Lenart lies in northeastern Slovenia and is the centre of the Slovenske gorice region, characterised by vineyards and orchards. Hrastovec Castle has been documented since at least 1294. The medieval complex was fortified during the Renaissance and converted into a residence with Baroque elements; the castle contains a painted Baroque chapel.
Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Lenart can select the town as the specific destination for their accommodation.
History and Culture
The Church of St Lenart is first mentioned in 1196. Due to its high-quality architecture and stonework details, it is considered an outstanding example of Gothic architecture in the Slovenske gorice. The Trški špital in Lenart operated from 1626 to 1910; its surviving features include Baroque window grilles and a stone portal bearing the coat of arms of the Herberstein family.
The Old Primary School is a Classicist building dating from 1895 in the centre of Lenart. The writer Ožbalt Ilaunig lived and worked in a restored house next to the Old Primary School. The present-day Church of St Rupert in Voličina dates from 1538; its interior is decorated with works by the Maribor sculptor Jožef Holzinger.
Since 2018, the Štupičeva Villa in Zavrh has housed the permanent exhibition “Maister po Maistru” about Rudolf Maister. The Stritar Chapel near the Radehova reservoir is a branch church of the Lenart parish. The Črni križ commemorates Agata from Štralek, the wife of Friderik Herberstein from Hrastovec Castle.
“Pobeg v zgodovino čarovništva” is a themed tourism offering based on the story of Agata and Friderik, Hrastovec Castle, the witch trials in the Slovenske gorice and the literary work “Črni križ pri Hrastovcu”.
Nature
The Hrastovec Landscape Park lies in the area of the settlements of Hrastovec and Zgornja Voličina. It is known for characteristic plant species and litotamnion limestone in the Strma gora area, and features above-ground and underground karst phenomena.
The 4.2-hectare Hrastovec ponds have been protected as a natural monument since 1992 and serve as a habitat for endangered plant and animal species. Lake Komarnik is one of the most important breeding grounds for waterbirds in Slovenia and at the same time an important refuge and significant habitat for rare and endangered plant and animal species. Otters are also found in the surrounding streams and ponds.
A walking trail with information boards and two observation towers for birdwatching runs around Lake Komarnik.
Trails and Views
The annual Prvomajski pohod leads from Lenart to Zavrh and is accompanied by a culinary and cultural programme. The Maister observation tower in Zavrh is a 17-metre-high metal tower and, in clear weather, offers views of Pohorje, Kozjak, Boč, Donačka gora, Croatia and the Hungarian Plain.
Local Attractions and Sightseeing
The Center lokalne ponudbe on Trg osvoboditve in Lenart sells products from local farmers and craftspeople and serves as a point of contact for promoting tourism, a sustainable economy and a healthy lifestyle. Slovenjegoriška gibanca, also known as Plehošnca, is considered Lenart’s symbolic local speciality; it is prepared using regional ingredients and contains no added yeast.
The ethnological collection Kranvogl, “S čebelo od cveta do medu”, “Nekoč in danes pri Šikerjevih” and “General Maister in njegov Zavrh” are considered guided sightseeing options in Lenart.
Geographical Location
The A5 motorway forms the east-west connection of the Municipality of Lenart and connects it to the regional road network via two interchanges. It runs via Maribor, Lenart, Senarska, Vučja vas, Murska Sobota, Lendava and Pince.
Other destinations: Cerkvenjak, Lenart V Slov. Goricah, Gočova, Zgornja Senarska.
