Stop A
VILLAGE SLAPNIK
(The gravel road to go to the village is steep and loose. It's only meant for experienced riders)
In the completely deserted Slapnik you will ask yourselves who were these people, how they lived, why they left and where to. After World War II most of the villagers emigrated to the Koper littoral region as well as to Argentina and other places around the globe. Slapnik is reached from the Vrhovlje-Korada road, preferably on foot. The village, which is in a state of decay, is full of interesting motifs and beautiful stonemasonry details that testify to its former lively pulse. Waiting for better times, Slapnik is one of the most beautiful motifs for photographers and painters. It is the only village in Brda where no one lives anymore. It was once a village of wealthy farmers, as can be seen in the beautiful architectural details, and today the Church of St. Andrew is in a state of dereliction.
Stop B
KOTLINE
Kotline are small natural pools where the Kožbajnšček stream flows thrugh. At this stop it's ussualy possible to bathe except on years when we have drought.
Step C
KRČNIK
Krčnik is a natural attraction, one of the most beautiful of its kind in Slovenia, which is protected as a cultural monument and will enchant you in all seasons. This natural attraction features picturesque gorge with a natural bridge, carved out of the limestone below the village of Kožbana by the Kožbanjšek brook.
The 40-metre-long gorge starts with a huge sinkhole, a 6-metre-deep spherical basin in the stream bed, where the water carries stones and sand. The water current rotates them, constantly carving the gorge. Around the middle of the basin, a beautifully rounded and smooth natural bridge, created by the resinous water from the grinding process, breaks up. The Krčnik Natural Bridge is one of the most beautiful natural bridges in Slovenia.
Stop D
DOBROVO CASTLE
The castle in Dobrovo was built in the 13th century, but over centuries it has slowly dilapidated. At the beginning of the 17th century, a new Renaissance castle was built on its site, which has remained relatively unchanged to this day and is considered one of the most beautiful castles in the Goriška region.
More about this on: https://www.brda.si/en/discover/top/2023030314444380/dobrovo-castle/
Stop E
GREDIČ
Gredič was once one of the many castles in Brda. After the renovation in 2012 it became a butique hotel. More about this castle on: https://www.gredic.si/en/castle
Stop F
Gas station if you need drinks or a snack.
Stop G
VILA VIPOLŽE
This Renaissance villa reflects the history of life at the crossroads of three worlds and cultures. Originally the hunting lodge of the Counts of Gorizia, it was later owned by the noble families of Herberstein, Della Torre, Attems and Teuffenbach. The Venetians transformed the mansion into an elegant rectangular villa with two columns. It served its owners as a summer residence with a green park. In front of the villa, centuries-old cypress trees, the oldest in Slovenia, still climb into the sky. In addition to the magnificent first floor with its modern halls, which has retained the name Piano Nobile, Vila Vipolže boasts a café, a restaurant with vaulted wine cellar, a state-of-the-art kitchen and a banquet room. The 4 superior rooms and 2 suites with the most beautiful views of the Brda hills are an exclusive added value when renting the villa.
Stop H
MEDIVAL VILLAGE ŠMARTNO
Šmartno is one of the most beautiful villages in the centre of Brda. Built on Roman foundations, it is today considered an architectural jewel and a cultural monument. Behind its walls, it will take you back to the rich and picturesque stories of the past and reveal the charms of the Brda homeliness.
The village of Šmartno is located in the geographical centre of Brda, with views from Nanos in the east to the Carnic Alps in the north-west and from the vast Friuli to the Adriatic Sea. The village, surrounded by walls and fortified with defensive towers, was first mentioned in 1317.
Stop E
CHURCH OF THE HOLLY CROSS
Oral tradition speaks of a Holy Cross on the lake, and there are indeed many springs at the foot of the hill. The Gothic church, built around 1500, has an unusual bell tower for Slovenia, which is worth a visit. It resembles a small fortress rather than a church tower. It is topped with the typical “cine” and boasts treasures of4= exceptional artistic value. The Stations ofrr4= the Cross chapels lead you to the church, which comes fully alive during the procession on Holy Cross Day when the paintings are also placed in niches, which are normally kept in the church. Inside, although a casual visitor might rightly be seduced by the splendour of the two Baroque side altars and the frescoes on the walls, the real gem is the main Gothic wing altar, dating from 1515. The Great Altar, the only and largest almost completely preserved Gothic wing altar in Slovenia, is probably the fruit of the Villach carving workshop. It consists of three parts of Gothic carving, representing the crucifixion and the Passion of Christ in reliefs. The original crucifix of the Crucified was lost, and several Gothic columns and statuettes disappeared when the entire altar was transferred to Florence for security reasons during the First World War.