SAVA HERE SAVA THERE
Length
39.1
Length 39.1 km ​
Time needed
02:00
Time needed 02:00 ​
Največja strmina vzpona[%]
6
Greatest slope of the ascent: 6 %
Greatest slope of the descent: 7 %
Average slope of the ascent: 2 %
Length of ascents above 5%: 1.10 km
The lowest point of the route: 301 m
The highest point of the route: 382 m
Difference in altitude: 311 m
​
Poraba kalorij
4070
Consumption of energy for men: 4070 kJ (972 kcal)
Consumption of energy for women: 3316 kJ (792 kcal)
​
Difficulty
Difficulty: Medium demanding ​
Quality of the surface
Quality of the surface: Mixture
Type of bike: City bike
​
Short description

A medium demanding cycling route along the River Sava between Ljubljana and Kranj. The route mostly takes you along roads with less traffic between fields and forests, and through picturesque villages on the left bank of the River Sava on the way to Kranj and, similarly, on the right bank of this river on the way back to Ljubljana. It mostly runs on a plain with a few short gentle slopes. On the way, you will be able to enjoy the beautiful views of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps and Karavanke on one side, and the Julian Alps and Polhov Gradec Hills on the other. Its charm also lies in the tranquillity of and colourful nature along the River Sava.
If the weather is fine, the route is sun-lit all day. Thus in hot summer days, it is recommended to cycle along this route in the morning or evening, while in cooler months you will be happy that the afternoon sun keeps you warm. The cycle path runs mostly on asphalt roads.
The route is suitable as a morning or afternoon cycling trip which may easily be prolonged by stopping on the edge of a wood, by the river or at any of the many inns along the route.

Course

Tacen – Vikrče – Smlednik – Dragočajna – Moše – Trboje – Žerjavka – Prebačevo – Hrastje - Kranj – Drulovka – Breg ob Savi – Jama – Praše – Mavčiče – Podreča – Zbilje – Medvode – Medno – Stanežiče – Vižmarje – Tacen

From the city to nature
The starting point of this cycling route is in Tacen in the car park which can be reached by city bus (no. 8 or 15) and is known mainly to hikers to Šmarna gora.
Hop on your bike, say, 'Let's follow the Sava to Kranj and back!', and hurry up towards Vikrče. On your way to Kranj, you'll cycle through the villages on the left bank of the River Sava, so don't turn towards Medvode in Spodnje Pirniče but go straight on to Smlednik. This stretch of the route, from Pirniče to Smlednik, is absolutely fascinating. A lovely asphalt road through forests and past a golf course slightly ascends and brings you to Smlednik . You can decide either to ascend the Old Castle (steep macadam slope), or take a look at the Kalvarija Hill and Lazarini Castle .
If you aren't willing to stop at this point, continue towards the River Sava, and at the beginning of Smlednik, turn left and go downhill towards and past a big church and drive from Smlednik to the main road for Medvode, where you turn left again. (If you miss the turn for a shortcut at the beginning of Smlednik, never mind. Along the main road from Smlednik, you'll get to the crossroads before Valburga just the same. There, turn left towards Zbilje and Medvode.) But you won't drive along this road for long. So pay attention. After several hundreds of metres, the road turns left at the end of the fields, down the hill and across the bridge over the River Sava. The decision was to cycle along the left bank of the River Sava on the way to Kranj, so reduce your speed at this turn, and when you see the signpost to Dragočajna and Camp Smlednik at the crossroads, turn sharply right.

A beautiful view of the mountains in the distance
Go past the Kanu Hotel at the beginning of Dragočajna. The road then meanders through the village, but you can't get lost, only mind the traffic on the narrow road. You can't drive along the river on the way from Dragočajna to Moše, so turn right onto the main road, then turn left, and a few tens of metres further on, turn left again as dictated by the signpost to Moše. The next village on this route is Trboje, which can also be reached along the main road past Moše, but since Moše is such a lovely village, it would be a shame not to drive through it, and you avoid traffic at the same time. Behind the fire station, there's a turn to the right, but you turn left to the centre of the old part of the village and go past the modest Church of St. Michael. The River Sava, which is, at this point, held back by the dam of the Mavčiče Hydroelectric Power Plant, is below you . Behind the dam, Lake Trboje was formed, which can be seen from the observation deck and, if you feel like it, you may go as far as the water surface. But on foot, please!Drive up the hill next to the River Sava or lake to the end of the village to a short, one kilometre long, stretch of a macadam road. You'll be shaken up a bit, but not as badly as if you were electrified (you can avoid this road, which is really not in such a bad state, by driving back to the main road from Moše). Across the fields and through forests, there is constantly a lovely view of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps along the route. Macadam ends at the beginning of Trboje.

Through the villages by the lake to Kranj
In Trboje, go towards the church, then around it and you'll reach the crossroads, where the stop sign will make you stop. You'd get here from the right, if you chose the main road in Dragočajna. If you went straight on, you'd go towards Voklo...and on and on. But because you continue along the River Sava, turn left. Until now, you've had a view of the mountains in the distance, but now you can see a lake on the left and a boathouse by the lake, where you can rent a boat and add variety to your cycling trip by paddling. On the tranquil surface of Lake Trboje you can admire a mirror image of the village on the opposite bank . You'll drive through the villages on the opposite bank of the River Sava later on your way back to Ljubljana, but now just continue towards Kranj. You soon come to the villages of Žerjavka, Prebačevo and Hrastje, and to the outskirts of Kranj. Go straight on through Čirče, cross the main road at the traffic lights, and go past the shopping centre and dairy towards the centre. What do you say about visiting it as it's quite interesting and you'll also find that it isn't just Prešeren's town ? If you do decide to see the numerous sights in the centre of Kranj, go straight on to the bridge over the River Kokra and you're there. At the next traffic lights, our route turns left and goes down the hill along Smledniška and Savska roads. On the way across the bridge over the River Kokra, you can peek at the canyon of this river , which flows into the River Sava on the other side of the bridge. A bit further on, turn left onto the bridge over the River Sava at the roundabout next to the Sava Bridge. At the first crossroads on the other side of the bridge, turn right and stick to your right to an underpass under the bridge you've just crossed. Go along the River Sava towards Drulovka, where a slight slope awaits for a change. When you reach the top, turn right.

Through the villages on the right bank of the River Sava
You're already halfway through the route. The settlement of Breg ob Savi offers an inn with a big garden, which is obviously a popular resting place, judging by the number of cyclists gathering their strength.
There! You've got some new energy, now hurry on up. The next villages are called Jama and Praše, which was also the home of Simon Jenko, the poet, for some years. Both villages are very old and were first mentioned over seven hundred years ago. Until Jama, the River Sava flows through a gorge, which widens to a lake before the village. In Praše, there's an interesting peninsula which stretches deep into Lake Trboje and offers a nice view of Trboje and Mavčiče.
After a short uninhabited stretch, you'll find yourself in Mavčiče after which the power plant you've visited in Moše was named. At the end of the village, you can take another look at it from a distance. Up to Mavčiče, the villages were stringed one after another, but now you can cycle in nature, across fields and through forests.
After a pleasant stretch of the road, you'll arrive to the settlement of Podreča and then Zbilje. There you'll find the next dammed lake on the River Sava and a popular hiking spot. You can reach Lake Zbilje and some good inns with a varied offer by the lake, if you turn left at the first crossroads in Zbilje, go down the hill and, shortly afterwards, turn right. Leave Zbilje on the road leading through the forest towards Medvode.

Meandering through Medvode
Some 30 kilometres are behind you, when you reach a roundabout on the top of the slope before Medvode. The cycle lane runs through an underpass under the roundabout. On the opposite side, orientation training or meandering the streets awaits in a section of several hundreds of metres. In order for you not to search for the right path for too long, here's a detailed description: from the underpass, drive straight on for about a hundred metres, then turn left into Svetje just before the school, and turn left again at the end of the street. At the next crossroads, turn right and descend along the main road towards the River Sora. At the crossroads before the football pitch, turn left into the underpass and continue past the shopping centre. Before the building of the Municipality of Medvode and library, turn right across the bridge over the River Sora, which flows into the River Sava soon after the bridge on your left. Medvode (between waters) was named considering its location between the rivers Sora and Sava. From this bridge, it's sometimes interesting to see the number of fishermen testing their skills and luck. Immediately after the bridge, turn left past the pizza restaurant and police station. At the end of the street, turn right and continue to the traffic lights for pedestrians and cyclists. When the green light flashes, cross the Gorenjska Road, and go straight on for about 50 metres, and then turn left before the railway to a short macadam road passing by tennis courts and a petrol station. Go along this road to the traffic lights and level crossing, where you turn right across the railroad and then immediately turn left towards Medno. Medvode is behind you now, and there will be a lot less cruising and sharp turns from now on. Continue along the railroad until you reach a right turn in the middle of which you turn left across the bridge. Then press you pedals a little harder up a gentle slope, which ends at the Medno Hotel . The hotel restaurant offers tasty food and drink, and also a nice view of Gorenjska and the villages you've just cycled through.

Rally in Vižmarje
From the hotel, continue along the edge of the forest and, before you reach a very busy main road, turn right into Medno and continue towards Stanežiče. After a little less than two kilometres, you'll reach Stanežiče. After a bushy linden at the beginning of the village and before the slope, turn left onto the macadam road, go down the hill past the sandpits and through the underpass under the road and railroad to the other side towards the River Sava. But don't go all the way. Turn right in the forest, then go straight on or left along a harder road until you reach the asphalt road in Brod. A few hundreds of metres on the right, in the middle of the fields before Vižmarje, there is a monument to the largest Slovenian rally which was attended by some 30,000 people on 17 May 1869.
Continue straight on across the crossroads. You're almost at the end. The route goes past the rapids on the River Sava where the competition track for canoe slalom is located. The first canoe slalom took place here in 1939, and before that, people raced on the left bank of the River Sava, where a mill was located. Go along the river for several hundred metres and you'll reach Tacen road, where you turn left towards the Tacen Bridge over the River Sava at the traffic lights. From the bridge, you'll see the old Brod Hydroelectric Power Plant from 1922 on your left. Once you get off the bridge, the car park, the starting point of today's trip up and down along the River Sava, is on your left.

Is the car park crowded? Don't be surprised, you know, why. A look at today's metre: 39 kilometres. Not bad.

Birthplace of Franc Rozman - Stane in Spodnje Pirniče
The birthplace of Franc Rozman - Stane, the legendary commander of the Slovenian partisan army, is located in Pirniče.

Birthplace of Jakob Aljaž in Zavrh
In the village of Zavrh pod Šmarno goro, one of the greatest Slovenians, Jakob Aljaž, was born in 1845. He was a priest, composer, mountaineer, but, first and foremost, he was a nationally conscious Slovenian. We remember him as a patriot who was aware of the dangers of the German influence. At the top of Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia, he bought some land with his own money and, in 1895, erected the famous tower, named after him, which has practically become our national symbol. Amidst the competition of the Slovenian and German mountaineering societies in the Julian Alps, this act emphasised the fact that Triglav was a Slovenian mountain. His song 'Oh, Triglav, my home' is one of the most popular Slovenian art songs, not just among the mountaineers but all Slovenians.
To commemorate his birthday, Medvode celebrates its municipal holiday on 6 July. The Municipality of Medvode bought his birthplace and renovated it as a cultural monument.

Old Castle in Smlednik
The castle is situated atop the hill in the village, where there was once a prehistoric site and later a Roman fortress. The castle was first mentioned in 1136 in connection with a knight named Ulrik. The original Roman castle included a mighty free-standing defence tower, surrounded by a moat. During the mature Gothic period, the tower was enclosed by a platform, and during the following centuries, residential buildings and defence towers were built. As it was later not rebuilt, the design and development of a medieval castle in central Slovenia were preserved in their purest form.
Its position was carefully selected and enabled strategic supervision of the road towards Italy and boat across the River Sava. Such locations were used by skilful rulers to become rich via some kind of taxes. You know how it goes: 'to cover the costs', 'to protect against robbers', 'to...' etc. – there are as many excuses and reasons as you like. The money was flowing in every day. And if was not flowing, it was at least dripping. In time, a considerable amount it was gathered and life was comfortable.

Kalvarija in Smlednik
Kalvarija with its 14 Baroque chapels and three crosses at the top was erected as early as 1772 in a straight line between the castle and the blood sign on the plain near Valburga. The chapels deteriorated during the decades after World War II, but were so beautifully renovated during the recent years that the village is justifiably proud of them.

Lazarini Castle
The Valburga Mansion or, as the locals call it, Lazarini Castle is a typical building of Renaissance architecture. It was built in the 17th century when the Counts of Andechs, owners of the Old Castle in Smlednik, admitted that going up a steep hill perhaps did not contribute to the residents' feeling better and being healthier so much, that it would be worth doing it every day, so they decided to build a new home on the plain. And they did. And what a castle it is! There is a 200-metre tree-lined alley of wild chestnuts in front of it, a castle park with a garden behind it, and beautiful frescos with fantasy images from the Greek mythology in its interior. It is really beautiful. And also: until the end of World War II, it was owned by the Lazarini barons, then it was nationalised and returned to the descendents in 1991. In winter of 2007, someone set it on fire, which ravaged the most beautiful hall – the Knight Hall.

Lake Trboje and Mavčiče Hydroelectric Power Plant
Between Moše and Mavčiče, the River Sava is divided by a dam of the Mavčiče Hydroelectric Power Plant. Behind it, Lake Trboje was formed, which is one of the ten largest lakes in Slovenia with its surface of about one square kilometre. The power plant began operating in 1987. The power of the power plant is 38 MW produced by two Kaplan turbines. The power plant is also interesting for its peculiarity that it generates electricity also by means of solar cells, arranged on the dam and buildings.
The dam made the river rise by more than 19 metres, which caused the formation of Lake Trboje that now offers shelter to numerous water birds with its changed natural habitat. The lake has become important for tourism and recreation as well.

Kranj
The old town of Kranj, previously also mentioned as Carnium, Creina, Chreina, Krainburg, is a historic town on a conglomerate terrace between the rivers Sava and Kokra. The town area has been inhabited ever since the Celtic period in the first millennium BC. One of its climaxes was reached after the migration of nations and colonisation of the Slovenians in the 7th century, when a strategically important fortress and related settlement were built, which is proved by the largest Old Slovenian cemetery ever found in Slovenia.
The medieval design of the city centre had the traditional pyramidal shape, emphasised by belfries. Another characteristic is the north-south axis, implied by the visual connection of the belfry of the Kranj parish church and the summit of Storžič. Undoubtedly, the planned arrangement of altitude dominants in the city centre classifies Kranj as one of the most compositionally thought out urban organisms in Slovenia and Central Europe.
The natural sight of Kranj is the canyon of the River Kokra with the old city centre towering above it.

Lake Zbilje and Medvode Hydroelectric Power Plant
Medvode Hydroelectric Power Plant, whose dam you can see from the bridge near Verje on your right, was built in 1953. Due to the construction of the dam, the surface of the River Sava was raised by more than 20 metres thus forming Lake Zbilje, which is not as old as it might seem at first sight. The power of the power plant is 26 MW produced by two Kaplan turbines. Lake Zbilje is a popular excursion destination with rich culinary offer.

Monument of mass meeting movement in Vižmarje
A few hundreds of metres on the right, in the middle of the fields before Vižmarje, there is a monument to the largest Slovenian rally which was attended by some 30,000 people on 17 May 1869. Can you imagine the sound system? It might be difficult as there was none at that time. Thus the participants mainly talked to each other instead of listening to the nationally conscious words. But the important thing was that they were there. Namely rallies were politically orientated events, 'words under the open sky', where the enlightened and patriotic young Slovenians raised the national consciousness of peasants. This was the seventh rally in a row and, by far, the largest. The first one took place in Ljutomer the year before.

Rapids in Tacen
On the River Sava in Tacen, there is a dam used by an old city power plant. The water flows over the dam and so the rapids were arranged, including a training centre and tracks for canoe slalom competitions.
For a long time, competitions were organised only on the water under the gate, in 1952 they moved on past the gate. Three years later, the track hosted the World Championship viewed by around 15,000 people. Quite a large number for this sport in those days. Remember the rally? This place obviously attracts wide crowds.

Košir Inn in Tacen
The Košir restaurant at the very foot of Šmarna gora has a venerable tradition. For decades, it has been attracting individuals, families and groups who come here for a snack, rest, entertainment, and gatherings. It is known for its good homemade food, fine service and round-the-clock availability. You may enjoy in the comfort of its shady chestnut garden and playground.

Sava Snack Bar in Vikrče
It offers drinks and some basic food.

Dvor Café in Tacen
Café, confectionery, and bed and breakfast.

Lunca Café and Confectionery in Breg ob Savi
Along the way, you can quench your thirst and you will find it hard to resist to the sweet delicacies you will be kindly offered.

Kanu Hotel
In addition to the hotel offer and a restaurant with Mediterranean cuisine, the three star Kanu Hotel offers a multipurpose room from sport and entertainment, caravanning—caravan park— and a scenic boat St. Lucia, sailing on Lake Zbilje.

Medno Hotel
In addition to hotel rooms, the Medno Hotel, just next to the route, offers plenty of tasty foods and drinks in its restaurant, and, if the weather is clear, there is a wonderful view of the Julian Alps, Karavanke and Kamnik-Savinja Alps from the terrace in front of the hotel.

Pri Jelenu Inn, Vižmarje
Jelen Inn and Pizza Restaurant has seen its ups and downs in the past, but now it is renovated, and it is yet again enriching the culinary offer of Šentvid and its surroundings.

Treasure under the Old Castle above Smlednik
There's a tale of this castle, which says that once upon a time, a nobleman lived in this castle and he really liked to gamble. This cost a lot but his income was assured and he could afford the 'luxury'. When he played against the devil himself one day, he gambled away all his possessions, then his own daughter and, finally, his soul. But for everything not to go 'to hell', the smart nobleman thought of a trick and buried the most precious valuables under the castle. When the devil came for what he had won the night before, he had to kiss everything goodbye. In his anger, he supposedly turned the nobleman's daughter into a snake and told her to guard the treasure for eternity. So a word of warning before you start searching: 'Be careful not to get bitten by a snake!'

Šmarna gora race
The Šmarna gora race is a traditional mass sporting event which, in addition to recreational runners, attracts best international fell runners.

Bicycle races in Kranj
Each year at the beginning of July, Kranj hosts an international bicycle race, Grand Prix Kranj, and a race along the streets of Kranj, a part of which also runs along our route along the River Sava.

Zbilje night
Each year in July, an international music festival is held by Lake Zbilje.

The route generally takes you along asphalt roads through numerous villages and across fields. Two shorter stretches (Moše–Trboje and Stanežiče–Brod) run on macadam roads. There are plenty of inns along the route.