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Visit Gorice - Lenart, Lake Trojica
Cycling route · Štajerska (Slovenian Styria) · Family
- Length
- 11 km
- Elevation gain
- 80 m
- Duration
- ~1,5 h
- Difficulty
- easy
- Region
- Štajerska (Slovenian Styria)
- Route type
- Family
- Surface
- asphalt 8 km · gravel 3 km
- Suitable for
- E-bike, MTB, Gravel, Trekking
This shorter circular route is perfect for an outing with young children. The route connects Lenart with Lake Trojica, above which one of the most recognizable churches in Slovenske gorice rises on a hilltop. Cycling is safe, as most of the route follows a bike path separated from traffic. The climbs are gentle enough for children to manage with ease. Benches by the water provide the perfect spot for a break and a snack, while a playground at the end of the ride is sure to delight the youngest cyclists.
Points along the route
ŠRC Polena
0 km
Start
We start the route at ŠRC Polena, where the large parking area offers plenty of space to get ready. We follow the cycle path towards the centre of Lenart. For centuries the small town was an important stop on the road between Maribor and Gornja Radgona, and between Ptuj and the Austrian town of Cmurek.
Towards Lake Trojica
We continue towards Sveta Trojica along cycling paths that are mostly separated from motor traffic. Only a few short sections follow public roads.
Lake Trojica
3 km
Lake Trojica
We arrive at the lake, which was created in the 1960s by damming the Velka stream. Today, it is considered one of the largest lakes in the Pesnica Valley. Along the shore, numerous benches invite us to take a break. With a bit of luck, we may spot a bird on the water’s surface, and along the bank there are almost always anglers.
Monastery and Church of the Holy Trinity
Above the lake stands the Baroque Church of the Holy Trinity, crowned by its distinctive three bell towers, which are also featured in the municipal coat of arms. The slope beneath the church is dotted with twenty so-called energy points. The strongest of them is located at the small chapel by the lake.
Finish
We continue back towards Lenart. The ride is relaxed and mostly slightly downhill. We close the loop at ŠRC Polena, where a well-earned reward awaits the children after their successful tour, a playground.
Lunch recommendations
There are a few good options nearby for a post-ride bite. Gostilna Švarc serves traditional home cooking in a classic setting, Kmetija Titan – Čuček invites you in for homemade pastries, and Picerija Agata is a safe choice whenever the children hear the word pizza.
Along the way
Towns and villages
Lenart (1 km), Radehova (3 km), Sveta Trojica (6 km), Zgornji Porčič (7 km)
Food and drink
- Picerija Agata (2 km from the start): The pizzeria is located along the main Lenart–Ptuj road above Lake Radehova and has been operating since 1995. It is known for its wood-fired pizzas, and in 1996 it was awarded the title of the best pizzeria in the country.
- Kmetija Titan – Čuček (2 km from the start): The family farm in Radehova near Lenart is known for baking traditional potica, fine pastries, and homemade bread, for which it has received more than twenty awards within the Dobrote slovenskih kmetij program.
- Gostilna Švarc (3 km from the start): The family-run inn in Radehova near Lenart has been operating since 1995 and is known for its traditional cuisine. It features a well-kept outdoor terrace and a children’s playground, making it an ideal place for a longer family stop.
Water and rest
- E-bike charging station (5 km from the start): E-bike charging station where you can recharge your battery during a stop.
- E-bike charging station (6 km from the start): E-bike charging station where you can recharge your battery during a stop.
Parking and trains
- ŠRC Polena (0 km from the start): The Polena Sports and Recreation Centre is located on the southern outskirts of Lenart and includes a hippodrome, a football field, a beach volleyball court, and a children’s playground. In 2008, ultramarathon cyclist Marko Baloh set the world record here in the 24-hour open-track time trial.
Sights
- Lenart almshouse (Špital) (1 km from the start): The town almshouse (Trški špital) was founded in 1625 by the town magistrate Marko Bernhardt, who bequeathed his property for the care of impoverished townspeople and the poor. The building on the town square is marked by a stone portal featuring a painted coat of arms of the Herberstein counts, while the windows still preserve their original Baroque grilles.
- City park (1 km from the start): Dr. Jože Pučnik City Park in Lenart is a landscaped area designed for recreation, socializing, and active leisure outdoors. During the warmer months, it hosts various cultural and family events such as Reading Under the Chestnut Trees, Harmonies in the Park, and Playful Lenart.
- Church of St. Leonard (1 km from the start): The parish church on the hill above Lenart’s town square was first mentioned in 1196 and is considered one of the finest examples of the so-called Slovenske gorice Gothic style. The present late Gothic building dates from the period between 1516 and 1518, while the main altar and both side altars from 1769 were created by the Maribor sculptor Jožef Holzinger.
- The chapel by the lake (6 km from the start): The chapel stands right on the shore of Lake Trojica and is a popular stop for cyclists and walkers. According to local tradition, it is considered the most powerful of the 20 energy points that mark the hillside beneath the Church of the Holy Trinity.
- The monastery and Church of the Holy Trinity (6 km from the start): The Baroque church with its three distinctive bell towers is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in north-eastern Slovenia and, together with its Augustinian monastery, presides over the hill above Lake Trojica. The church was built between 1636 and 1643, the monastery was added in 1692, and the two Baroque bell towers on the façade followed in 1780.