Description of the experience

It is not enough to experience Haloze; you need to taste it as well. After seeing the Archparish Church of St. Bartholomew in Rogatec and hiking to the top of Donačka gora, you can stop at the Zelena dolina buffet restaurant and pamper your taste buds with a true “haloška gibanica” layer cake and a cup of coffee or tea. You can then visit the out-of-the-ordinary Wool and Needlepoint Museum. After that, you can have a traditional Haloze lunch with a modern hint at the Špajza Restaurant, from where you can head out to the astounding Štatenberg Mansion featuring elements of Baroque architecture. This will be followed by artworks that you will see on a tour of the largest Slovenian Forma Viva (open-air gallery). At the Makole wine fountain or at the Winery in Ptujska Gora, you can taste various native wine varieties and end the day with evening cold cuts of homemade organic delicacies at the Vovk Eco Tourist Farm. You are recommended to spend the night at the Farm in the Shepherd’s Hut or a glamping house. All those who prefer hostels are recommended to spend the night at the Strug Hostel.

Experience program

Experience and taste green Haloze!

7.00 – 8:00  A tour of the Archparish Church of St. Bartholomew in Rogatec, which is one of best-preserved Baroque sacred buildings in Slovenia and was built between 1738 and 1743.

8.00 – 11.00 Take a ride to the Rudijev dom lodge beneath Donačka gora and, optionally, hike through the beech rainforest to the top of the so-called Triglav of the Štajerska Region (884m), which is a 30- to 45-minute hike from the lodge (Rudijev dom is open from 1 May to 31 October).

11.00- 12.00  Stop at the Zelena dolina buffet restaurant and see the parrots, while freshening up with the “haloška gibanica” layer cake (“zavihanka” cheese cake) and a cup of coffee or tea.

11.00 - 13.00 Upon arrival to the Valley of Wool make a stop to see the Wool and Needlepoint Museum in Majšperk, where you can also buy wool and needlepoint products at the shop. In its direct proximity, you can see the exterior of the Hamre Manor and the Statue of St. John of Nepomuk on the bridge crossing the Dravinja river. Drive to the settlement of Majšperk, which was first mentioned in 1261 together with the medieval Monsberg Castle as castrum Mannesperch. The settlement was named after it. At the centre of Majšperk, you can see the Church of St. Nicholas dating back to 1261 and, in Jelovice, the filial Church of St. Wolfgang, built in 1649.

Visit to the Basilica of Mary the Protector on Ptujska Gora - the most beautiful Slovenian Gothic cultural monument and the second most important pilgrimage center in the country and a possible visit to the Holy Mass: 7.30 Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday / 8.00 and 10.00 Sunday / evening Mass on Thursday and Friday: wintertime at 18.00, summertime at 19.00. Ptujska Gora is a place of pilgrimage with the Basilica of Mary the Patroness with a mantle from the end of the 14th century, from where a beautiful panoramic view is offered. TIC on Ptujska gora takes you on a tour of the wine shop, gallery of Stojan Kerbler and Starotrška hiša, which is located in the immediate vicinity of the square. It houses an ethnological museum of old objects with a bread oven. Supplement according to the price list.

12.30 - 14.30 Experience the traditional Haloze lunch at the Špajza Restaurant, made of locally grown ingredients from top-standard certified (ecologic or organic) production, which will be presented to you at lunch.

Soup: prežganka or vegetable soup.

Main course:

* pork tenderloin gratin from a wood-burning oven and homemade Haloze bunka,
* a marinated medallion in mushroom sauce,
* a chicken fillet wrapped in prosciutto

or

* roast potatoes with cracklings,
* buttered grilled vegetables,
* cottage cheese štruklji with toasted breadcrumbs,
* buckwheat porridge with porcini mushrooms.

Salad: cabbage with beans and homemade pumpkin-seed oil.

It is possible to change the menu (vegetarian or allergies) upon prior arrangement.

14.00 – 16.00 The path will then lead you to the Štatenberg Mansion featuring elements of Baroque architecture and inviting you to take a stroll through its English park. Next to the Mansion is the largest open-air wood-fired oven and behind the Mansion is a forest through which you can take a 10-minute walk to three fish ponds.

The centre of Makole features many sculptures over a distance of 7 kilometres, which are made every year by domestic and foreign artists participating in the traditional Makole Forma Viva – the largest open-air gallery of sculptures in Slovenia.

16.00 – 18.00 The Haloze Wine Route offers wine-tasting at the Makole Wine Fountain or at the Winery in Ptujska Gora, where you can taste wine varieties native to this wine-growing region. You will taste two wine samples 2 x 1 dl (selection of 4 varieties).

18.00 – 20.00 Evening cold cuts at the Vovk Eco Farm comprise a selection of home-grown produce, homemade dried meat products, side dishes made of seasonal vegetables, homemade  curd cheese and bread.

Overnight stay: You are recommended to SPEND THE NIGHT in Makole at the SHEPHERD’S HUT, which is made of natural materials (€118 for 2 persons, €77 per person), or at a glamping house (€60 per person, €87 for 2 persons) or at the Strug Hostel, where you will pay €24 per person.

Individual or group guided tour 1 hour guided tour 15 €. Full day guide € 100