Intermodal sections: train + bike
Things to see en route
We will get to know the Slovenian Karst better through this stage, it is a territory with particular characteristics from a historical, nature, cultural and gastronomic point of view. The route meanders – with frequent up and downhills, although not steep – in the spectacular limestone highlands which dominate the Gulf of Trieste, giving continuous emotions. You mainly pedal along narrow roads, open to traffic but not at all busy, surrounded by dry stone walls which seem to lead towards nowhere. Nature rules here, modelled by the Bora wind and enriched by unique colours, which especially in Autumn present us with glimpses of great vitality. Then all of a sudden, an old village appears, the remains of a medieval castle, a bell tower and we return to civilization. Then after a bend in the road, the extensive view of the Gulf of Trieste explodes in front of us, dominated from above. Starting from Nova Gorica the trip continuously comes close to the Italian border, passing through villages which have a double name, as they were once Italian, and Austrian before that, until we reach Lipica and its centuries-old horse stud farm.
Description
We leave from Nova Gorica along the Vipava Valley to reach Šempeter (St. Peter), where there is the fifteenth century church of St. Peter, the Coronini Counts’ castle and Villa Maffei. Then there is a nice cycling lane which reaches Miren, dominated by the wonderful sanctuary of Saint Grado in Merna, dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows. Among gentle hills and some gravel roads, you reach Lokvica, then Sela na Krasu, from where there is a spectacular view of the Gulf of Trieste. At Škrbina you can visit the painter Lojze Spacal’s house, then you pass through the beautiful village of Sveto with its church dedicated to Saint Egidio, one of the leading examples of sacred architecture in Slovenia. Then we reach Komen, which was an important administrative centre in the western Karst region, afterwards we continue into the heart of the Karst until we pass through the villages of Pliskovica and Dutovlje, a famous wine making centre specialised in the production of Teran, the local nectar. You can also reach Dutovlje, passing through the medieval town of Štanjel which with its castle and surrounding walls represents the most attractive tourist spot in the Karst. Then you reach Toma, a village where you can visit Srečko Kosovel’s birthplace house, he was one of the most important Slovenian poets. Pedalling along enchanted roads you reach Sežana, the main economic centre of the Karst, which hosts a botanical orchard which is over a hundred years old. Finally we arrive at our goal for today’s trip, the famous Lipica, known all over the world as the place where horses from the famous Hapsburg stud farm have been bred since the XVI century, giving origin to the Lipizzaner horses. Here everything centres around the horse stables: courses, exhibitions, horseback excursions, carriage rides, visits to the historical stables.
Conditions: mainly on asphalted roads with mixed traffic and cycling lane from Vrtojba to Miren. Some uphill. Be careful of the wind.
Useful Addresses
Tourist Office Nova Gorica
Delpinova ulica 18b, 5000 Nova Gorica
T. +386 05 3304600
tzticng@siol.net
www.novagorica-turizem.com
Tourist Office Šempeter-Vrtojba
Trg Ivana Roba 4, 5290 Šempeter pri Gorici
T. + 386 05 3936117
www.gea-sp.si
Tourist Office Štanjel
Štanjel 1a, 6222 Štanjel
T. +386 07 690056
tic.stanjel@komen.si
Tourist Office Dutovlje
Bunčetova domačija 6221 Dutovlje
T. +386 05 7641549
tic.dutovlje@gmail.com
Hostel Pliskovica
Pliskovica 11, 6221 Dutovlje
T. +386 05 7640250
info@hostelkras.com
www.hostelkras.com
Tourist Office Sežana
Partizanska ulica 63 6210 Sežana
T. +386 05 7310128
tic.sezana@siol.net
www.vinskacestakras.si
Tourist Office Equile di Lipica
Lipica 5, 6210 Sežana
T. +386 05 7391580
info@lipica.org
www.lipica.org
Railway stations:
Gorizia, Nova Gorica, Šempeter pri Gorici, Štanjel, Dutovlje, Sežana
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