This cycling path spoils with wonderful views of the sunny Kozjansko hills. We pass by the charming lake Slivniško jezero. We can climb the highest wooden tower in Slovenia - the Tower of Love on Žusem hill. We can enjoy the coziness of the Kozjansko homestead and the mysterious traces of the past at Planina Castle.
Summary of the cycling route
- Circular cycling route length: 38 km (asphalt and macadam)
- Duration: with stops suitable for a full-day tour, without stops 4 hours
- Difficulty: medium
- Starting point: Gorica pri Slivnici (free parking at the bus station), alternative starting points Šentjur or Grobelno railway station (approximately 5 km from Gorica pri Slivnici)
- Total ascent: 1073 m
- Highest point: 672 m
- Lowest point: 274 m
- Advance notice is required to visit the museum collections in Planina pri Sevnici and the Daniel Artiček memorial room in Dobrina
- There are market shops in Gorica pri Slivnici and in Planina pri Sevnici, there is an inn and cafe in Gorica pri Slivnici, cafe in Rakitno at lake Slivniško jezero, the Žurej Tourist Farm (by prior arrangement), bar in Prevorje and guesthouse in Planina pri Sevnici
Bilingual map of the route
Description of the Across the sun-lit hills in the Kozjansko region cycling route
The starting point of the cycling route is Gorica pri Slivnici (free parking at the bus station). Here we begin our one-day trip through the Kozjansko region. From Gorica pri Slivnici, we ride in the direction of Loka pri Žusem, past lake Slivniško jezero, where we stop and, while having a drink or cake, in the cozy Ramna Slivniško Jezero café, admire the charming lake and the wild life on the banks. We ride past the lake straight to the turnoff for Drobinsko, past the Žurej tourist farm. After a warm welcome at the farm, we can continue our journey along the longer (dashed) route to the top of Žusem hill, to the Tower of Love, which is the tallest wooden tower in Slovenia. When climbing the tower, we can leave our bikes at the hunting lodge and climb the Tower of Love on foot. The excellent views will inspire you and fill you with new energy to continue your cycling adventure. In the center of Dobrina there is a board indicating the start of the Castle Educational Trail to Žusem, the best regional trail of 2014. In the former school building we can see the memorial room of the writer Daniel Artiček, who thematically dedicated most of his works to Kozjansko region.
We continue the shorter route from the Žurej Tourist Farm towards Hrastje and Žegar, where we can visit the Majcen Bee Farm, known for its honey products, and have a snack at the Milan Obrez Gouesthouse. In Prevorje we turn right from the main road and drive under the church of St. Anne in the direction of the settlement of Dobje pri Lesičnem. In front of the church of St. Miklavž we turn right and the route leads us through Planinska vas. We can stop at the viewing cliff or continue the drive to Planina pri Sevnici. The Wambrechtsamer House offers a rich selection of à la carte dishes, and we can also spend the night here. Planina Castle takes us back in time, we walk through the castle park, where the centuries-old Turkish linden tree grows. In the market town of Planina pri Sevnici, we can see the collections: Kozjansko žari exhibition, Šmid Ethnological Collection and the Planina photography exhibition between 1903 and 1945. During our stroll around Planina, the snack was already well-settled and a new point was waiting for us – the Kozjanska domačija (homestead) in Dobje. We descend again from Planina pri Sevnici along a beautiful paved macadam path to the neighboring hill, where we cross the main road, then drive through the forest, along Guzajeva pot, to the Kozjanska domačija. At the Kozjanska domačija, they serve an authentic homemade snack or a traditional meal. It is recommended that we take enough time to feel the pulse of the homestead and encounter old customs, tools, and enjoy the Kneipp park, which will fill you with energy for the final feat towards home. From the Kozjanska domačija, we slowly descend along the panoramic road into the Paridol valley to Voduce and continue towards the village of Turno and Gorica pri Slivnici, where we fill our bellies at the Lesjak Inn to conclude our dynamic trip through the Kozjansko hills.
