RAŠICA TRIANGLE
Length
27.4
Length 27.4 km
Time needed
02:00
Time needed 02:00
Največja strmina vzpona[%]
2
Greatest slope of the ascent: 2 %
Greatest slope of the descent: 3 %
Average slope of the ascent: 2 %
Length of ascents above 5%: 0.70 km
The lowest point of the route: 342 m
The highest point of the route: 295 m
Difference in altitude: 172 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: Asphalt
Type of bike: Road bike
Short description

The route runs along less demanding terrain with minor ascents. The larger part of the route runs along the main and quite busy roads, while the minor part also includes cycle lanes.

Course

Parkirišče pred pokopališčem v Šmartnem pod Šmarno goro-Povodje-Skaručna – Vesca-Selo pri Vodicah-Koseze-Mengeš-Loka pri Mengšu-Trzin-Črnuče-Spodnje Gameljne-Srednje Gameljne-Zgornje Gameljne-Šmartno pod Šmarno goro

Šmartno pod Šmarno goro
The starting point is a car park in front of Šmartno pod Šmarno goro cemetery .
Šmartno pod Šmarno goro is a roadside settlement in the proximity of Ljubljana. The Church of St. Martin with its dominant location was proclaimed a monument of art. It was first mentioned as an independent parish already in 1296. The present church with a massive belfry was built in 1841.
Turn towards north and cycle through Šmartno towards Povodje. Cross Gorenjska motorway just before Povodje . As you drive on the busy main road now, be very careful, because there is no cycle lane. Immediately after crossing the motorway, a sideway to the fish farm branches off on the right. There is a monument to the doyen of Slovenian organised fishing, Ivan Frank, at the fish farm . You can also buy fresh fish there.

From Povodje to Mengeš
If you're not interested in the fish farm, continue to a quite elongated village of Skaručna where you turn right at the plague sign to a somewhat narrow and less busy road. Pass the Church of St. Lucia from 1748 and proceed to Mengeš.
There is a monument to National Liberation War on the left side of the road in the settlement of Vesca at the branching of the road to Polje pri Vodicah.
Selo pri Vodicah is the following clustered settlement. In the middle of the village, but not quite near you route, stands a monument to the fighters of Rašiška četa Company who died in the battles against the occupying forces in September and October of 1941.
In Koseze , join the road to Vodice-Mengeš from the right side and cycle towards Mengeš. This section of the route is mostly shady, as the road to Mengeš runs through the forest almost throughout. Soon after you cross the Pšata River, you'll reach the crossroads with the main road Trzin-Brnik where you turn right.

Through Mengeš and Trzin
Mengeš , today a nicely developed town, is one of the oldest settlements in Slovenia. The mediaeval Mengeš was first mentioned in written sources in 1154 because of the castle where the Mengeš knight had his seat. The settlement was divided into Mali Mengeš or Farovška vas (the church owned most of the land there in the 14th century, thus the name farovška - of parson's) and Veliki Mengeš or Gorenji Mengeš.
Already in the period of J. V. Valvasor, craftsmanship developed in the town, primarily pottery, stove making and straw weaving. Interestingly, there were 83 workshops and as many as 25 inns in Mengeš in the mid-19th century.
Mengeška godba - one of the oldest music brass bands in Slovenia, has been active in Mengeš since 1884. The Church of St. Michael with the renowned Plečnik's baptistery is quite unique. In Mengeš, there are a birthplace and monument of Baroque painter France Jelovšek and a birthplace and monument of writer Janez Trdina, Mengeš Culture Centre where Špas teater Theatre has its seat, Ravbar and Stare castles, Ski Jumping Centre, Harmonija Sports Centre and Wellness, and many more.
After you leave Mengeš, continue towards Trzin past Loka pri Mengšu. There is a famous Church of St. Primus and Felician on the right, which has been beautifully renovated. The church hosts concerts of choir and chamber music and was declared a cultural monument.
There is a renovated Jablje Castle somewhat further on. Written sources mentioned this castle at the foot of Rašica already in the 14th century. It was built by the counts of Lamberg and had numerous other owners in later periods. The extensive interior equipment, including paintings, tapestries and wall paintings, was 'lost' after World War II, because the castle was used for various purposes and activities.
Take a look at the wedding hall decorated with Jelovšek's frescoes, multi-purpose hall and castle courtyard with arcades.
Soon after you've left the castle, you arrive to the first houses in Trzin.
Trzin , once a medium-sized village under Onger Hill, at the southernmost part of the Mengeš Plain, turned into an urban settlement in the last two decades. Around six hundred companies, which play an important role in the Slovenian economy, are based in the industrial part of Trzin.
The oldest part of the settlement is concentrated around the Church of St. Florian which was mentioned already in 1301.
During the Slovenian Independence War in 1991, Trzin was the stage of one of the fiercest battles between the Slovenian Territorial Defence and the armoured unit of the Yugoslav People's Army.
Cycle past Pr Jakov Met Inn and Pr Narobetu Inn which are on the right side of the road, while you can see the plague or mortuary sign on the left. Cycle past the municipal building and just before the main road Domžale-Ljubljana, turn right to Ljubljanska Road and continue past Ivan Hribar Culture Centre with a fountain, until you reach the bridge with a commemorative monument to the Ten-Day War for Slovenia. Continue on Ljubljanska Road and across the river, then to the crossroads where you turn right and soon after, left to Kidričeva Street. Cycle to the end of Kidričeva Street and proceed to the footpath to Blatnica, a commercial and industrial zone of Trzin.
Cycle past Mojca Bistro and the pyramid where Pečjak Inn is located, then cross Dobrava and proceed along Motnica to the end of the commercial and industrial zone. Finally, there is a cycle lane. The latter first runs along the right side of the four-lane road, crosses the traffic lights and continues on the left side of the road and finally takes you to the crossroads where you again cross the four-lane road and continue to Črnuče.

Črnuče, Gameljne and back to the starting point
Črnuče is a suburban settlement of Ljubljana. The central part lies along the former main road Ljubljana-Maribor.
Continue on the cycle lane. If you have enough time, you can visit the Church of St. Simon and Jude which was rebuilt after the Ljubljana earthquake in 1895, or the monument to the victims of National Liberation War , positioned just next to the road. You can quench your thirst in Rogovilec Inn or in Havana Aero club .
When you reach the bridge over the Sava River, turn right towards Gameljne. Veliki Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant is just after the crossroads. The road ascends a little, and you are again on the busy road, so cycle carefully. Before the beginning of a long roadside settlement of Spodnje Gameljne , you'll see a fish farm and equestrian centre on the left.
There is the Church of St. Leonard , which was mentioned already in 1526, in the old part of Spodnje Gameljne. The church got its present image in 1877. Maček Inn is close to the church .
Cycle past the Church of St. Andrew in Srednje Gameljne , continue through Zgornje Gameljne until you see the motorway which you cross over the overpass and then turn to the car park in front of the cemetery in Šmartno pod Šmarno goro, where you've started the route.

 

Church of St. Martin in Šmartno pod Šmarno goro
It was mentioned as an independent parish already in 1296. The present church with a massive belfry was built in 1841. It was proclaimed a monument of art.

Fish Farm in Povodje and monument to Ivan Frank ,
There is a monument to the doyen of Slovenian organised fishing and fish farming, Ivan Frank, at the fish farm.

Church of St. Lucia in Skaručna
The church was built between 1662 and 1665. It was renovated in the Baroque style in 1744. The paintings of France Jelovšek are from 1748.

Monument to National Liberation War in Vesca
The monument was erected in the memory of a successful breakthrough of Gorenjski odred Detachment from the enemy's encirclement in 1944.

Monument to the fighters of Rašiška četa Company in Selo pri Vodicah
The monument in the memory of the fighters of Rašiška četa Company who died in the battles with the occupying forces in September and October of 1941.

Church of St. Michael in Mengeš
The church, dedicated to the Archangel Michael, is the oldest and most valuable monument of art in Mengeš. Its 15th century Gothic presbytery with remarkable frescoes by Janez of Ljubljana is particularly renowned. The older Romanesque design was reworked in Gothic style and later in Baroque style. The baptistery and confessional were built according to the plans of architect Jože Plečnik.

Mengeš Culture Centre
The main part of the Culture Centre is the hall which has been hosting performances of Špas teater Theatre in the past decade. Špas teater shows attract visitors from all over Slovenia.

Birthplace and a monument of writer Janez Trdina
Trdina was born in Mengeš on 29 May 1830. This is also the day the Municipality of Mengeš celebrates its municipal holiday. He became famous with his book Fairytales and Stories about Gorjanci. Trdina's monument is located near the Church of St. Michael.

Birthplace and monument of painter Franc Jelovšek
The monument to the father of Baroque painting in Carniola is located in front of the Church of St. Michael.

Church of St. Primus and Felician in Loka pri Mengšu
The beautifully renovated church is located amid the plain on the right bank of the Pšata River. The church is a monument of art and hosts concerts of choir and chamber music.

Jablje Castle
The castle at the foothill of Rašica was first mentioned in the 14th century. It was built by the counts of Lamberg. It had many other owners over the years. The extensive interior equipment, including paintings, tapestries and wall paintings, was 'lost' after World War II, because the castle was used for various purposes and activities. The castle is nicely renovated. Take a look at the wedding hall decorated with Jelovšek's frescoes, multi-purpose hall and castle courtyard with arcades.

Plague or Mortuary Sign in Trzin
This was the resting area of the dead where the praying man asked the villagers for forgiveness on behalf of the deceased.

Church of St. Florian in Trzin
The Gothic Church of St. Florian was built in the mid-14th century. What has been preserved from it are the cross, chandelier and a sandstone statue of St. Florian which was carved in the 15th century.
The first Baroque reconstruction of the church probably took place in 1649. Namely, the bridge in front of the church has this year carved in the stone. Baroque reconstructions also took place between 1725 and 1733. Three new altars were set up: the main altar of St. Florian, the left side altar of St. Urban and the right side altar of St. Leonard. Furthermore, the chapel of St. Francis Xavier was added.
The original Gothic church was facing the opposite direction than the present one. The entrance was under the belfry and the altar was directed towards the present day entrance. Only the belfry and a part of the presbytery of the old Gothic church have been preserved until today. The church was turned by 180 degrees during the Baroque reconstructions. The approximate appearance of the original church has been depicted at the statue of St. Florian at the main altar. The church was heavily damaged during the earthquake in 1895, but has obtained a new neo-romantic image by 1900. A vestry was built in the 19th century and the choir was added later.
The church supposedly houses Plečnik's equipment from 1958. The equipment consists of a free-standing eight-angled stone holy-water font in the nave, a niche with an older plastic, a hanging ceiling lamp and a cross on the northern side of the nave.

Ivan Hribar Culture Centre (CIH) with a fountain
This is the informational, cultural and tourist centre of Trzin. It got its name after a famous Trzin local, Dr Ivan Hribar, who is famous for being a mayor of Ljubljana from 1896 to 1910. You can see his statue at the Centre's premises. Pomlad (Spring) fountain is situated in front of the Centre.

Monument on the bridge in Trzin commemorating Slovenian Independence
During the Slovenian Independence War in 1991, Trzin was the stage of one of the fiercest battles between the Slovenian Territorial Defence and the armoured unit of the Yugoslav People's Army. The monument was erected on the bridge in Trzin in memory of these events.

Monument to the victims of National Liberation War in Črnuče
Erected to commemorate 30 fallen soldiers and victims of fascist violence in World War II.

Church of St. Simon and Judas in Črnuče
The church was rebuilt after the earthquake in 1895.

Church of St. Leonard in Spodnje Gameljne
The church was first mentioned in 1526. It was renovated in the mid-17th century. It obtained its present image between 1875 and 1877.

Church of St. Andrew in Srednje Gameljne
The original church was built in 1660. It was pulled down in the second half of the 18th century and a single-nave Baroque church was built to the old belfry. The church has rich Baroque interior equipment. It has been declared a cultural monument.

 

Bizeljčan Inn in Šmartno pod Šmarno goro

Harmonija Sports Centre, Mengeš
A wellness centre, constructed under the principles of feng shui, offers recreation and various wellness services at 5,000 m2 of indoor surfaces. It also has 12 hotel rooms, a restaurant and a café.

Orangery in Mengeš

Orhideja Inn in Loka pri Mengšu

Pr Jakov Met Inn in Trzin

Pr Narobetu Inn

Barca Inn in Trzin

Mojca Bistro

Rogovilec Inn in Črnuče

Aero Club Havana Inn, Črnuče

Veliki Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant

Maček Inn in Spodnje Gameljne

Simon Inn in Srednje Gameljne

Michael's Fair in Mengeš - last week in September

Floating lights on the Pšata River on St. Gregory's day

First of May bonfire at Gobavica

March Festival in May, Mengeš

New year's concert of Mengeška godba brass band

Špas teater Theatre's shows

Ski jumps in Mengeš

Florian's fair in Trzin – a traditional fair in May

Hike along the borders of the Municipality of Trzin – a traditional hike in June.

The route runs along main and regional asphalt roads and leads through several small and large settlements. The roads are very busy, so the cyclists should continuously pay attention to the traffic. The route runs along the plain and is deprived of steep ascents.