is popular with landscape photographers, famous for its hilltop churches. It seems unbelievable, but nearly every hill boasts a lovely church at its summit. I often joke about capturing a new hilltop church each day for a year, each one offering stunning views. Among the most iconic is the small St. Thomas Church (Cerkev Sveti Tomaž), nestled in the hills near the town of Škofja Loka.
In this post, you’ll see my latest vlog from this spot, my best photos of St. Thomas Church, and tips on how to get there.
St. Thomas Church above Praprotno
The information plate on the church facade reads,
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





















Getting There…
As a photographer, you want to find the viewpoint from where to photograph this iconic church. And it is not so straightforward to find the right place! When I was trying to find the location back in 2014, I got lost a few times. And even after I found it (with a help of a friend), I got lost again next time – because of thick fog.
These days, it’s simpler. With the location in Google Maps, navigation is a breeze. Yet, you must watch for the right turn. The narrow roads can challenge any driver, more so at night, in fog, or if there’s fresh snow or ice.
You will find exact location on PhotoHound – along with many, many more places to photograph in Slovenia and all around the world!
Keep in mind also that the forest road between the church and the viewpoint is only suitable for cars with high clearance. Sometimes it is only passable for tractors. It can be smarter to take the longer road between the places if you want to visit the church itself.
…and When
The best time of day is definitely morning. The church is not lit at night so blue hour time is nothing special here. Arriving at dawn, in time to park and set your tripod is enough. Keep in mind that this location is about one hour drive from Lake Bled or from Ljubljana.
My favourite season for this location is Autumn. The colours of the trees and a big chance for fog are the reasons. Spring can also be nice, but the sunrise is sooooo early! And winter can be fantastic, especially if you get the timing with the snowfall right!
The best chances for fog are on clear mornings in Spring and Autumn, especially if it was raining the day before.
Photography
Once you are at location, park your vehicle so it does not obstruct the traffic. Keep in mind that the land around the viewpoint is private so don’t park into the meadows or block the forest roads. You will get the shots you want from the road – no need to walk into private meadow. Move along the road to find the best composition and enjoy photography.
Medium to telephoto focal lengths will do. Most of my photos here were shot somewhere between 70 and 150mm. Panoramas work great here too. And keep an eye for other subjects – trees in the morning fog, back light on the trees, views around the corner and more.
Sometimes there are many photographers at this location and while there is plenty of place for everyone, try to be friendly and respectful to others.
Using drones is okay but keep in mind three things. First, the distance to from the viewpoint to the church is more than one kilometer, which makes flying over there technically illegal. If you are not okay with this, drive to the church itself and fly from there. Second, there might be more than one drone pilots there – communicate among each other to prevent collision. And third, do not fly directly above people’s’ homes near the church. And try to be quick, buzzing above your home is not the most pleasant experience 🙂
Happy shooting!
Conclusion and Further Resources
St Thomas church is rightfully one of the most popular photo locations in Slovenia. After Lake Bled, Lake Bohinj, Soča River Valley and other destinations, this little church should be on your list when visiting Slovenia for photography. I often visit this church during my photography workshops in Slovenia or day trips. Join me and we can visit this beautiful place together!
If you like churches in Slovenia, check this post with the most beautiful interiors. And other posts from Slovenia.
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