Adriabike 04 - The Karst crossing

We will get to know the Slovenian Karst better through this stage, it is a territory with particular characteristics from a historical, nature, cultural and gastronomic point of view. The route meanders – with frequent up and downhills, although not steep – in the spectacular limestone highlands which dominate the Gulf of Trieste, giving continuous emotions. You mainly pedal along narrow roads, open to traffic but not at all busy, surrounded by dry stone walls which seem to lead towards nowhere. Nature rules here, modelled by the Bora wind and enriched by unique colours, which especially in Autumn present us with glimpses of great vitality. Then all of a sudden, an old village appears, the remains of a medieval castle, a bell tower and we return to civilization. Then after a bend in the road, the extensive view of the Gulf of Trieste explodes in front of us, dominated from above. Starting from Nova Gorica the trip continuously comes close to the Italian border, passing through villages which have a double name, as they were once Italian, and Austrian before that, until we reach Lipica and its centuries-old horse stud farm.

Conditions: mainly on asphalted roads with mixed traffic and cycling lane from Vrtojba to Miren. Some uphill. Be careful of the wind.