Forests and vineyards of Pekrska Gorca

Pekrska Gorca is a wooded hill with vineyards on its slopes, at the edge of Maribor, on the first rise of the Pohorje foothills above the Drava valley. The name combines Pekre, a village now absorbed into the city's western edge, and gorca, the Slovene word for a small vineyard hill, and it points to the long tradition of winegrowing around Maribor. The hills here are not high, but they rise just enough to give a view over the city, the river and the flat plain beyond, and they have long served as a green playground for the people of the city.

The landscape is a patchwork of small plots. Vineyards climb the south-facing slopes in tidy rows, interrupted by orchards and meadows, while on the north-facing side and on the ridge, mixed woodland of beech, oak, hornbeam and pine takes over. Between them, narrow lanes and footpaths link small farms and wine cottages, and in many places there are views toward Maribor and the sweep of the Drava valley. The area is quiet, apart from birdsong and the sound of tractors in the growing season, and a walk here gives a sense of country life only a few minutes from the town.

Winegrowing is central to the local heritage. Maribor is the centre of a wine region that has been producing white wines for centuries, and even in the city itself the world's oldest vine grows on a house in Lent. On Pekrska Gorca, small family growers tend their own plots, and the wine they make, including a local wine known as Pekrčan, is typical of the district, fresh and aromatic. In late summer and early autumn the air smells of ripening grapes, and during the harvest season some growers offer tastings from their cellars or wine huts, though these are usually informal and by arrangement.

At the top of the hill stands a small church, a modest building that adds a point of interest to the walk, and the remains of the foundations of a small ski jump, about sixty metres in size, are a reminder that winter sports were once practised on these slopes. Paths through the woods are used by walkers, joggers and cyclists throughout the year, and there are clearings suitable for picnics. The hill is easy to reach from the city by local transport or by a short drive. Wear stout shoes after rain, because the paths can be muddy, and visit in the late afternoon for the best light.