Ivanjkovci: Wine, Culture and Hotels in the Valley

Ivanjkovci developed in the valley of the Pavlovski potok. The valley’s clay soils retain surface water for a long time; as a result, meadows predominate and occasionally turn into swamps and lakes. Several hills rise above the valley, including Pavlovski vrh. In Ivanjkovci, the Pavlovski potok receives the tributaries Lahonščica from Lahonce and Sirotka from Veličane.

Landscape

The compact centre of Ivanjkovci lies in the valley near the railway station. The village is also located along a particularly convenient transport connection between the Mursko polje and Ptujsko polje plains.

Culture and History

In the village centre stands Petovarjevo, a large agricultural building complex in Ivanjkovci. The main residential building was constructed in 1865. Petovarjevo preserves a surviving part of a former large estate that once played an important role at both local and regional level. Much of Petovarjevo’s historic architectural furnishings has been preserved.

In Svetinje, the present All Saints’ Church replaced a chapel dating from 1603 in 1730. Its particular significance lies above all in its extraordinary setting in the landscape. The traditional event “Pozdrav trgatvi”, organised by the Ivanjkovci Tourist and Cultural Association, is also part of the annual cultural calendar. It takes place on 15 August and includes the erection of a klapotetz in Svetinje, along with a cultural programme. The event concludes with convivial gathering over local wines and homemade food.

Food and Wine

The regional Prlekija cuisine is represented at Kmetija Ratek by wood-fired oven bread, meat and lard from the tünka, as well as gibanica. Expert-guided tastings of high-quality wines are also offered there. At the estate, visitors can see Scottish Highland cattle and a preserved traditional wooden wine press during a walk.

Herga combines several forms of wine presentation. The wine tastings include seven samples and a tour of the wine cellar featuring fresh and mature wines, as well as samples drawn from barrels. Herga also offers tastings during a walk presenting the locations of its vineyards. The tastings take place in the Jeruzalem Slovenija wine region; guided tastings of its premium wines are available at a unique winery overlooking the vineyards.

A 300-year-old vineyard cottage houses a chapel, a small ethnological museum, an old wine press and a wine cellar. Visitors can taste white wines there.

Routes

The official “Jeruzalem” cycling route is 26 kilometres long, moderately difficult and has 270 metres of elevation gain. Crossing terraced vineyards, it offers views of Svetinje and the pilgrimage church in Jeruzalem.

The “Ivanjkovci–Jeruzalem” hiking route starts in Ivanjkovci. It is considered an easy marked trail; the walking time is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes, and the elevation difference is 117 metres. The route leads from an intersection near the post office in Ivanjkovci across a meadow and over a small bridge into a wooded area.

Orientation

The TIC and the Jeruzalem wine shop provide visitors with tourist information, present the local offerings and enable them to discover the region’s natural, cultural and culinary heritage. To view another destination, the next local page leads to Ormož.

To the higher-level travel overview: Ormož.