In Spodnje Hoče, ecclesiastical heritage and archaeological traces meet several described cycling routes. This gives you two distinct themes to consider when planning your trip: the history of the area and rides with different routes and landscapes.

Church, Crypt and Ecclesiastical Heritage

The Church of St George in Spodnje Hoče was first mentioned in a written record in 1146. Beneath the church is a crypt, one of Slovenia’s oldest medieval structures and a unique Romanesque monument of its kind in the country. The church also houses two Baroque altars by Jožef Holzinger, dating from 1760/61. These different dates give the church complex a broad historical scope, from its earliest written mention to its Baroque furnishings.

The parish centre is also part of the area’s ecclesiastical heritage. It is an exceptional ecclesiastical complex and was the seat of the former mother parish. Another notable monument is the Baroque masonry shrine: it has a triangular ground plan and stands at a crossroads in the village. The church, crypt, parish centre and shrine offer different ways to explore the architecture and religious history of Spodnje Hoče.

Archaeological Traces from Several Periods

The Hoče archaeological site includes a large prehistoric settlement from the Copper Age and the Bronze Age in its central area. Evidence of intensive settlement there during the Roman period dates from the mid-1st to the 4th century. The finds include at least three construction phases of ancient buildings. Because of its preservation and finds, the central site is considered a monument of European significance.

The outer area of the site is also part of its archaeological picture: remains of prehistoric, Roman and early medieval settlements have been documented there and partly investigated. The central and outer areas therefore represent different aspects of the site. Together, they reveal a settlement history spanning the periods mentioned, although not all traces relate to the same period or area.

A burial mound cemetery in Hočkem gozd is an archaeological monument in its original location. It is important for research into settlement connections with Poštela and Čreta. In Spodnje Hoče, individual architectural monuments and archaeological contexts thus complement each other: the church and its furnishings draw attention to ecclesiastical history, while the archaeological site and burial mound cemetery raise different questions about earlier settlement.

Choose Cycling Routes by Route and Landscape

Several described circular routes start at the car park beside the Hoče-Slivnica municipal building. One of these is the 36.5 km Sp. Hoče – Bellevue – slap Skalca – Šestdobe – Radizel – Rogoza – Sp. Hoče cycling route. Another route runs via Sp. Hoče – Bellevue – Mariborska koča – Areh – Bojtina – Šmartno – Fram and back to Sp. Hoče. Between Mariborska koča and Areh, one section follows a gravel forest road.

Other routes offer their own distinctive landscapes. The Sp. Hoče – Pivola – Hočko Pohorje – Zg. Hoče – Sp. Hoče route passes through forests, past pastures and meadows, and offers occasional views of the Dravsko polje. The Sp. Hoče – Zg. Hoče – Hočko Pohorje – Šestdobe – Slivnica – Sp. Hoče route runs through forests and over grassy slopes, with views of the Pohorje area and the Dravsko polje.

Another circular route runs from Sp. Hoče to the ponds of Slivniški ribniki and back via Križna kapela. The ponds can be reached from Spodnje Hoče via a well-maintained cycle path. You can distinguish between the routes by their specific features: one is specified as 36.5 km, while others are characterised by features such as gravel forest roads, grassy slopes or the cycle path to the ponds. Check the latest route information before setting out, as trail conditions may change.

Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests

To decide whether Spodnje Hoče is right for your trip, consider these different themes: church and archaeological history, or cycling routes with their named landscapes and destinations. If you plan to include both, first decide which will shape most of your time here. The specific route features offer a more useful guide than a general assessment of the routes.

Discover more destinations: Fram, Pernica, Maribor, Hočko Pohorje, Miklavž na Dravskem Polju, Limbuš, Malečnik, Dobrovce.

Go to the main travel overview: Maribor.