THE ASCENT TO KATARINA
Length
21.5
Length 21.5 km ​
Time needed
02:00
Time needed 02:00 ​
Največja strmina vzpona[%]
3
Greatest slope of the ascent: 3 %
Greatest slope of the descent: 4 %
Average slope of the ascent: 6 %
Length of ascents above 5%: 3.90 km
The lowest point of the route: 764 m
The highest point of the route: 313 m
Difference in altitude: 568 m
​
Poraba kalorij
4070
Consumption of energy for men: 4070 kJ (972 kcal)
Consumption of energy for women: 3316 kJ (792 kcal)
​
Difficulty
Difficulty: Demanding ​
Quality of the surface
Quality of the surface: Mixture
Type of bike: City bike
​
Short description

A demanding, undulating, diverse and interesting cycling route leads you from the Sorško polje Plain to the Polhov Gradec Hills. It is appropriate for the afternoon recreation or a whole-day cycle trip with occasional stops. Due to the ascent to Katarina, it is recommended for the physically well-prepared cyclists.
It runs along one of the most beautiful hilly landscapes in Slovenia. It is also unique due to its wonderful views, especially in the afternoon. Besides the views, you can also indulge yourself with observing the rich vegetation (mostly meadows with a variety of meadow plants), cultural-historical peculiarities and, last but not least, with the culinary delights, offered by numerous inns along the route. After all the exercise and food for soul, your body will appreciate that.
The route runs along less busy and mostly asphalted roads, only some of the sections are on macadam roads. The route from Medvode first leads through the villages along the Sora River, then turns to the valley of Ločnica where you gradually and then steeply below Topol ascend up the Polhov Gradec Hills. Descend from Katarina past Sv. Jakob (St. Jacob) to the valley down the undulating observational road which, through idyllic villages among pastures and forests, leads back to Medvode.

Course

Medvode – Goričane – Rakovnik - Sora – Trnovec – Topol – Brezovica – Tehovec – Studenčice – Preska - Medvode

Hitting the road from Medvode
The starting point of the route is the car park in front of the library and the town hall in Medvode. Hop on your bike and set out from the car park to the left over the Sorški most Bridge and then straightforward across the crossroads with traffic lights that cross Gorenjska Road. Continue to the railway station where the road after Bencak Inn turns right to Goričane. Proceed through the underpass under the railway line to the crossroads before Goričane where you go straight and continue below the manor , parallel with the Sora River through Goričane and Rakovnik to the village of Sora and finally turn left at the crossroads before the village at Jezeršek House to the valley of Ločnica. Along the narrow valley you cycle mostly through the forests , past some individual houses and Legastja Inn to Trnovec where the valley broadens a little and the forest opens up. In the valley of Ločnica, cycle past the remains of several mills and sawmills. In Trnovec , at the settlement of Knapovže are the ruins of the mediaeval lead and mercury mine.

Does the slope lead to Katarina or Topol?
Continue through the forest again and up the winding road towards Topol. The slope is getting steeper and your feet are becoming tired, but before you're ready to give up, you already come from the forest below Topol and the road becomes flat again. You may have wondered where you are headed: to Topol or Katarina. The official local board reads Topol, and there's another board that says: Welcome to Katarina. Cycle past the school to the ridge where a village stretches.
A few good inns await at Topol , and a beautiful view of the Ljubljana Basin on one side and the Polhov Gradec Hills on the other side opens up. You can take a break there and then continue the journey, but further ascents await. From Topol, the roads lead to various directions , mostly into the valley, but you will, however, be mindful of the signposts for St. Catherine, so cycle upwards. A short steep ascent follows along the asphalt road toward the Church of St. Catherine. Below the top of the slope at Pr' Jur Inn turn right and continue on the narrow slope road to the Church of St. Catherine which is located on a small terrace below the top of Rog.

From church to church, from village to village
Return from St. Catherine to Pr' Jur Inn via the same road and continue straight up past Na Vihri Inn . It is, of course, not necessary to pass it, you can also stop there and sign in the book of cyclists. In cooperation with the Medvode Cycling Club, the whole-year cycling action "60 ascents to Katarina" is carried out at Vihra. Cyclists confirm their ascent to the inn by signing into the book and can win a cup if they make more than 60 ascents.
Cycle from Vihra on the western side of Rog (800 m) along the sandy path to Brezovica where another marvellous view of the Polhov Gradec Hills opens up. You can observe an old, but nicely renovated Porenta Well on your way in Brezovica, then cycle slightly down past a few homesteads along the asphalted road below Sv. Jakob and through the crossroads proceed along the macadam road around Jakob towards Tehovec. You soon get to the asphalt road and after the Tehovec board at the following crossroads, turn left . The gently sloping asphalt path leads down past the Church of St. Florian and a monument to the hunting comrades. You will unintentionally look over the pastures and into the valleyS18], , because the view is beautiful throughout. You'll soon arrive at the courtyard of the farm Tehovec 1, where you can see the old granary . The road runs down all the time and has a few steeper sections where you have to brake a lot.
The winding road leads through the forest to Studenčice, a scattered and picturesque village, located along the ridge and the slope. Follow the main road in curves between houses ,, farms and pastures and be mindful of your speed, because some of the courtyards the road runs through, are not asphalted . Descend from the nice sunny side of Studenčice to the woody valley of the Prečnica Stream which leads to Preska . At the crossroads with the main road turn right past the fire station , and the Church of St. John the Baptist, and then after the cemetery, turn left at the following crossroads. The road leads through the industrial zone between factories and warehouses. You are stopped by the railroad where an underpass runs which will take you to the tennis courts on the other side.
You're almost at the finish line. Cycle straightforward to the pedestrian road crossing with traffic lights where you cross Gorenjska Road and after 10 metres turn left to Seškova Road and drive past the police station, an inn and pizza restaurant to the bridge over the Sora River. Only one right turn over the bridge and you reach the car park before the town hall in Medvode and library where you started your trip. You can put your bicycle away and take a relaxing walk along the Sora River, on the path which goes past the library, and take a look at another natural landmark of Medvode. Some tens of metres ahead is the confluence of the Sora and Sava rivers , . Medvode (between waters) got its name because of their location between the two rivers.
Numerous cafes and restaurants welcome you at the end of your trip in Medvode, where you can recharge your batteries.

Church of St. Stephen in Sora
Many predecessors sat at the place of this church. The present church was built in 1884. In the 18th century, the first Slovenian poet, Valentin Vodnik, worked there and then the writer Franc Saleški Finžgar in the beginning of the 20th century. A commemorative room was arranged in Sora for the latter.

Remains of the lead and mercury mine Knapovže
In the valley of Ločnica are the remains of the former lead and mercury mine. The mining started there already in the 16th century. In the memory of the mining, the locals call the settlement Knapovže (knap=miner). Rivalry with the Carinthian lead led to the closure of the mine, but along the road to Katarina, the remains of the mineshafts can still be seen today.

Topol or Katarina, Brezovica or Sv. Jakob?
Topol, known as Katarina among hikers (after the Church of St. Catherine), consists of several hamlets scattered on the hillsides below Jeterbenk, Rog and Jakob.
Jakob's story is similar to that of Katarina. The slope used to be called Brezovica, after the village below it, but hikers adopted the name of Jakob after the Church of St. Jacob.

Polhov Gradec Dolomites Landscape Park
Nature has endowed these places with forests with approximately the same share of coniferous and deciduous trees. There are plenty of beautiful meadows on the ridges, gradual slopes near the villages and in the valleys, which have preserved their biotic diversity due to less intensive farming.
Their characteristics are pointed dolomite summits which gave the hills their popular name – the Polhov Gradec Dolomites. In addition to dolomite, the ground composition also includes limestone, various impermeable rocks and a small share of volcanic rocks. As a larger joint surface, limestone occurs between Toško Čelo and Topol in the Ravnik Plateau where karst phenomena can also be noticed. Among the peaks standing out among the steep rocky areas, Grmada (898 m) and Sv. Lovrenc Mountain are the most famous.

Church of St. Catherine, Topol
The church was built at the beginning of the 17th century. The architecture is typical of the early Slovenian Baroque and its specialty is presbytery. The painting, the main altar and the painting of St. Catherine are works of Ivan and Helena Vurnik from 1919 and 1920, while the altar crucifix was made by France Kralj.

Porenta Well
At the foot of Sv. Jakob in Brezovica you can visit the homestead with a nicely renovated well. The well with groundwater was built where a strong groundwater current runs. The retained water from the well is collected in a bucket which is tied on a chain that coils to a windlass. The locals used it as the only water source until 1997. It was renovated in 2002 and is now covered with a wooden case and a roof.

Sv. Jakob
Sv. Jakob is one of the most picturesque hills in Slovenia as it's in complete harmony with the surroundings. The Church of St. Jacob dates back to the beginning of the 17th century and has been proclaimed a cultural monument. In the 1895 earthquake, it was heavily damaged and gained its present image in 1898. The ceiling is flat and the presbytery is domed by a half cupola with ridges. The main altar contains the statue of St. Jacob with two saints.
Three linden trees, typical of Slovenia, grow next to the church. Several benches around them offer a break and a moment to enjoy the beautiful view all around.

4 mačke Café, Medvode
The café located just by the Sora River offers a wide range of desserts, drinks and ice cream.

Jezeršek House
At this large catering facility, they mostly like to treat larger groups for various festivities, business events, celebrations, etc.

Legastja Inn, Trnovec
In the inn in the valley of Ločnica, they offer regional specialities, desserts, vegetarian food and a la carte dishes.

Dobnikar Inn, Topol
Lunch at Dobnikar Inn is almost a rule for many hikers going to Katarina on Saturdays or Sundays. They are never disappointed, especially if they enjoy one of the traditional Slovenian dishes. Prices are appropriate as well. There is usually enough space and the views from the terrace justify the efforts the hikers make.

Vaška krčma Inn
At this inn, they will be happy to serve you drinks, pastry from their own kitchen (fruit strudels, rolls, etc.) or sour milk.

Pr' Jur Tourist Farm
The inn offers lunch a la carte, but their specialities are homemade sausages, stews, dumplings, country feast and homemade apple juice.

Na Vihri Inn
At this inn, you can get lunch a la carte, their wintertime speciality are homemade pork sausages, while you can get sauerkraut, sour turnip, buckwheat žganci, matevž (potatoes with beans and cracklings), cheese dumplings, pasta, various meat and vegetable dishes, and homemade desserts all year round.

Bencak Inn
Their menu includes homemade Slovenian dishes, venison, fish dishes and seafood, freshwater fish, vegetarian dishes and grilled dishes.

Dragon from Jeterbenk
Jetrbenk was supposedly the home of a dragon, which was brawling in the surrounding villages. People feared him. Once, they came up with a way of how to get rid of him. As if on cue, a cow dropped her dead calf at St. Margaret. The villagers cut through the calf, filled it with quicklime and planted it to the dragon. The dragon ate the calf. Because of quicklime, it became thirsty and went to drink some water. As he drank, the quicklime started to boil, the dragon got cooked and people got rid of him once and for all.

Treasure from Jeterbenk Castle
The historical documents mention the castle at Jeterbenk. The robber knights of Hertenberg got the castle as a feudal estate from the Aquileia patriarchs. The documents tell about the demolition of the castle at Jeterbenk in the earthquake of 1511 while its ruins were used as a construction material for the Church of St. Margaret in Žlebe. The folk tradition preserved the legend of the church which was built by the Margaret of Hertenburg who tried to compensate the robber history of her predecessors. She later visited the ruins of the castle where a treasure was supposedly hidden. Her assistants helped her find it, but as she thought of how to make us of the treasure, it plunged back into the valley. It is said that the treasure still lies hidden somewhere in Jeterbenk. In the memory of the robber knights, an ambitious Tourist Society in Žlebe organizes the annual hike along the Paths of the Robber Knights.

Festival of Kranjska klobasa (Carniolan Sausage) in Sora
The festival, held in the second half of August in Sora, is becoming more and more important culinary, cultural and entertaining event. The exhibition, evaluation and tasting of sausages is accompanied by various music and entertaining events.

60 Ascents to Katarina Action
60 Ascents to Katarina is a cycling action organised by the Medvode Cycling Club and Na Vihri Inn, which also holds the book for entering names. The action ends in October and everyone who made more than 60 ascents gets a cup.

Bonfire
Traditional First of May bonfire is organised at Na Vihri Inn.

Following the Paths of the Robber Knights
The traditional event is not organised on a certain day in the year as other events (e.g. From Litija to Čatež), however, it is quite similar to them. The path leads to the home of the mediaeval knights from Jeterbenk who were known after their robberies.
At the end of the path between Žlebe and Jeterbenk, a book is waiting for the participants intended for them to sign in it and confirm that they have walked or cycled the entire path. And, truly, the book already contains a large number of signatures.

The route runs along less busy asphalt roads with some shorter sections of good macadam and is thus passable with any bike, but the latter should have gears due to the steep slope to Katarina.
The route is diverse as it is the nature on the way. The landscape along the route is the intertwinement of forests, picturesque villages, beautifully arranged cultural land and marvellous views from the tops and ridges of the Polhov Gradec Hills. With some luck and patience you can see some of the forest animals one the way, as deer, squirrels, rabbits and other animals are permanent residents of these forests and fields.
The route is suitable for cycling throughout the year, except when it snows. There are a lot of good inns and various places in the nature where you can make a stop, take a rest and work out.