Green Karst
»BRKINI BY BIKE: over the hills and valleys«
Explore one of the least known in Slovenia - the magical Brkini. This hilly world hides many small villages, which sit on top of the rolling hills. In these villages, you will find local fruit farmers and taste a noble drop of typical spirit - Brkini Slivovec. The trails that will lead you beyond the typical terraces and orchards are most attractive in the spring when fruit trees bloom and in autumn, when all the hills are painted with beautiful autumn colours.
Printed cycling maps are available at local tourist centers or we can send them by post (send a message to info@zelenikras.si)
You can download free .gpx files, which will guide you through your smartphone or GPS device.
ROUTE 1: BRKINKA
The route along the central part of the Brkini region starts in Pregarje and runs along the ridges, offering a view towards Čičarija Plateau, Slavnik Hill, Nanos Plateau, Snežnik Plateau and Pivka Basin. The hilly landscape with its cultural terraces, orchards, and nucleated villages is where you can still meet fruit growers of the Brkini Fruit Road.
ROUTE 2: THE DIVAČA CIRCULAR ROUTE
Along the route where flysch meets limestone and where water leaves the surface and continues on its course underground. Starting in Divača, then past collapse dolines and Škocjan Caves, one of the UNESCO's natural heritage locations, and all the way to the village of Artviže and the top of Brkini, which offers picturesque views; after that, a descent to the Reka River.
ROUTE 3: KOKOŠ
From the Škocjan Caves Park through karstic villages almost to the Italian border. Near the village of Vrhpolje an ascent of Kokoš Hill all the way to the mountain hut. Then a descent to the western side in the direction of Lokev and across the Karst back to Škocjan Caves.
ROUTE 4: SLAVNIK
Starting in Kozina, the route winds south, rising steeply all the way to Tumova koča mountain hut on Slavnik Hill. From the top, the winding route, which is also a footpath in certain places, descends to Matarsko podolje and from there it runs through the picturesque Brkini villages and past blind valleys. A real cross-country cycling endeavour for the lovers of rapid ascents and descents.
ROUTE 5: THE DISTILLERY ROUTE
From the valley of the Posrtvica waterway towards the cultural-historical village of Prem, all the way to the castle. Then onward to the ridge of the Brkini region, through a wooded landscape, past the fruit-growing terraces and through typical Brkini villages to where the locals distil the authentic Brkini plum brandy. And then along the ridge through Pregarje and back to the valley of the Posrtvica.
ROUTE 6: ON THE BORDER
From the edge of Čičarija Plateau further into the Brkini region. From the village of Hrušica past an industrial site along a diverse forest route to the foot of Brkini. An ascent to the village of Sabonje and a view of Snežnik Plateau at the top. A descent to Mola Lake, across the Molja waterway, onwards to the village of Zalči and a ride in the shade of the trees growing by Klivnik Lake back to the starting point.
ROUTE 7: THE BISTRICA CIRCULAR ROUTE
A less demanding, family route runs around Ilirska Bistrica by the Reka River all the way to Novak's Mill, which bears witness to the riverside life of the past. At Novak's Mill, traverse the Reka River via a wooden footbridge, or in the event of high water level, prolong the route in the direction of the village of Smrje and, after traversing the Reka, continue along the main road towards the village of Topolc.
ROUTE 8: THE LAKE ROUTE
The extended Bistrica Circular Route, which continues the path from the Reka River over the hill to Mola Lake and enriches it with beautiful views of Snežnik Plateau. At Novak's Mill, traverse the Reka River via a wooden footbridge, and in the event of high water level, prolong the route in the direction of the village of Smrje and, after traversing the Reka, continue along the main road towards the village of Topolc.
ROUTE 9: THE SEASONAL LAKES ROUTE
From the Ecomuseum of the Seasonal Lakes of Pivka along the Zgornja Pivka area, through forests, over pastures and past lakes. An ascent to the Šilentabor Plateau with beautiful views of Brkini, the Nanos and Snežnik plateaus and Pivka Basin. Then a quite steep descent to the valley through Narin towards Ravne, and through the Košana Valley to the Park of Military History. A great way to discover the area’s natural, cultural and historical heritage.
ROUTE 10: ON FLYSCH AND LIMESTONE
The starting point is near the town of Kozina, where the trail of the old railroad between Kozina and Trieste begins. The route winds by the border between limestone and flysch, Slovenia and Italy, Slovenian and Italian, the sun and the shadow. You can choose to take the route through Beka Nature Park or through the village of Ocizla.
ROUTE 11: PODGORSKI KRAS
The route runs along the karstified surface of the Podgorski Kras plain and the steep edge of the Karst Rim (Slovene: Kraški rob), where typical karstic phenomena are apparent on the surface. The sharp edge of the plateau offers views of the hilly Slovenian Istria, the Rižana Valley and the Gulf of Trieste.
ROUTE 12: THE MILITARY ROUTE
Starting in Ilirska Bistrica, the route turns on Hrib svobode Hill and continues towards Zarečje and over Brkini. A stop at the Zalesje Partisan Hospital. Onwards through the Košana Valley to the Park of Military History and through the Šmihel Valley; then a more demanding ascent to the Šilentabor Plateau. Then a descent to Podstenje and onwards to Ilirska Bistrica. A great way to discover the rich military-historical heritage of the area.
ROUTE 13: MILANJA
The starting point is in the village of Bač, from where a dynamic route leads along the edge of the Dinaric karstic plateau of Snežnik on mountain trails to the top of Velika Milanja Hill, offering a view of Brkini. A descent on less fortified trails to the village of Šembije, then an ascent along the old Italian road to the ridge of Šilentabor and another descent to the villages in the Zgornja Pivka (Upper Pivka) area.
ROUTE 14: KATARINA
The starting point is in Ilirska Bistrica, and from here the route runs through Brkini villages with views of Snežnik Plateau in the direction of the Croatian border. From the village of Jelšane it ascends gently towards the village of Novokračine, which is followed by an ascent of Sveta Katarina Hill, offering views of the Kvarner Gulf. After that it is downhill to the head of the Reka River valley and a ride through villages to the starting point.
ROUTE 15: ČIČARIJA
The route leads from Podgrajsko podolje, first to the flysch hills of the Brkini region and in the second part over the karstic landscape of Čičarija Plateau. A dynamic route with some steep sections of rough macadam leads through the forests and solitary stone villages, in which nature has reasserted her dominance.
Info
DMO Zeleni kras
Prečna ulica 1
6257 Pivka Slovenija
T: 00386 5 7212 249
E:
www.zelenikras.si
Best time to visit
Spring, Summer and Autumn
What is special
Duration
weekend get-a-way
Price
free
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