Vič can be considered from two perspectives when planning a trip: as a landmark on the Drava Cycling Route and as a settlement with notable architectural and religious heritage. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, you can first decide whether to focus on the cycling route or the architectural history. The Drava Cycling Route begins at the Vič border crossing; architectural and religious heritage includes the Jelenkova kašča granary, with its Baroque facade, the Blažejevo znamenje wayside shrine, the Urkova Chapel and the organ, dated 1723, in the Church of St. Leonard.

Drava Cycling Route: Route and Directions

The Drava Cycling Route is part of the European network of cycling routes. In Dravograd, it runs from the Vič border crossing through the town centre and over the bridge to Bukovje, in the direction of Trbonje.

Different directions and riverbanks are relevant when planning the rest of your trip along the Drava Cycling Route. On the right bank of the Drava, the route continues towards Vuzenica and Maribor. Cyclists can cross to the left bank via the Trbonje Bridge and continue towards Radlje via Gortina and Muta. The route then climbs over the Radeljski prelaz into Austrian Styria. The bridge and the pass mark two different points of reference: crossing between the banks of the Drava and the further ascent towards Austrian Styria.

Architectural and Religious Heritage in Vič

The settlement of Vič is designated as an archaeological site in the ordinance of the Municipality of Dravograd. The individual heritage sites differ in their function and design: they include a masonry granary, a wayside shrine and a chapel; a historic organ is also associated with Vič.

The Jelenkova kašča is located on the Jelenko farmstead, right on the state border. It is a masonry granary with an exceptionally rich Baroque facade. The building’s form and facade offer two different clues to its character: the agricultural function of a granary and its elaborate design.

The Blažejevo znamenje stands beside the road from Vič towards Feldhof. It is a narrow, elongated masonry wayside shrine with a broad, four-sided shingle roof, topped by a sphere and cross. A single shallow niche contains a figure of the Virgin Mary; saints are depicted on the side walls. Unlike the richly articulated facade of the Jelenkova kašča, the decoration of the wayside shrine is concentrated on its roof, niche and side walls.

The Urkova Chapel stands on the southeastern edge of Vič, on the right-hand side of the road from Dravograd to Vič. The organ in the Church of St. Leonard in Vič pri Dravogradu offers a different historical point of interest: it is attributed to Andreas Schwarz and dated to 1723. Thus, a precise location relative to the road and a dated musical instrument offer different ways of exploring the architectural and religious heritage.

Plan Your Stay

If the cycling trip is the deciding factor in choosing a holiday apartment, compare the specific address with your planned route section. The routes described continue in different directions and run along both banks of the Drava, so consider which route is central to your plans. As route conditions may change, it is advisable to check the current trail conditions before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Dravograd.

Go to the main travel overview: Dravograd.