Trails
Podsreda trail
The Podsreda trail runs in the vicinity of the Podsreda market town and the surroundings along old, formerly busy roads and tracks, and connects important ingredients of the cultural and natural heritage. The trail offers an experience of a mixture of churches, preserved rivers and streams, mills, rare habitats, castles, forests, important historical personalities, interesting natural phenomena, legends, ravines, past life, old orchards and local people.
- Trail length: 32 km
- Estimated time: 2–3 days, shorter trails possible (1, 2, 3 hours)
- Marking: 64 points of interest are equipped with information boards and signposts
- Altitude difference: 245m above sea level – the lowest point, 475m above sea level – the highest point
- Difficulty level: suitable for visitors with average physical abilities
- Starting point: Podsreda market town
- GPS coordinates of the starting point: x=546 030, y=99 651
- Guide and brochure Guide to Podsreda Trail
- Guided tours: Kozjansko park, Podsreda 45, Podsreda, Tel. +386 (0)3 800 7100
Geology educational trail
The trail runs in the surroundings of the Olimje settlement. The variety of geological structures along the trail represents the entire geological development and the geological structure of the Kozjansko region.
- Trail length: 10km
- Estimated time: 4 to 6 hours, there are three semi-circular trails possible, lasting 1 to 2 hours Marking: 21 points of interest are equipped with information boards and signposts
- Altitude difference: 230m above sea level – the lowest point, 420m above sea level – the highest point
- Difficulty level: suitable for visitors with average physical abilities
- Starting point: Slake near Olimje, at the abandoned mine tunnel, about 1km from Podčetrtek towards Olimje, turn right (at the Church of the Virgin Mary at Pesek)
- GPS coordinates of the starting point: x=545 212, y=111 970
- Guide and brochure Along a geological educational trail to the Rudnica hill and Virštanj
- Guided tours: Kozjansko park, Podsreda 45, Podsreda, Tel. +386 (0)3 800 7100
Nature trail Travnik
The trail runs across dry grasslands below the Vetrnik peak with an extremely rich biological diversity (orchids, butterflies). In late spring and summer, you can count more than 50 plant species per square metre here. The peak of Vetrnik offers a beautiful view over Kozjansko.
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- Trail length: 1.4km, circular
- Estimated time: 1h
- Marking: 10 points of interest are equipped with information boards and signposts
- Altitude difference: 615m above sea level – the lowest point, 708m above sea level – the highest point
- Difficulty level: suitable for visitors with average physical abilities
- Starting point: at the crossroads at the crucifix below the Kukovičič homestead at Vetrnik
- GPS coordinates of the starting point: x=542 660, y=101 757
- Access: from Kozje along Bistri graben to Vetrnik or from Podsreda and Gorjane to Vetrnik
- Guide and brochure The Vetrnik Educational Trail
- Guided tours: Kozjansko park, Podsreda 45, Podsreda, Tel. +386 (0)3 800 7100
Pilštanj trail and Lesično educational water trail
The ancient market town of Pilštanj is today one of the stops on Emma’s Pilgrimage Route, which connects the places in Slovenia and Austria connected with Saint Emma. There are numerous attractions in the market town where nature and culture with a rich past go hand in hand. The European Cornel, pillory or “pranger”, Ajdovska žena (Pagan Woman), linden tree, Church of St. Michael, Chapel of St. Emma, exhibition on education, walls of the former Peilenstein Castle.
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- Trail length: 4km (Trški Trail – 500m, Castle Trail – 600m, Trail to Vina hill – 3000m)
- Estimated time: 2h
- Marking: information boards and signposts
- Altitude difference: 380m above sea level – the lowest point, 519m above sea level – the highest point
- Difficulty level: suitable for visitors with average physical abilities
- Starting point: market town of Pilštanj
- GPS coordinates of the starting point: x=540 918, y=106 307
- Brochure of Market Town of Pilštanj
Brochure Trg Pilštanj Read more
Trails of Bizeljsko
The trails of Bizeljsko include a group of trails around the Bizeljsko settlement across wine-growing hills, which include a typical cultural landscape and natural and cultural sights.
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The group of trails around Bizeljsko includes the following trails:
Trail to flint-stone caves “repnice”
The trail leads from Stara vas in the Bizeljsko region to Brezovica, a village famous for “repnica” caves (flint-stone caves) – the wine cellars.
- Trail length: 5km
- Estimated time: 1h 30min
- Marking: information boards and signposts
- Altitude difference: 170m above sea level – the lowest point, 290m above sea level – the highest point
- Difficulty level: suitable for visitors with average physical abilities
- Starting point: Istenič sparkling wine cellar, Stara vas Bizeljsko
- GPS coordinates of the starting point: x=554 186, y=91 960
- Brochure Trails of Bizeljsko – Trail to flint-stone caves
Vid’s trail
The trail takes us from Parkljevec (the area between Brezovica and Pišeška cesta) to the Church of St. Vitus, or continues to the pilgrimage centre of Svete gore.
- Trail length: 3km (from Sveti Vid to Svete gore: 4km)
- Estimated time: 1h
- Marking: information boards and signposts
- Altitude difference: 250m above sea level – the lowest point, 360m above sea level – the highest point
- Difficulty level: suitable for visitors with average physical abilities
- Starting point: Sušnik ethnographic collection
- GPS coordinates of the starting point: x=552 884, y=95 789
Castle trail
The trail takes you from Bizeljsko to Bizeljsko Castle.
- Trail length: 13km
- Estimated time: 3h 30min
- Marking: information boards and signposts
- Altitude difference: 170m above sea level – the lowest point, 380m above sea level – the highest point
- Difficulty level: suitable for visitors with average physical abilities
- Starting point: Bizeljsko
- GPS coordinates of the starting point: x=554 042, y=97 094
Trail across Orešje
The trail takes hikers through the Orešje region, famous for chestnuts and its favourable climatic conditions with Mediterranean influences.
- Trail length: 8.5km
- Estimated time: 3h
- Marking: information boards and signposts
- Altitude difference: 180m above sea level – the lowest point, 506m above sea level – the highest point
- Difficulty level: suitable for visitors with average physical abilities
- Starting point: along the road Bizeljsko–Orešje border crossing, where the turning in the road leads to the Orešje village
- GPS coordinates of the starting point: x=556 162, y=100 169
Trail along the river Sotla
The trail was formed on the initiative of the villagers of Gregovce, leading through meadows towards the River Sotla. On the trail, there are no ascents so it can also be undertaken by those who otherwise cannot handle ascents and descents.
- Trail length: 12.5km
- Walking time: 3h 30min
- Marking: information boards and signposts
- Altitude difference: 150m above sea level – lowest point, 170m above sea level – the highest point
- Difficulty level: suitable for visitors with average physical abilities
- Starting point: Stara vas – Bizeljsko, along the main road
- GPS coordinates of the starting point: x=554 263, y=92155
Kunšperk–Klestje trail
The Kunšperk–Klestje Trail leads alongside a wetland to a medieval market town called Kunšperk, and all the way to the Zelenjak Gorge where the trail turns towards the River Sotla, and through the Klestje Field alongside a tree-lined road, it returns to the town of Bistrica ob Sotli. On the trail, there are no major ascents so it can also be undertaken by those who cannot otherwise manage ascents and descents.
- Trail length: 8km
- Walking time: 2h 30min
- Marking: information boards and signposts
- Altitude difference: 150m above sea level – lowest point, 170m above sea level – the highest point
- Difficulty level: suitable for visitors with average physical abilities
- Starting point: Bistrica ob Sotli, in front of the municipality building
- GPS coordinates of the starting point: x=551 708, y=101719
Pilgrimage routes
In the Kozjansko park, pilgrimage tourism represents one of the most sustainable forms of tourism – it combines natural and cultural heritage as well as promotes the tourist development of unknown places. Today, people do not go on a pilgrimage just for religious reasons, but also because they want to discover new places and attractions in an almost forgotten way – on foot. Walking enables the most authentic and personal experience of the world and people. Due to today’s fast and stressful lifestyle, pilgrimages are again becoming a popular form of actively spending your free time. Pilgrims, hikers, athletes, lovers of nature and cultural heritage – you are all very welcome!
With the help of European funds, there are 4 pilgrimage routes established in the area:
Emma’s Pilgrimage Route, Mary’s Pilgrimage Route, the Way of St. James and the Way of St. Martin.
Emma’s pilgrimage route
St. Emma is the first Slovenian saint (declared a saint in 1938), however, she has been popular for centuries due to her incomparable charitable work. Two churches are dedicated to St. Emma in Slovenia: the succursal church of St. Emma in Kozje and the parish church of St. Emma in St. Emma near Podčetrtek.
Emma’s Pilgrimage Route is marked by an image of the Gurk Cathedral with two belfries; the final destination is her tomb in Gurk in Carinthia.
The route leads through places which are related to her work and life. Within the framework of the Interreg IIIA SI-AT programme, the route began being maintained in 2006 and is the first pilgrimage route within the Kozjansko park. The revival of Emma’s Pilgrimage Route continues within the Pilgrimage Europe SI-AT programme (Operational Programme Slovenia–Austria 2007–2013).
On the Saturday that is the closest to Emma’s name day (27 June), the Kozjansko park organizes an annual hike along a part of Emma’s Pilgrimage Route.
Emma’s Pilgrimage Route, which is around 690km long, runs through the regions of Carinthia, Styria, Lower Carniola and Upper Carniola and is associated with the route in Austria bearing the same name. Emma’s Pilgrimage Route in Slovenia includes 48 control points, where you can get a stamp of the route for your collection in the pilgrimage brochure.
Romarska knjižica Romarski vodnik (ENG) Romarski vodnik (DEU) Romarski vodnik (SLO) Zgibanka (ENG) Zgibanka (DEU) Zgibanka (SLO) Shematski zemljevid
The St. Martin pilgrimage route
The life of Saint Martin started in Hungary, and continued through Slovenia and Italy to France. The 2,500-km long St. Martin of Tours Route leads past places which marked the life of this popular saint and was declared a European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe in 2005. A large part of the Saint Martin of Tours Route (approx. 550km) runs through Slovenian places that share the same name or are otherwise associated with St. Martin. In Slovenia, more than eighty churches and small chapels are dedicated to St. Martin and many places are named after him (e.g. Šmartno, Šmartin…).
The logo or the symbol of the Saint Martin Route is the so called “Saint Martin’s footprint”. It marks the buildings or places which are related to St. Martin. There are seven such cultural monuments in Slovenia.
The Route includes 60 control points, where pilgrims can get a stamp of the route for their collection in their pilgrimage booklet.
Romarska knjižica Romarski vodnik (ENG) Romarski vodnik (DEU) Romarski vodnik (SLO) Zgibanka (ENG) Zgibanka (DEU) Zgibanka (SLO) Shematski zemljevid
St. Mary’s pilgrimage route
St. Mary’s Pilgrimage Route connects shrines dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Slovenia and Croatia. The route is a part of the international Mary’s cultural pilgrimage route Čenstohova (Poland) – Levoča (Slovakia) – Mariazell (Austria) – Ptujska Gora and Svete gore above Bistrica ob Sotli (Slovenia) – Marija Bistrica (Croatia).The route is the result of the Mary’s Pilgrimage Route project (IPA Slovenia-Croatia 2007–2013 programme).
Mary’s Pilgrimage Route in Slovenia is 409km long and has 45 control points, where you can get a stamp for your pilgrimage booklet. Lurška jama cave is located at the foot of the overhang, 250m from St. Mary’s church in Zagorje, which is a part of Mary’s Pilgrimage Route.
The way of St. James
The Way of St. James which leads to Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain is one of the oldest pilgrimage routes in Europe as it has been used by pilgrims from all over Europe for more than 1,000 years.
The Way of St. James was the first route to be awarded European Cultural Route status by the Council of Europe in 1987 and has also been listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
European funds within the Pilgrimage Europe project enabled the establishment of the Way of St. James in Slovenia and Austria. The 208km long part of the Way of St. James leads from Graz in Austria through Mureck/Cmurek, Maribor, and along the Drava Valley and onwards across the Austrian Carinthia and South Tirol towards Spain.
The Way of St. James in Slovenia includes 18 control points, where a pilgrim can get a stamp of the route for their collection in the pilgrimage brochure.
Romarska knjižica Romarski vodnik (ENG) Romarski vodnik (DEU) Romarski vodnik (SLO) Zgibanka (ENG) Zgibanka (DEU) Zgibanka (SLO) Shematski zemljevidOther routes throught Kozjansko
- The Slomšek pilgrimage route starts in Bizeljsko and passes through the entire area of the park to Olimje and then continues on to Ponikva.
- The E7 European long distance path enters the park in Križe, crosses Orlica, descends from Svete gore into the valley of Bistrica and takes you across the wine-growing hills to Olimje, where it once again leaves the park.
- The Zasavje mountain transversal trail takes you across the pre-Alpine eastern Posavje hills (Orlica, Vetrnik, Bohor).
