To the Charcoal Land

Highlights:

• “Cicka” – hand-held cable car across the Sava river, the town of Radeče, the charcoal homestead Brinovec with a charcoal production learning center, charcoal snacks, a giant charcoal pine at the Medved homestead

We will start the journey by cycling along a pleasant, non-traffic and mostly flat asphalt road along the Sava River, which will take us to the town of Radeče. In the meantime, we will stop to see the hand-held cable car “Cicka”, the brainchild of a private innovator who, despite the ageing, still successfully serves its purpose – to transport people and cyclists across the Sava River. We will stop in Radeče for a short visit and a coffe. Follows cycling by the river Sopota. We will slowly ascend towards the charcoal homestead Brinovec, where we will taste a real charcoal snack and get to know the process of charcoal production. Just a few hundred meters away is the charcoal homestead Medved, where they make every year a giant charcoal pile, a candidate for entry in the Giunes Book of World Records. And places where t We will visit the impressive pile, too, and find out how much care from its “builders” requires that charcoal is formed in its guts at the end of the burning. Along the surrounding hills and through exemplary charcoal forests, we will descend back to Litija. ,

Distance:	67 km
Gain:	1.935 m
Terrain:
Surface:	asphalt / gravel
Day Level:
Meals:	–
Accommodation:	Liitija

Touch of Dolenjska

Highlights:

• Bogenšperk Castle, along the route of the hiking trail based on the motifs of the writer Ivan Levstik “From Liitija to Čatež”, Razbore Fruit Dryer, Cistercian Monastery Stična – the oldest Slovenian monastery, collection of Sava pebble

From the “heart«, almost all Slovenian regions are close; though this day we will “touch” Dolenjska. We will cycle first to the charming castle Bogenšperk, where the famous Slovenian polyhistor Janez Vajkard Valvazor created his works. The castle houses an extensive collection of objects he used and other testimonies of his making. After visiting the interior of the castle, we will visit also the beautifully landscaped garden, where nothing but local and authentic flowers take place. When get back to bicycles, we will have to catch the southern route of the The Levstik Trail and follow it all the way to Čatež. Afterwards, our circular path will lead us past (for Dolenjska region very typical) vineyard cottages to the oldest Slovenian monastery – the Cistercian abbey in Stična. It is still alive and actively involved in the events. We will see the interior of the building only to the extent that does not interfere with the work and life of the monks, but we will certainly visit the monastery’s richly stocked shop with herbal pharmacy and teahouse of father Simon Ašič. Upon returning to our accommodation, we will visit the nearby collection of Sava pebbles.

Distance:	63 km
Gain:	1.541 m
Terrain:
Surface:	asphalt / gravel
Day Level:
Mealsi:	breakfast
Accommodation:	Litija

To the Glittering Limonites of the Sitarjevec Mine

Highlights:

• Sitarjevec mine in Litija, a pilgrimage center and an ancient settlement on Zasavska Sveta gora

On the third day of our trip, we will leave our bikes to rest all morning and move underground – to the former Sitarjevec mine. It is transformed to the modern underground museum, which offers visitors an insight into the diversity of geological and natural heritage, the world of bats, spiders and fungi, and the richness of mining tradition. In addition, today the abandoned mine is one of the richest deposits of various minerals in Europe and the world, among which the outstanding limonite stalactite structures stand out – the only growing limonite stalactites in Central Europe. If we are at least a little lucky, we will also come across a mischievous dwarf in the mineshafts… After the visit, we will refresh ourselves with some snacks and go to the hills on the left bank of the Sava river, to Zasavska Sveta gora. Today, there is a famous pilgrimage church dedicated to the Mother of God, though the summit, from where the view extends throughout Slovenia, use to be in prehistoric times a fort of natives. Archaeological research testifies to the early Slavic settlement. From the top of the hill, we will only have a descent into the valley to a pleasant home inn in Vidrga.

Distance:	26 km
Gain:	848 m
Terrain:
Surface:	asphalt / gravel
Day Level:
Meals:	breakfast
Accommodation:	Viderga

To the Geological center of Slovenia and Along the River Medija

Highlights:

• Site of an ancient urn “situla” from the Hallstatt period in Vače, Geological Center of Slovenia GEOSS, chapel with the Valvazor family tomb on Medija, Izlake (Medijske toplice, unfortunately closed), Kisovec (Zagorje Mining Museum, birthplace of cyclist Primož Roglič), Zagorje ob Savi (Roman clip “fibula” as a water fountain, painting colony Izlake-Zagorje – the oldest painting colony in Slovenia)

From the friendly Vidrgar inn, we will bite in the morning into the slopes again, this time not particularly steep. We will cycle only to the nearby village of Vače, where was by the end of the 19th century excavated a valuable urna “situla”, a container for storing and serving drinks. The original houses today a museum in the capital, but an enlarged copy stands on the site. Just a few kilometers away is the next important point of Slovenia – its geological center GEOSS. The representatives of the Kolenc Theater will receive us and in an original way present the peculiarities of the location. We will round off our visit on a pleasant tourist farm with a delicious snack, and then continue the journey to the valley of the river Medija, where we will meet again with the estate of the Valvazor family. Near Izlake is their castle, which is unfortunately in ruins today, only the chapel with the family tomb, has been preserved and restored. Our famous polyhistor J. V. Valvasor suppose to be burried here, too. We will continue to Kisovec, a former mining colony, of which only an interesting Mining Museum has survived after the mine closed in the middle of the last century. Of course, we will not miss the opportunity to get to know its interior. We will finish the trip in our accommodation in Zagorje ob Savi.

Distance:	34 km
Gain:	939 m
Terrain:
Surface:	asphalt / gravel
Day Level:
Meals:	breakfast
Accommodation:	Trbovlje

Day for Trbovlje

Highlights:

• Trbovlje Chimney – the tallest chimney in Europe and the seventh tallest in the world (virtual experience of climbing it), Trbovlje (Prometheus – 8 meters high statue of a miner from scrap iron, Virtual Museum of Mining 4th dritl, ethnological route to Trbovlje mining colonies, Workers’ Home Trbovlje, a monument to the Battle of Orjuna

This day will be entirely dedicated to sightsee the rowns of Zagorje ob Savi and Trbovlje. At the morning, we will start with a walk around Zagorje ob Savi in the company of a tourist guide, who is also the charismatic “frontman” of the tamous local rock group Orlek with music called “kanp’n’rock”. In the continuation, we will cycle to the impressive Trbovlje chimney, 360 meters high giant by the Sava River. In order to be able to imagine the experience of climbing to the top without fear, we will help ourselves with a virtual experience. We will continue the experience of virtual reality in the town of Trbovlje, where the Virtual Museum of Mining 4th dritl stand in the premises of the Workers’ Home Trbovlje. We will continue by a journey of the Trbovlje mining colony and, at the end of the day, we will climb to the giant, 8-meter high statue of scrap iron, named Prometheus. For visiting the statue, we will save a late hour when it gets dark already, so we can enjoy the beauty of the laser beam falling from the lamp on his head to the (former) entrance to the mine.

Distance:	22 km
Gain:	535 m
Terrain:
Surface:	asphalt / gravel
Day Level:
Meals:	breakfast
Accommodation:	Trbovlje

On the Top of Kum

Highlights:

• ascent to “Triglav of Zasavje” Kum

We will not give up the pleasure of climbing Kum, the highest mountain in Zasavje. It offers magnificent views throughout Slovenia and Croatia. Kum is a “must visit” point of Zasavje, with happenings running all year round. A charming legend about the shepherd Jošt and the shepherdess Neža is also woven around its history. We will get with a quite steep ascent before the lunch, followed by a descent along the lookout ridge to Radeče and a return to the starting point by an already known road along the Sava to Hrastnik, Trbovlje and Zagorje.

Distance:	59 km
Gain:	2.411 m
Terrain:
Surface:	asphalt / gravel
Day Level:
Meals:	breakfast
Accommodation:	Trbovlje

To Čebine and Sveta planina

Highlights:

• Memorial house of the founding congress of the Communist Party of Slovenia, views from Sveta planina, sleeping in the mountain lodge on “Savinjski Triglav” at 1122 m above sea level

In the morning, we will raise up the hill again to climb to another “sacred” mountain on the Zasavje hills. Only a few kilometers before it is a very important location for Slovenian history – a house in Čebine, where the Communist Party of Slovenia is estanlished. We will visit the memorial spaces in it, and continue the journey to the top of Sveta planina, where from the magnificent views open up – this time to the Savinja Valley and Alps behind. We will not be able to resist the desire to descend to the nearest popular excursion point – the Vrbje pond. By the pond, the locals from the Žalec area have created pleasant places to spend their free days. We will spend the night in an almost heavenly tourist farm with a view of the Savinjska valley.

Distance:	47 km
Gain:	1.162 m
Terrain:
Surface:	asphalt / gravel
Day Level:
Meals:	breakfast
Accommodation:	Šešče

To the Embankments of the Savinja and Past Hrastnik Towards Home

Highlights:

• Production of ceramics in Liboje, Laško (Laško Spas, Church of St. Martin, municipal building – Lilijski manor, Black bridge), Hrastnik

From our accommodation, we will first drive to the village of Liboje, where we will visit the local plant for the production of ceramics, whose history dates back to 1828. From there we will descend a little lower, to the Savinja River, where a pleasant bike path will take us to the town of Laško. We will meet here another Slovenian province Styria. Laško boasts a rich historical heritage, but above all a spa with thermal water and a large beer factory, which conquers the world with its green colour and protector Capricorn. In the local pub along the Savinja River, we will refresh ourselves and taste beer – from factory as well as from private production of small breweries. The dinner will follow a short walk around the city, and then we get back on bicycles to the next spa town, Rimske toplice. Follows the ascent over the pass in Turje and descent back to Hrastnik. After a short tour, we only go to the Hrastnik railway station, where we say goodbye.

Distance:	53 km
Gain:	1.205 m
Terrain:
Surface:	asphalt / gravel
Day Level:
Meals:	breakfast

Upon registration:

• pay the mandatory 30% of advance payment at the time of booking
• Check the contents of the confirmation email
• Meet any requirements from the confirmation email

At least one month before the trip:

• arrange insurance (Coris or similar)
• carefully read the travel confirmation email, as it may contain very important information
• pay the last installment

Potovanje poteka po krajih z omejenimi zmogljivostmi namestitev, zato bomo v posameznih primerih nastanjeni tudi v tri ali štiri posteljnih sobah. Udeležencem, ki bodo želeli enoposteljno sobo, bomo ustregli, kadar bo to izvedljivo ter jim dodatek za enoposteljno sobo zmanjšali ustrezno z nižjim standardom namestitev

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