EP_K_04_ By Bike through the Raša and Branica Valleys to Rihemberk Castle

Cycling through the Raša and Branica Valleys to Rihemberk Castle

June 17, 2023

HIKING

LOCAL CUISINE

CYCLING

UNSPOILED NATURE

TRADITION

IN-DEPTH EXPERIENCES

We will start cycling in the village of Štorje, where the locals have arranged a circular path around the surrounding karst attractions. The route will lead us along hardened gravel or asphalt paths through the valleys of the Raša torrent and the Branica river. In the meantime, in the Raše valley, we will take a short walk without bicycles to the gorge of the playful and crystal clear Kranjšček stream, where there were once many mills. We will end the cycling in Branik – exactly in its immediate vicinity with a visit to Rihemberk Castle.

Of course (if there would be such wishes), we will also take advantage of all the opportunities to get to know indigenous, local, seasonal and above all, extremely delicious Kras and Vipava valley cuisine, as there will be excellent culinary experts, especially winemakers, along our route.

Again, we are following our green approach to travel, which is why our trip starts and of course ends at the train station: this time we start from Povir and return with the Bohinj railway to Sežana. All this while using nature-friendly public transport, which for many is even free (!!)..

Duration:	8:30 -16:00
Total distance:	32,5 km
Avg. distance:	–
Total height:	557 m
Bicycle type:	trekking or gravel
Countries:	Slovenia
Begin/End:	Štorje, Branik railway station
Price:	35 €

Highlights:

villages Štorje, Mahniči, Nova vas, Večkoti, Čehovini, Kodreti, Ćipnje, Spodnja Branica, Škrbići, Hmeljaki and Branik, mills and waterfalls on the Kranjšček stream, monument to Baron Andrej Čehovin and Rihemberk Castle

Price includes:

entrance fees to attractions according to the program
travel management and organization

Overall Tour Level::

Tour description:

Our starting point is at the parking lot in Štorje. It is not a village from the TV novel, so we will not meet ther fun actors, but only a few very special stones.

We will continue in the direction of Podnanos, but soon we will branch off onto a nice paved gravel road that will lead us along the Raša torrent. Not far from the junction, we will leave our bikes for a while and set off on foot to admire the rapids and waterfalls of the crystal clear Krajnšček stream, along which today only the ruins of some of the once numerous mills can be seen.

Shortly after returning, we will meet the asphalted road that leads to the villages of Mahniči and Nova vas, but return again to the paved macadam, which will lead us to the road that connects Štanjel with Vipava and Podnanos. We will follow it for only a few kilometers until we meet the Branica river, which will lure us to a less trafficked paved road along its course.

Along the way, we will “meet” a monument to Baron Andrej Čehovin, a brave compatriot from this valley, who won many high military titles with exceptional bravery, as well as the title “Baron”.

After Spodnja Branica, we will briefly meet the main road between Sežana and Nova Gorica, but soon branch off onto side roads and paths to Branik and Rihemberk Castle. The castle has been intensively renovated for several years, and its interior already offers many attractions.

There from until the end of cycling at the Branik railway station, there will only be a few spins with the cranks….

Overall Tour Level::

Irena Hlede is an architect by her profession, but she has worked in the fields of graphic design, journalism and sustainable mobility as well. It was engaged in many sports activities, from sailing to skiing or badminton, but the common thread throughout remains cycling. She regularly participates in the non-governmental organization Slovenska kolesarska mreža (Slovenian Cyclists network) as well as with the European Cycling Federation ECF, lectures on cycling and remains loyal to long-distance cycling. In this field, she completed several trainings – among others for the Assessor under the scheme “Cycle Friendly Employer”, Development of Mobility Plans and for the EuroVelo Route Inspector. She obtained the title and knowledge of a tourist guide at the national level, too, and is the founder and owner of the travel agency GremoZeleno – GoGreenWay. In addition to the in the university obtained areas of architecture and art, she is also keenly interested in ethnology, geography and history with an emphasis on everything related to the local tradition, especially some less known areas, such as the indigenous religion and the people who followed it. She also researches many “borderline” skills, such as dowsing or geomancy. It is a convinced environmentalist and an opponent of violence and wars in general.

She speaks English and French and, of course, Croatian and Serbian.

Terrain configuration

	Mostly flat terrain, only shorter lower hills are possible.
	Slightly hilly terrain, ascents and descents are shorter and technically and undemanding for those who are not fit enough.
	Hilly terrain, ascents and descents can also be longer and steeper-
	Hilly terrain, ascents and descents can be very long and technically demanding.
	Mountainous terrain, very demanding ascents and descents on single tracks, tows or otherwise demanding trails that require a high level of fitness and technical skills.

Day Level

EASY: Relaxed cycling, suitable for beginners and families who want cycling experiences. There is a lot of time and opportunities on the way to stop and relax, and the terrain is undemanding in terms of altitude – mostly flat or with gentle slopes. The road surfaces are also undemanding – asphalt or well-paved and smooth gravel. As a rule, the lengths of daily sections do not exceed 35 kilometers.
MEDIUM EASY: Suitable for cyclists with an active lifestyle who cycle regularly. The cycling sections are longer and more demanding in terms of fitness. Medium-demanding terrain can also contain longer and steeper ascents and descents. The lengths of daily sections of mostly road-cycling tours are on average between 45 and 75 kilometers, and touring-cycling tours more than 30 kilometers.
MEDIUM DEMANDING: Suitable for occasional cyclists – mostly undemanding cycling, but some days can also contain longer easy ascents or descents or shorter ascents that are more demanding or descents. The lengths of the daily sections are on average between 25 and 55 kilometers per day.
DEMANDING: Suitable for very active and well-prepared cyclists who want cycling challenges that are more demanding. Medium to very demanding terrains can also contain longer and steeper ascents and descents. The lengths of daily road and cycling sections are on average between 65 and 85 kilometers, while touring cycling sections are correspondingly shorter, but at least more than 40 km.
VERY DEMANDING: The most demanding cycling challenges. Suitable for excellent cyclists with high fitness level for longer cycling tours. These can be either typical road-cycling tours with daily sections longer than 85 kilometers or cycling tours on demanding terrains where the daily sections are shorter, but in any case longer than 50 kilometers and demanding in both height gain and surfaces.