DRAVA CYCLING ROUTE

The Slovenian part of the Drava cycling route runs mostly on less traffic local roads and to a lesser extent on landscaped cycling trails and trails. Due to the different types of base and the more demanding ascent between Podvelko and Lovrencem na Pohorju, the Slovenian part of the route is suitable for better-prepared cyclists. The use of trekking or mountain bikes is also recommended. The rise to the Lovrenc on Pohorje can be avoided and use the train between Podvelko and Falo.

The trail begins at the international border crossing Vič. Continue in the direction of Dravograda, then on the other side of the river of the well through Bukovje, Trbonje, Dravče, Vuzenica and Vuhred, all the way to Podvelka. Here the trail turns right, where the only more demanding climb along the way, about 6 km long ascent to the Janževski Vrh, Lehen and Lovrenc on Pohorje. From the Lovrenca we continue through the desert and the Chinžat to the village of Fala, where we re-ride right next to the Drava River, while the (novelty) traverse the hydropower plant Fala (the oldest on the Drava rivers) and continue to the Ruš on the Apple Trail. Through the Bezeno, Bistrica ob Dravi, Laznico and Limbuš, past the Mariborski Island, the unique River Island in Slovenia, we soon bring to the second largest Slovenian city – Maribor.

From Maribor to Ptuj, the cyclist can choose two variant cycling trails. More attractive and more distant than the rest of the traffic is a variant passing across the villages of Miklavž in the Drava field, the parents and Hajdino. The alternative variant on the left side of the river of Chile takes place over a few shorter and lightweight climbs and descends through the Malečnik and Trčovo to the upper and lower Duplek. We cycle forward through Vurberk and Krčevino and then soon we reach the Ptuj, the oldest Slovenian city. The trail continues along the Ptuj Lake, through Zabovce, a new village in Markovci and Stojnce, to Muretinians and to the ormož. From Ormož the trail leads past the fields, through the villages to the center of the Drava River, where we cross the international border crossing with Croatia.

The bicycle Trail is reapproaching the preserved part of the river. We soon ride to Varaždin – a city with an excellent preserved city core.

The last part of the journey takes place at the time of the Lake Varaždin, and then through the attractive village towards the next Dubravian lake and through the Prelog forward towards Donji Dubravi, where the trail is completely approaching the river Drava. In this city, we cross the river and drive towards the Legrad, where we can see the confluations of the river Mura and the river of Drava.

A bicycle trail along the river Drava takes place through 4 countries (Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia) and is in a full length about 710 km long. The trail begins in the immediate vicinity of the source of the river (Toblach) in Italy. It then continues after the Austrian Carinthian (Kärnten), Slovenia and the end of Croatia (where the path is not yet fully regulated and marked).

Food experience:

“Natural, homemade, traditional” are culinary properties that mark the Carinthian and Styrian cuisine. Here are especially appreciated habits, food, and dishes, which are prepared in a traditional way, after tested recipes. The hosts in Carinthia can still prepare traditional dishes, with their unusual names (Klocavi Nudlni, Štruklji, straddled musk, rainbows, Mežerli, Tovsti Grumpi…), inviting you to a new gourmet experience. Traditional dishes of rich flavors in Styria often contain pork, sour cabbage and turnips, beans, eggs, cream, and cottage cheese, various pulp and of course potatoes.

Carinthia is famous for its excellent mosque, a traditional drink with an alcoholic fermentation of juices, from ancient varieties of apples. In the centuries, Styria built its visibility from the rich treasurethra of indigenous cuisine and famous Styrian wines.

Therefore, in Styria, you can easily find a good inn, a top-notch restaurant, a home-made tourist farm or wine cellar of a renowned winery, where you will be pamed with masterpieces on plates and in jars and characteristic Styrian hospitality. The rich tradition of wine production symbolically represents the old vine, the oldest vine in the world, which for more than 400 years has flourished on the riverbank of the river, in Maribor. Both Maribor and Ptuj have a rich wine tradition and represent the wine-culinary area of the Drava cycling route. Ptuj is also the oldest Slovenian city.