Cerkvenjak: Churches, Winegrowing and Trails

Cerkvenjak combines sacred art, winegrowing and trails through hills and valleys. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, you can choose the destination based on a specific focus: historical art, winegrowing or exploring the landscape.

Church, Art and Local History

The late Gothic parish church of Saint Anthony the Hermit stands on a hill in Cerkvenjak. It was first mentioned in 1299. Gothic frescoes dating from 1395 to 1400 can be found on its north wall. The church thus connects an early written reference to the place with a specific art-historical feature.

The museum collection of Feliks Rajh is also a cultural point of interest: it is on display at the Tušakova domačija and comprises 800 different exhibits. In the center of Cerkvenjak, there is also the Ovtarja sculpture, which depicts a traditional guardian of the vineyards. The church, collection and sculpture offer different ways to explore the history and cultural character of the place.

Winegrowing and Local Tradition

The Johanezova trta was planted in the heart of the town center on April 24, 2004. It is a cutting from the more than 400-year-old Stara trta in Maribor, which is described as the oldest vine in the world. The connection between the two vines gives local winegrowing a specific historical reference, without requiring you to look beyond the town center as your starting point.

The Cerkvenjaška vinska kraljica promotes wines and winegrowers from the Cerkvenjak area. The title is awarded for two years at the central Martinovanje celebration. Another way to explore winegrowing and regional producers is the VTC 13 wine tourism road. It passes through twelve municipalities, including Cerkvenjak, and leads to winegrowers and wine bars, inns, tourist and excursion farms, and other producers such as organic farms, beekeepers and fruit growers in Cerkvenjak and its surroundings.

Trails through Hills and Valleys

The Klopotčeva educational and walking trail runs through the hills of Cerkvenjak and the valley of the Andrenski potok. Along the way, it introduces visitors to different ecosystems, characteristic plant and animal species, water, and the cultural and natural heritage of the landscape. Pot med jezeri consists of three informative hiking trails suitable for all generations. Its section through Cerkvenjak connects an archaeological site with an ethnographic collection.

The cycling loop along the municipal boundaries offers another route option: it starts in the center of Cerkvenjak, is about 25 kilometers long and takes approximately three hours by bicycle. For planning your time, this approximate duration is a useful point of comparison with the themes of the hiking trails. The Pomurska Mountain Trail runs from Negova via the Archaeological Park in Brengova to the center of Cerkvenjak, where control stamp PPP-15 is located. The trails differ in their stated themes and destinations, while the cycling loop also has an approximate distance and riding time.

Landscape and Orientation

From the tower of the fire station in Cerkvenjak, views extend over the Pomurska ravnina, the eastern foothills of the Karawanks in Slovenia and Austria, Pohorje, Boč, Donačka gora and Ivančica in Croatia. On a clear day, visibility extends as far as Lake Balaton in Hungary. The Cerkvenjak Tourist Information Center organizes excursions with a local tour guide. This lets you weigh up the described routes, cultural stops and a guided exploration when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Zgornja Senarska, Lenart V Slov. Goricah, Gočova.

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