Domžale: NORTHERN ROUTE (Trekking/gravel/road)

A nice cycling loop with many attractions on the way, seasoned in the very north by the ascent to the outskirts of the Babji trebuh hill followed by an easy descent back to the starting point in Domžale. The route runs almost entirely along paved and low-traffic roads and does not feature any long climbs.

The trip starts at the Športni park Domžale sports park. Domžale and its surroundings is the only place in Slovenia boasting a rich tradition of straw hat-making, as preserved at the Straw Hat Museum. In recent decades, the town has particularly boosted its sporting image with football and basketball players at the forefront.

Z izhodišča se podate proti renesančnemu Grad Krumperk castle. Tod sta tudi Iron Cave (Železna jama) and the Speleology Museum. Posebna značilnost jame so ukrivljeni kapniki, ki jih je med nastajanjem usmerjal veter. V muzeju pa si je mogoče ogledati zanimive speleološke zbirke. Tako jama kot muzej sta odprta za obiskovalce, a preverite, kdaj sta odprta in kako se dogovoriti za ogled. Kmalu sledi nova zanimivost: , drugo največje pokrito gledališče na prostem v Sloveniji; še zlasti poleti je v njem izjemno živahno. Nedolgo zatem, ko boste spet pritisnili na pedala, boste prispeli do Tuštanj castle; priporočamo postanek in ogled, če bo ob vašem obisku grad odprt. Na »sporedu« bo kmalu še en grad oziroma grajske ostaline na Brdu pri Lukovici.

From the starting point, head towards the Renaissance Grad Krumperk castle. Along the way, you can visit the Iron Cave (Železna jama) and the Speleology Museum. A special feature of the cave is its curved stalactites, which were shaped by the wind during their formation. At the museum, you can see interesting speleological collections. Both the cave and the museum are open to visitors, but check the opening hours and how to book a tour.

A new attraction: Studenec Summer Theatre (Poletno gledališče Studenec), which is the second largest covered open-air theatre in Slovenia, and is expected to be especially lively in the summer.

Not long after you start cranking the pedals again, you will arrive at the Tuštanj castle, and we recommend a stop and a tour if the castle is open when you visit. Another castle, or castle ruin, will soon be on the "itinerary" at Brdo pri Lukovici.

The second portion of loops starts slowly as you move through the picturesque landscape, and is interrupted only slightly by a climb to the edge of the Babji trebuh peak, after which you return to the starting point through small settlements.