The town grew in the middle of a mining field with many ore deposits, the most important of them being the Sitarjevec Mine. Visit by bike and have an unforgettable day while discovering something new and indulging in the beauty of nature.
Itinerary:
- In the old town of Litija, see the Turn or the Farber castle, the oldest building in Litija, or the parish Church of St. Nicholas home to a beautiful altar mosaic which is a superb work of contemporary art;
- In the nearby City Museum of Litija, enter the virtual world in the old court of justice and connect with the mining, shipping and other heritage of these places;
- Cycle to the Sitarjevec mine Litija along the roads Graška cesta, Partizanska pot and Sitarjevška cesta, where the signpost will direct you towards the mine, which is the biggest attraction of Litija’s underground, with over 60 types of colorful minerals and the fastest growing stalactites in the world. Listen to the stories of hard work and the brave hearts of former miners;
- The stories of the miners will follow you through Zavrstnik, where each house used to be inhabited by miners;
- Continue towards the mighty Neo-Gothic Church of St. Martin in Šmartno pri Litiji, where, according to the legend, a terrible accident happened to the miners from Sitarjevec, from which they managed to escape on St. Martin’s name day. In gratitude, they built him a church;
- Visit the Sava River Pebbles Permanent Collection which you can peruse at the fire station in Breg pri Litiji. The exhibition tells a story as old as time, with more than 300 pebbles on display.
In the old town of Litija, see the Turn or the Farber castle, the oldest building in Litija, or the parish Church of St. Nicholas,home to a beautiful altar mosaic which is a superb work of contemporary art.
In the nearby City Museum of Litija, enter the virtual world in the old court of justice and connect with the mining, shipping and other heritage of these places. You will get lots of inspiration for further sightseeing on your cycling tour of Litija.
Cycle to the Sitarjevec mine Litija along the roads Graška cesta, Partizanska pot and Sitarjevška cesta, where the signpost will direct you towards the mine, which is the biggest attraction of Litija’s underground, with over 60 types of colorful minerals and the fastest growing stalactites in the world. Listen to the stories of hard work and the brave hearts of former miners, who were often exposed to accidents.
The stories of the miners will follow you through Zavrstnik, where each house used to be inhabited by miners. Continue towards the mighty Neo-Gothics Church of St. Martin in Šmartno pri Litiji, where, according to the legend, a terrible accident happened to the miners from Sitarjevec, from which they managed to escape on St. Martin’s name day. In gratitude, they built him a church.
Continue your journey by visiting the Sava River Pebbles Permanent Collection , which you can peruse at the fire station in Breg pri Litiji. The exhibition tells a story as old as time, with more than 300 pebbles on display.
Along the way, stop at one of the local inns, handicraft workshops of farm and chat with the hospitable locals, who will gladly help you on your journey.
When to visit: Spring – Fall
Distance from Ljubljana: 40 km; you can start you cycling tour in Ljubljana and cycle to Litija on the right bank of the Sava River, or you can also load your bikes on the train or rent them in Litija by prior arrangement.
Length of the tour: 13 km
Duration: 6 hours
Route difficulty: not demanding
Reccomendations: cycling gear, warm clothes for visiting the mine (10°C, 100 % dampness)
Along the way, visit:
- Smrčkov brlog homestead in the nearby vicinity of the Sitarjevec mine, where you can ride horses,
- “Gostilna Krznar” or “Pri Mačku” tavern in where you will be served an excellent snack or lunch,
- Paternoster homestead in Tenetiše, where you can arrange to have a homemade snack,
- Barbara Dacar, unique designer of ceramics, where you can buy special products or attend a pottery workshop.
In the vicinity, visit:
- Adventure Park Geoss in Spodnja Slivna, with 7 climbing routes and one of the longest ziplines in Slovenia (14 km),
- Geometric Centre of Slovenia in Spodnja Slivna,
- Charcoal Land in Dole pri Litiji, with more than a century worth of charcoaling tradition.
Information: TIC Litija, Valvazorjev trg 10, 1270 Litija, E: info@visitlitija.si, T: +386 59 940 503, M: +386 70 700 484, FB: Visit Litija
