Ruše – Hotels, Culture, Pohorje and Drava

Ruše reveals its cultural side along the educational trail around more recent cultural monuments. Between 1976 and 1982, a total of 27 sculptures were created here as part of four sculptors’ colonies and symposia.

Culture and History

The Church of the Name of Mary in Ruše was built in 1387. Its rich stucco decoration was created in two stages: in 1710, the chancel and the first two chapels were decorated; in 1721, the second pair of chapels and the nave followed, created by master Peter Zaar. In the vicinity of Ruše, the Church of St Mary in Smolnik on Pohorje was built between 1859 and 1861.

The Letni oder Ruše Festival takes place every year in August. The programme includes concerts, theatre performances, social events, exhibitions and culinary offerings. The “Pod goroj” open-air theatre was completed in 1931. The amphitheatre at the foot of Pohorje offers 800–1,000 seats and has very good acoustics.

The Ruše water tower is part of the complex of the former Ruše nitrogen plant; it was built in 1917 for the plant’s needs. The Mirko Vovšek Gallery and the museum collection are located on the first floor of the Dom kulture Ruše. The collection presents the life and personal belongings of Mirko Vovšek, as well as farming implements and works from the Pohorje glassworks. The Glazerjeva domačija in Ruše is the birthplace of Janko Glazer and bears a commemorative plaque.

The railway viaduct is one of three surviving viaducts on the Carinthian Railway, built in 1863, and is classified as a technical monument.

Nature and Trails

The Pohorje Regional Park and its surroundings offer numerous mountain, long-distance, interpretive and themed trails. The Ruše Mountain Trail has ten checkpoints, including Ruše and the Šumik Waterfall. In the vicinity of Ruše, the Lobnica stream flows over the Veliki Šumik and Mali Šumik waterfalls through the ancient forests of Pohorje.

A tourist route connects points of interest in central Pohorje, the Lobnica Gorge and the Pohorje primeval forest. The Z(a)dravje Trail runs along the Drava from the mouth of the Lobnica to “Zeleni Dol” in Bistrica ob Dravi. Ruše also has a walking trail called Čebelarska pot.

Cycling and Water

The Drava Cycling Route passes through Ruše. In the area of Ruško Pohorje and Ruše, there is a network of safe, well-maintained circular cycling routes on forest, gravel and asphalt roads. The individual routes have a combined total length of 212 km; the network is suitable for conventional bicycles and e-bikes.

Every year from May to October, the Ruše Sports Park organises rowing on the Drava on Thursdays. Kayaks, canoes and SUPs can be rented for water sports on the Drava in Ruše.

Wine and Local Trails

The Ruška Wine Road is a 2.5-kilometre circular route through the vineyards and passes 24 wine cottages. There are six chapels along the Ruška Wine Road dedicated to the vine, fertility and Ruše’s viticultural heritage. A traditional Martinovanje festival has been held there every year since 1983.

Other places: Selnica Ob Dravi, Church of the Holy Spirit on Osterberg

To the higher-level travel overview: Russe.