Thermal Route Road Bike Tour

A wonderful cycle route that takes us past two important centres of thermal tourism in Slovenia. From Hotel Grof we cycle towards Žovnek Castle and past Lake Žovnek. The picturesque cycle path takes us to Polzela and past green hop fields to Celje, where we continue our journey south towards Laško and cycle along the Savinja River. Passing Thermana Laško, a spa founded in 1854, we cycle on to Rimske Toplice and Rimske Terme Spa. The healing effects of the thermal water were already known to the ancient Romans, who built pools with hot and cold water here in 39 BC. The Rimske Terme were first mentioned in the Charter of Aquileia in 1486, but experienced their real heyday after 1840. Once in Rimske Toplice, we cross the Savinja River and continue towards Hrastnik. The trail gradually climbs to the Marno Pass, followed by a descent to Hrastnik. This is followed by the most demanding climb of the day to Boben and Podmeja, where we can refresh ourselves in the Podmeja hunting lodge. This is followed by a long descent to Prebold, where we turn left and cycle through fairly flat terrain back to Hotel Grof.

Tour route: Vransko - Lake Žovnek - Braslovče - Polzela - Ložnica pri Žalcu - Velika Pirešica - Lopata - Celje - Laško - Rimske Toplice - Dol pri Hrastniku - Hrastnik - Podmeja - Prebold - Grajska vas - Tabor - Vransko