Goriška Brda

Goriška Brda hills are truly fantastic! Low traffic roads wind among gorgeus vineyards and fruit plantations and take us through tranquil panoramic villages. There is a number of options for cycling around here. This time we will "treat ourselves" to a short trip and leave enough time for a typicall local lunch in one of the excellent restaurants on our way, a glass of first-class local wine and perhaps even an afternoon nap in the garden or by the pool of our guesthouse. Total indulgence!

Gallery

Where to sleep

Basic information

Location

Goriška Brda

Difficulty

Duration

2 h

Distance

19 km

Start point elevation

130 m

Highest point

321 m

Total vertical climb

380 m

Type of trail


asphalt, dirt road, trail

Starting point:
Dobrovo town in Goriška Brda. You can come there through Nova Gorica and Solkan. At the north edge of Solkan (on the road towards Tolmin) turn left towards Brda. Keep on the main road throughout until you come to the administrative center of Goriška Brda – Dobrovo. Park somewhere in the village or in front of Dobrovo castle. There is also a tourist info-point.
If you are coming from the Soča valley you can turn right in Plave village (around 10 km before Solkan on the main road 'Most na Soči - Solkan') and drive up to Brda as well. The main road leads to Dobrovo.

Description:
In Dobrovo head towards Medana and you come immediately to Dobrovo castle with a restaurant and a tourist information center where you can learn more about the region and what it offers. Carry on to Medana, where you can take a look at the birth house of a poet Alojz Gradnik and continue towards Cegle. Keep left and at the '15% slope' sign (thank god it is downhill) turn left towards Gredič 'castle' - one of the best hotels in the region. Descend past beautiful vineyards to the next crossroad below Vipolže village. Turn left and after a few meters turn right and start ascending to Vipolže. In Viplože turn left and drive in the direction of šmartno on the top of a hill through the longest village in Goriška Brda – Kozana. The views are phenomenal. Vineyards, fruit trees, nearby hills scattered with villages above which church bell-towers are peeking and the summits of the Dolomites and Julian Alps in the background. Amazing!

Once you come to the main road, turn right and after about 100 m turn left (at a board 'vinarstvo V klancu'). A short but very steep slope takes you directly to the town-walls of a marvelous medieval šmartno village. Stroll around, take a look at the art galleries and have a lunch in one of the fantastic inns. Very charming! Leave šmartno at the opposite side of the town-walls and head left towards Imenje village. At a crossroad behind a chapel turn right ('Stolp' is written on the ground). A dirt road ascends past vineyards to the next small crossroad where you turn sharply to the right and ascend to a view tower on Mejnik hill. The view is spectacular! You have the whole Goriška Brda at the tip of your fingers and the Alps in the background! Descend back on the asphalt road and continue straight to Gonjače village where you turn left (signpost for Plave). About 100 m after this crossroad turn left again towards Vedrijan. A panoramic road leads you to the lovely Vedrijan village. A steep descent and a nice road among vineyards returns back to Dobrovo.

Highest point:
View tower on Mejnik hill: 321 m

Length (duration, km):
Dobrovo - Medana - Vipolže - šmartno: 1 h (10 km)
šmartno - Gonjače - Vedrijan - Dobrovo: 45 min (9 km)
Total: 2 h, 19 km

Type of trail:
97% asphalt (18.5 km)
3% dirt road (0.5 km)