The municipality of Kumrovec is located in the western part of Krapina-Zagorje County and lies by the left embankment of the river Sutla, which is also the border with the Republic of Slovenia.

One of the main attractions of Kumrovec is the Ethnological Museum of the Old Village of Kumrovec, a unique open-air museum with well-preserved original turn-of-the-century village houses.

When residential and commercial buildings were being constructed, the oak was of exceptional importance as a building material. This is how the so-called “hiže mazanke” (mud-coated houses) were built, houses with the wooden-beam construction smeared with mud and painted with blue vitriol, whose roofs were covered with rye straw, biber roof tiles, or grooved concrete tiles. Families wealthy enough to afford construction with quarried stone built masonry houses, pleasant to live in.

The goal of the cycling route “Hiže mazanke” is to acquaint cyclists with the traditional construction not only of the said houses but also structures for domestic animals.

The ride starts in front of the Kumrovec Hostel. Head in the direction of the old village of Kumrovec – make sure you get a nice feel of the place, admiring both “Hiže Mazanke” and “Hiže Zidanke” (mud houses and brick/stone houses). In Zagorje, most of these houses are “hiže mazanke”, i.e. mud houses. After leaving the village, turn right, K1. Cross the bridge over the watercourse, which is where the uphill section towards the village of Donji Škrnik starts. The off-road section kicks off at the K2 intersection. Rejoice, but stay alert. Intersection in the middle of forest K3, turn right. The road’s longitudinal profile is consistently sinuous. You’ll leave the forest for a short time, but in the middle of the downhill section, there is a sharp turn to the left, back into the forest idyll, K4. What follows is a long section through the forest; watch the turns and stick to the main forest road. You will reach the K5 intersection and the chapel of St. John. Visit the chapel as it offers picturesque views of the landscape in all directions. Continue cycling north, along the paved road all the way to the K6 Y-junction, then make a right turn, followed by a left turn after 180 m towards the Veliki Tabor Castle. You will Veliki Tabor via a cobblestone road. Feel free to take a break here and have a look around in Veliki Tabor, which is one of the most beautiful and best-preserved monuments of medieval military-residential architecture in Croatia and this part of Europe in general. Continue riding on the road that leads south-east, below the castle, meandering green meadows. You will reach the K8 T-junction; be careful. Turn left, then turn right after 190 m and you will arrive to Grešna Gorica Restaurant. Recharge your batteries and enjoy the hospitality of the hosts. The route leads back to the main road, then east and down the hill with serpentine turns. In the middle of the downhill section you will reach K9, a turn that leads off the main road. CAUTION!!! Continue along the road in the shadow of the overhanging tree branches. Having arrived at the K10 Y-junction, turn right onto the gravel road, which you should stay on until the T K11 intersection. Turn right and follow the uphill section to the lookout point at the centuries-old linden tree in Desinić. Enjoy the picturesque views of the Desinić valley and the Veliki Tabor Castle. After taking in the views, what follows is a somewhat steep downhill section to the centre of Desinić, where you can indulge in some refreshments in local restaurants and visit the ‘Prostor’ craft brewery. The route passes through the town centre of Desinić K12, and for the next 3.5 km, you will be riding down the main road. Caution!

When you see large longitudinal farm buildings on the right, it means you have reached the K13 intersection. Take a right turn, onto the local road, and after 280 m, make a sharp left. The start of the gravel road, the fun of a country lane. J At point K14, you’ll find yourself back on the paved road and you’ll stay on paved roads for the remainder of the route. At the next intersection, turn right onto a longish uphill section to turn K15, then make a sharp left turn. Ride down the picturesque local road, along the ridge through the village of Kladnik, with some scenic views to take in. Watch out for the K16 turn, then turn right onto the dirt footpath that leads to the Kumrovec Memorial House. After enjoying the sights, descend along the wide zigzag road to the intersection with the main road, Cesta Lijepe Naše, K17. Turn right, followed by another right turn before the gas station. The road takes you to the starting point in front of Kumrovec Hostel, which is where the ride ends.

The route is ideal for MTB/Gravel bikes, and you can easily and effortlessly ride an e-bike, as well. Moderate physical fitness and advanced cycling skills are needed.

For additional information, please contact the Tourist Board of Po plavem Trnaci (Tourist Board of the Kumrovec, Desinić, Zagorska Sela).

For a safe and carefree ride, study the map and all the necessary information or hire a local licensed cycling guide. A list of active and licensed guides can be found here.

Route start/endpoint: Town centre of Kumrovec – in front of the Kumrovec Hostel. We start the bicycle ride in the centre of Kumrovec, in front of Kumrovec Hostel, heading west towards the Old Village of Kumrovec.

1. T-junction at the end of the old village of Kumrovec. Turn right. Continue along the watercourse for 100 m; turn and cross the bridge and continue uphill. Turn left at the top of the uphill section.
2. Y-junction. Turn right.
3. Y-junction. Turn right onto a forest road.
4. CAUTION! In the middle of the downhill section, take a left turn, onto the forest road.
5. Intersection near the Chapel of St. John. Continue straight northwards.
   – Chapel of St. John. Spectacular vistas.
6. T-junction with the main road. Turn right, then after 180 m turn left towards the Veliki Tabor Castle. Keep to the right.
7. Veliki Tabor Castle. The route trails the road on the south side, and descends on gravel road, connecting to the main road.
   – Veliki Tabor Castle
8. T-junction with the main road. Turn left. After 190 m, turn right to arrive to Grešna Gorica Restaurant. The route is east-oriented, with a downhill section with serpentine turns. Watch out for the K 9 turn.
   – Grešna Gorica Restaurant
9. CAUTION! Intersection in the middle of a bend in the main road. Turn left, then immediately right.
10. Y-junction. Turn right onto the gravel road.
11. T-junction. Turn right. At the next Y-junction, turn right, towards an uphill section.
    – Centuries-old linden tree in Desinić. A magnificent view of the Veliki Tabor Castle and Desinić. Downhill, towards the centre of Desinić. Caution!!!
12. Desinić Town Centre. For the next 3.5 km, ride down the main road until the next turn. Be mindful of traffic.
13. Intersection. Turn right, after 280 m make a sharp left turn. Ride parallel to the main road.
14. Intersection at the top of the uphill section. Make a sharp left turn and continue towards the starting point, all the while taking in the views of Slovenia.
15. Intersection at the top of the uphill section. Make a sharp left turn and continue towards the starting point, all the while taking in the views of Slovenia.
16. Y-junction before the downhill section itself. The route goes right, onto a narrow footpath leading to the Kumrovec Memorial House. Continue to the very end by riding down the downhill section with serpentine turns.
17. Following the downhill section, you will reach the T-junction with the main road. Turn right, followed by another right turn before the gas station. The road takes you to the starting point in front of Kumrovec Hostel.