1. FUKS GRABA, KOROVCI
Here you will find one of the most beautiful tourist forest learning trails (3 km). The trail shows the richness of Goričko forests, where you can learn about the black alder, the importance of forest edge, spruce monoculture, fox dwelling, forest restoration, hunting facilities, tree growth, and pedological cross-section of the soil. Along the trail, different types of trees, which grow in Goričko, are presented by name.
2. LEDAVSKO LAKE, KRAŠČI
Ledavsko Lake is a man-made reservoir created by the dam of the Ledava River in order to protect the lower-located villages and Murska Sobota from flooding. Throughout the years, it has blended with the environment and thus offered a home to many animal and plant species. It offers a pleasant environment for walks along the Bernarda trail and observation of nature, which will especially captivate bird and amphibian lovers.
3. THE CHURCH OF ST. HELENE, PERTOČA
In its interior, the church hides mosaic art, which is the work of Padre Mark Rupnik. His works decorate churches in Fatima in Portugal, Lourdes in France, Rome in Italy and, of course, at home in Koper and Pertoča. The mosaic measures 92 square metres and covers almost the entire front of the church. The mosaic is in rich colours and images of deep theological meaning and message. It sits on the foundations of a 400-year-old church, and features a unique clay Way of the Cross.
4. SLATINA SPRING, NUSKOVA
In the hope of finding geothermal water, mineral water, which is considered the best mineral water in Slovenia, was discovered when drilling boreholes. The natural spring of mineral water in Nuskov was first mentioned in 1900; nevertheless, it was well known much earlier, as the inhabitants of the surrounding areas used to take drinking water home. At the spring there is a resting area for hikers and cyclists under a straw roof, which is one of the posts on the Vrbova path along the plantations of willows and the site of the Iris sibirica.
5. SOTINA HILL, SOTINA
This 418m hill represents the highest peak of Goričko. On the top of the hill is a 14-metre lookout tower with a beautiful view of north-eastern Slovenia, part of Austria, Hungary, and Croatia.
Sotina hill is a geomorphologic feature of the area, as it consists of Paleozoic slates – the oldest rocks in this area. On the southern edge there is an active quarry, where, with a bit of luck, you can hear the largest owl in the world – the Eurasian eagle-owl.
6. THREE BORDER STONE, TRDKOVA
Three border stone is a geographical point (388m) in the north east of Slovenian at the threepoint of Slovenia, Austria, and Hungary. The boundary stone in the form of a pyramid, which marks the threepoint, was set up in 1924 when it marked the border between Austria, Hungary, and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. Today, in the vicinity, in the pleasant shade of limes, there is a rest area for hikers and cyclists. The footpath from the nearest parking lot leads along the learning forest path, which is truly interesting, especially on summer days.
7. GRADEN OAK TREE, TRDKOVA
At the intersection in Trdkova there is a large oak tree, which is 22 metres high with a circumference of 493cm. The age of the tree is estimated at least four hundred years. Graden oak trees can also be found individually in surrounding hills, since this type of oak is characteristic of areas with less humid soil.
8. GRAD CASTLE
Grad castle, which is more than 800 years old, is the largest castle complex in Slovenia with more than 300 rooms. The castle, located on a hill from a volcanic basalt tuff, was first built by the knights Templar. It gained its size and appearance in the 16th and 17th centuries; it was renovated in the 18th and 19th centuries. Since 1998, the castle has been partly renovated, and it is the seat of JZ KP Goričko. In the castle there is the information centre of the landscape park, the centre for the nature of Goričko, handicraft workshops, the exhibition hall, the wine cellar in the deep castle cellar, and the wedding - concert hall.
9. KAČOVA POOL, GRAD
The Kačova pool with rich water vegetation is a natural value of national importance. It is an important living environment for protected species or those protected by the Habitats Directive. Among them, there are several types of amphibians and dragonflies living in the pool; it is also a perfect feeding site for bats. The pool is a habitat for water plants species, which contribute to the purification of water and are increasingly endangered due to the disappearance of wetlands.
10. TUFF AND OLIVIN QUARRY, GRAD
The rocks in Goričko are the remains of volcanic activity three million years ago. The sedimentation and coagulation of volcanic material has formed layers of basalt tuff. The main feature of the basalt tuff is the olivine mineral, whose nodules are found in this rock. In the past, the rock was used as a building material. The quarry is protected as a natural value.
11. THE EVANGELIAN BELFRY, BOREČA
The belfries in Goričko are part of the legacy of the long-term affiliation of the Prekmurje region to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. There are different theories in connection with the belfries. One of them indicates that they were set up by the Evangelicals, as they were prohibited from building towers (or belfries) by law. Another theory indicates that the belfries originate from the time of the Turkish invasions and that they served to inform about the coming danger.
12. COMMEMORATIVE SITE, ŽENAVLJE
The commemorative site in Ženavlje marks the landing spot of the stratospheric balloon of Belgian scientists, who were forced to land, due to weather conditions, in 1934. In 1997, a memorial of permanent artistic value, the work of the academic sculptor Mirko Bratuša, was placed at the landing spot. The bronze statue in the shape of a ball that symbolises the balloon fits nicely with the landscape and invites travellers to pay a visit and take a rest.
13. TETAJN CHESSNUT TREE, KRIŽEVCI
To the right of the Evangelical Church in Križevci, there is a macadam road to Tetajn breg, the location of at least a seven-hundred year-old giant tree, a true chestnut tree. It is 20 metres high and measures 3 metres in diameter. People say that it was painted as a giant tree on old Austrian military cards.
14. BEJČIN BREG, BUDINCI
Bejčin breg is a natural value of national importance in the greater part of Slovenia. It is an area of preserved extensive dry and wet meadows, with numerous rare and endangered plant species, which are visited by various butterflies. The area also boasts a high diversity of birds, among which you can also observe the hoopoe and red-backed shrike.
15. VELIKA KRKA, MARKOVCI
This watercourse is unique in its original preservation of the riverbed, and is therefore included on the list of natural values. Here, we find examples of lateral erosion and sandy banks, which are the living space of the king of running waters - the common kingfisher. It has a relatively long riverbed with respect to the other watercourses in the area. It is most naturally preserved at the source and in the section of the first third of the whole length.
16. THE CHURCH OF ST. MARTIN, DOMANJŠEVCI
The Church of St. Martin is the oldest preserved sacral monument in Prekmurje. It was built in the 1230-1240 period; however, the original church was first mentioned in 1208. A Dominican monastery with a Latin school, which was visited by the children of wealthy parents, once existed in this area. In 1872, the church was renovated; the southern portal with three pairs of pillars with capitals and the relief of lion with a cross in the tympanon remained original.
17. ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM, KRPLIVNIK
The house, where the historical - ethnographic permanent exhibition of Goričko is located, was built in the first third of the 20th century. In the residential part of the building you will find a kitchen with a tilled oven and chimney, a small chamber and two rooms with furnace and floor, which are richly equipped with ethnographic objects and furniture. There is also a furnished carver’s room, a beehive made of logs with straw hives, an exhibition on the history of wine and spirits, a barn for grinding grain with tools and machines, a wine cellar, etc.
18. HODOŠ LAKE, HODOŠ
Hodoš Lake was built on a marshy depression along the Dolenski stream. The water stopped behind the high-built embankment and filled the hollow; the shore was overgrown; sedge and the Iris crocea flourished in the shallows. Various insects and other animal species have settled a new habitat in these places, which became a real paradise for the water inhabitants of Goričko, and also for the otter. Around the lake there is a learning pathway with information boards and resting-areas and a spring of healthy drinking water.
19. ROTUNDA, SELO
A small round sanctuary in the village Selo was supposed to have initially belonged to the Templars. In addition to the exceptional Romanesque architecture, two layers of wall paintings have been preserved in the round church, which is of great importance. The rotunda was probably built in the first half of the 13th century. Entry into the rotunda symbolically signifies the arrival of Christ in Jerusalem – you will find out more, when you visit.
20. THE CHURCH OF ASCENSION OF OUR LORD, BOGOJINA
This church, designed by the architect Jože Plečnik, represents one of the most modern sacral buildings in Europe. The state-of-the-art architecture perfectly combines the 'old' with the ‘new’.
The rotund bell tower, and the ceiling adorned with pottery and ceramics are a particularly original feature of the church. Plečnik integrated the building tradition of the region and incorporated elements of early Christian architecture (stone pillars and a wooden horizontal ceiling).
21. IVANOCY MONUMENT, KANČEVCI
Due to spiritual weekends in the House of Spirituality, Kančevci is an increasingly recognisable spiritual centre, visited by more and more people from far and wide. Next to it is the church of St. Benedict built on foundations laid down in 1208. In 1898 it was renewed in neo-Romanesque style. Today’s church has single nave, with a lower polygonal presbytery. In the vicinity of the house there is also a monument of Dr. Franc Ivanocya, a national awakener and publicist, buried in Kančevski cemetery. His tombstone was designed by Plečnik.
22. EXTENSIVE MEADOWS, MOTVARJEVCI
The vast lowland extensive meadows in the immediate vicinity of the Motvarjevci settlement was declared a natural value of national importance. The area was once somewhat larger, but has decreased due to overgrowth and the change of use. The meadows are now managed by JZ KP Goričko, which provides them permanent preservation in the present extent and the conservation of rare plant and animal species. The feature of the area is Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus, which colours the meadows in characteristic yellow in the spring.
23. WET MEADOWS, BERKOVCI
Recently, the area of wet meadows was one of the best preserved areas of wetlands in Goričko, where marsh plant species grew. Due to the changing of humidity conditions, the variety of plant and animal species has decreased; however, you can still see some rare species in the meadows such as the large copper and the scarce large blue. The Časar mill on the Ratkovski stream is still running.
24. MATZENAU MANSION, PROSENJAKOVCI
The remains of the mansion were rebuilt by Count Batthyány at the beginning of the 19th century. In 1900, Count Matzenauer bought the mansion and equipped it with excellent examples of stylish furniture, militaries, paintings, and exotic objects from various parts of the world. The building itself was built in a luxurious, neoclassical style. One of the most interesting features is the balcony, resting on three arcade arches, which is emphasised in the upper section by the double coat of arms of the Matzenauer family. The mansion is complemented by an already overgrown park, with plantations of red beech, spruce, plane, and other exotic tree species.
25. BREK, KOBILJE
Next to the parish church grows one of the largest and oldest trees of its kind in Slovenia and neighbouring countries – wild service tree. The fruit of the tree is edible, and the wood is highly appreciated. The two wild service trees next to the Church of St. Martin in Kobilje stand out due to exceptional dimensions, the thicker one has a circumference of 277cm and is 14 metres high. Both trees are to be found in the village.
26. PANONIAN HOMESTEAD, KOBILJE
According to experts, this house is a pearl of Prekmurje’s architectural art from 1901. In the entrance there are arcade sheds with four pillars, and the entrance door is a carving masterpiece. The largest space in the house contains a beautiful old tiled stove, which now serves as an exhibition space for handicraft products. Outside there is a well with a wheel. Next to the house there is a farm building with a stable for horses and cows, trapdoor (“gumna”) and pigs in a fold. In this way – thanks to the rear of the neighbour’s house – the yard is a nice enclosure that is only opened to the main road.
27. BUKOVNIK LAKE, DOBROVNIK
It is a reservoir that was created in order to prevent flooding. It is on average 2-3m deep and reaches a maximum depth of up to 5m. The lake measures around 8 hectares. Initially it was intended for fish farming, and later fishery and sport fishing. At the same time, a wide variety of plant and animal life has developed by the lake, which is why it is protected as a natural value. The lake is surrounded by a beech forest that offers visitors plenty of pleasant shadows and numerous possibilities for rest, walks, and recreation.
28. TRADITIONAL PANONIAN HOUSES “CIMPRANE HIŠE”, STREHOVCI
Mud and “cimprane” houses, plastered with clay, are the tradition of our ancestors. There has never been a lot of wood in Goričko, and the dry climate is not the best for open, chiselled, or sawn wood. The clay plaster protected the wood for hundreds of years. The clay plaster on the inside walls of the house lessened the climate and contributed to a healthy lifestyle. A characteristic of “cimprane” houses is that the roof is covered with thatch.
29. EVANGELICAL CHURCH, BODONCI
The Bodonci church community has existed since 1792, and the Evangelicals have lived in this area from the ages of Luther’s Reformation. The Bodonci church is one of the favourite posts of organised groups, as well as random travellers who discover the beauty of Goričko. The present church was built in 1899 according to the plans of the architect Daniel Placotta from Budapest and is a typical example of the church with a two-floor gallery and high narrow windows.
30. VILLAGE BELFRY, DOLINA
The stout belfry, standing in the cemetery, is covered in boards, which hide the exceptional construction of four pillars with supports to the foundation net. Roofs are symmetrical due to square layouts, but different slopes, and bell openings are covered with battens. The core of the belfry is from the 19th century.
Natural attractions
