Intermodal sections: train + bike

Things to see en route

Before diving into the blue of the Adriatic, this route concentrates on the Karst tópoi: grottos, caves, sinkholes, underground rivers, stony territory with little vegetation. Along the route – a very pleasant downhill ride – you can find one of the three Slovenian sites which have been declared world heritage sites by Unesco, that is Škocjanske jame. This is a complex system of caverns and galleries covered by stalactites and stalagmites shaped by the underground river Reka which, after 40 kilometres underground, flows into the Gulf of Trieste near Štivan. You head towards Kozina, on the outer edge of the Karst and from here you reach Črni Kal with its characteristic leaning bell-tower (the gate of Benko House is also interesting, this is the oldest farmhouse in Slovenia). Then you go down along the Rižano valley, reaching the old Parenzana railway line which at the beginning of the XX century connected Trieste to Poreč. This well-equipped and much-used cycling path – which goes along beside the Škocjanski zatok Nature Reserve – leads to Koper (Capodistria), Izola (Isola) to finally reach Portorož (Portorose).

Description

From the centre of Lipica the itinerary continues on gravel road until reaching Lokev, where we find an imposing fortified stone tower, erected as a defence from the Turkish invasions, today hosting a great collection of arms, uniforms and other military objects. You continue, reaching the entrance to the Škocjanske Jame Park – in the town of Divača – you must not miss seeing its magnificent caves, one of the greatest attractions in Slovenia. After the visit carry on pedalling until you reach the edge of the plateau, that is Kozina where another cycling path crosses, the Trieste-Hrpelje (which you will use partially on the second day of the second week), along a stretch of the sediment of the Trieste-Ljubljana railway line. Further down there is the village of Črni Kal, nestled in the green from where the white church of St. Valentine stands out. Now the road goes down with wide bends and weaves its way into the Rižana river valley until reaching the old Parenzana railway track – narrow gauge and only one track – which from 1902 connected Trieste to Poreč in 123 kilometres. It went out of use in 1935, a few years ago it was transformed into a cycling lane (D8 cycling route) called “Parenzana: road of health and friendship”. Pedalling along this nice route you reach the Škocjanski zatok Nature Reserve, greatest salt mars area in Slovenia, then you reach Koper (Capodistria), with its wonderful historical town centre of obvious Venetian influence. To reach Izola (Isola) you pedal next to the sea on a special cycling lane also reserved for other users. Then you go through a tunnel and reach Štrungan (Strugnano), the former salt mine area. A second tunnel allows us to reach Portorož (Portorose), famous tourist resort in Slovenian Istria – in the municipality of Piran (Pirano) – with its centuries-old spa tradition. The mud for the spas comes from the salt mines in Sečovlje (Sicciole), the nature reserve 10 kilometres away from Portorož (Portorose) in the direction of the Croatian border.

Conditions: some stretches of gravel road, mainly on asphalted roads with light mixed traffic

Useful addresses

Tourist Office Equile di Lipica
Lipica 5, 6210 Sežana
T. +386 05 7391580
info@lipica.org
www.lipica.org

Park Škocjanske jame
Škocjan 2, 6215 Divača
T. +386 05 7082110
psj.info@psj.gov.si
www.park-skocjanske-jame.si

Tourist Office Koper
Titov trg 3, 6000 Koper
T. +386 05 6646403
tic@koper.si
www.koper.si

Tourist Office Izola
Ljubljanska ulica 17, 6310 Izola
T. +386 05 6401050
tic.izola@izola.si
www.izola.eu

Tourist Office Portorož
Obala 16, 6320 Portorož
T. +386 05 6742220
ticpo@portoroz.si
www.portoroz.si

Tourist Office Piran
Tartinijev trg 2, 6330 Piran
T. +386 05 6734440
ticpi@portoroz.si

Railway stations:
Divača, Hrpelje-Kozina, Koper

Ferries:
the Trieste-Rovinj line is active in July and August 5 times a week with a stop in Piran. The number of bikes accepted on board is limited.

Adriabike_Brochure_1_5_EN.pdf