Vuzenica: Churches, Forest Trails and Cycling Routes

Vuzenica combines historic sacred buildings with trails through forests and mountainous landscapes, several cycling connections and regional events. Between the Church of St Nicholas in the town centre, the ruins of Pistrov grad above Vuzenica and the routes towards Pohorje, the different facets of the town lie close together.

Culture and History

The Church of St Nicholas already stood in the centre of what is now Vuzenica at the beginning of the 12th century. To this day, it has preserved artistic elements from all stylistic periods. The Church of Virgin Mary on the Stone is a pilgrimage church and was first mentioned in 1383. The Kapela Sv. Florjana also stands at Spodnji trg in Vuzenica; it was built in the historicist style in 1879.

In the well-preserved Slomšek Memorial Room, visitors can see Slomšek’s desk and bed. The furnishings include a well-preserved beamed ceiling with small patterns, objects and everyday scenes, as well as inscriptions in German and Latin. The Kremzer Museum is an antiques museum owned by the Kremzer family and is located in the former barn of the Lobenwein family, who once lived there.

Above Vuzenica, the ruins of Pistrov grad preserve a partially intact Renaissance defensive tower. The surviving defensive tower is a single-storey structure made of stone and brick with a trapezoidal floor plan. The buildings constructed from hewn beams, with numerous decorative details, are considered in Vuzenica to be monuments of vernacular architecture and evidence of residential culture.

In the nearby area lies the Church of St John the Baptist in Šentjanž nad Dravčami. Its Gothic frescoes cover almost all the interior walls; they were rediscovered in 1972. The Kmečki Ethno Museum is located in Sv. Primož na Pohorju within the municipality. Using objects that were used on this farm until recently, it conveys the former way of life of a farmer in Pohorje. The Church of St Vid was built in the first half of the 15th century. Its first written record comes from the feudal registers of 1478; of the churches in the surrounding area, it has undergone the fewest changes.

Forest and Trails

The Pistrov grad forest educational trail is intended for learning about the forest, its structure and development, or for finding recreation and peace there. Its circular route is approximately 3 kilometres long. The trail to Pistrov grad offers views of Muta, Vuzenica and the Drava. In the nearby area, the Vidova pot continues this Vuzenica forest trail: it runs for approximately 3 kilometres almost entirely through the forest to the Church of St Vid.

A hiking route from Vuzenica to Kremžarjev vrh is around 11.93 kilometres long, takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes and is rated as easy. The Sedovnikova linden tree also stands within the municipality; it is approximately 500 years old and has a circumference of around 8 metres.

Cycling, Water and Events

Vuzenica is directly connected to the Drava Cycling Route. A well-developed cycling route leads from Vuzenica to Sv. Primož na Pohorju and onwards to Mala Kopa and Velika Kopa. The Kozjaška Cycling Transversal also includes the Radlje ob Dravi–Vuzenica section and returns to Vuzenica on the described circular route.

In Vuzenica, visitors can pick up and return e-bikes and kayaks at the new bicycle station next to the Huta establishment. When fishing, a fly rod, spinner, float and bottom rig can be used. The Rokov Fair is a traditional annual fair in Vuzenica featuring products, homemade food and various services. At the Vuzeniški Dnevi, a traditional farming custom is performed every year in order to preserve the memory of earlier life and work on farms.

Other Places

Other town pages: Radlje Ob Dravi, Zgornja Orlica, Vas, Ribnica Na Pohorju, Muta.

To the higher-level travel overview: Radlje Ob Dravi.