TRIPS IN THE VICINITY
FROM RIHEMBERK CASTLE TO NOVA GORICA
DISTANCE: 25 km (in one direction)
DURATION: 2–3 h
DIFFICULTY: easy
TOTAL HEIGHT DIFFERENCE: approx. 250 m
SURFACE: tarmac, macadam
DESCRIPTION:
This is a veritable journey through time. The route runs from medieval Rihemberk Castle to the young town of Nova Gorica which was created after World War II when the historic centre of the Gorica (Gorizia/Görz) region, the city of Gorica was assigned to Italy. Along the way there are numerous mansions and remains of fortresses: the Dvorec Vogrsko mansion, the remains of castle Dornberg at Tabor above Dornberk, the Coronini mansion in Šempeter pri Gorici and the tomb of the last French king. The route follows main roads, cycle paths and local and macadam roads along the rivers Vipava and Branica, amongst vineyards and fields. You can return by train (Nova Gorica–Branik).
ATTRACTIONS ON THE WAY:
• Visiting and exploring Rihemberk Castle and climbing its mighty tower
• Winegrowing region with reputed winegrowers of the lower Vipava Valley
• Lanthieri’s mill in Pekel near Steske, one of the best-preserved watermills in Slovenia
• Dvorec Vogrsko or Božičev dvorec in Vogrsko from the 16th century
• 17th century Coronini’s mansion in Šempeter pri Gorici that belonged to a well-known noble family from Gorica
• Nova Gorica: Europe Square, which connects the old and new cities, the cycle-path on the border between Slovenia and Italy, the tombs of the Bourbons in Kostanjevica