A Late Gothic church on a hill, a vine in the town centre and trails with different themes: Cerkvenjak combines cultural and historical landmarks with exploration on foot and by bicycle. When planning your visit, it is worth distinguishing the church and wine connections from the specific routes—some offer insights into the landscape, while others give an approximate time frame or pass through several municipalities.

Church, Collection and Signs of Viticulture

The parish church of St Anthony the Hermit stands on a hill in Cerkvenjak and is Late Gothic. It was first mentioned in 1299. On its north wall are Gothic frescoes dating from 1395 to 1400. The church thus offers several specific points of reference for a cultural and historical perspective on the town: its early mention, its classification as a Late Gothic parish church and the dated wall paintings.

There are also signs of wine-growing culture in the town centre. Johanezova trta was planted there on 24 April 2004. The vine is a cutting from the more than 400-year-old Stara trta in Maribor, described as the oldest vine in the world. The sculpture Ovtarja also stands in the centre and depicts a traditional guardian of the vineyards. Both tell of the region’s viticultural importance in different ways: one through a vine’s origins, the other through a cultural figure.

The museum collection of Feliks Rajh is displayed at Tušakova domačija and comprises 800 different exhibits. Together with the frescoes, it offers another perspective on the town’s history and culture: here, a collection of many individual objects; there, paintings on the church wall.

Wine Connections Beyond the Town Centre

The VTC 13 wine tourism road passes through twelve municipalities, including Cerkvenjak. It leads to winegrowers and wine cellars, inns, and tourist and excursion farms. Other types of providers mentioned include organic farms, apiaries and fruit farms. The geographical area described includes Cerkvenjak and its surroundings; VTC 13 is therefore a wider-ranging point of reference than the vine and sculpture in the town centre.

The Cerkvenjaška vinska kraljica (Cerkvenjak Wine Queen) has a role of her own: she promotes the wines and winegrowers from the Cerkvenjak area. The title is awarded for two years at the central Martinovanje celebration. If you are interested in wine tradition, these different themes offer different perspectives—from a specific landmark in the centre to the providers along a route through several municipalities.

Educational Trails, Hiking and Cycling

The Klopotčeva educational and walking trail runs through the Cerkvenjak hills and the valley of the Andrenski potok. Its topics include different ecosystems, characteristic plant and animal species, and water. The cultural and natural heritage of the landscape is also covered. The trail therefore draws attention not only to individual places, but also to the landscape and its habitats.

Pot med jezeri consists of three educational hiking trails suitable for all generations. The section through Cerkvenjak connects an archaeological site with an ethnographic collection. This gives the trail a different theme from the Klopotčeva route, whose description focuses more on ecosystems, plants, animals and water.

The time frame for a cycling loop is specified more precisely: the route along the boundaries of the municipality of Cerkvenjak starts in the town centre, is about 25 kilometres long and takes approximately three hours by bicycle. The Pomurska Mountain Trail follows a different route: it runs from Negova via the Archaeological Park in Brengova to the centre of Cerkvenjak. The PPP-15 checkpoint stamp is located there. The Cerkvenjak Tourist Information Centre also organises excursions with a local tourist guide.

A Different Perspective from the Viewpoint

From the fire station tower, the view stretches across the Pomurska ravnina, the eastern foothills of the Karawanks in Slovenia and Austria, Pohorje, Boč, Donačka gora and Ivančica in Croatia. On a clear day, visibility extends as far as Lake Balaton in Hungary. The different perspectives on Cerkvenjak complement one another: the history of its church and collections, viticulture and providers in the surrounding area, and hiking and cycling routes, each with its own focus. The cycling loop gives you an approximate time requirement for planning your day; the educational and hiking trails, by contrast, are primarily distinguished by their respective themes.

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