GORIČKO LANDSCAPE PARK

Goričko is a picturesque cultural landscape with dispersed farms on low hills. The mosaic of meadows, fields, orchards, vineyards and hamlets is intertwined by meandering streams, and outlines the coniferous and deciduous forests. Goričko is the Slovenian part of a Three Countries Park with Austria and Hungary and a habitat of endangered plant and animal species in Europe.

The wrinkled Goričko lies at the crossing of the Alps and the Pannonian Basin. Dramatic volcanic events 17 million years ago and more recently 1.6 million years ago are still visible in the hills on the other side of the River Kučnica, in Austria and in the vicinity of the castle, where the biggest castle in Slovenia is situated on a solid rock of volcanic ash.

Here people here still live in harmony with nature and respect other creatures – plants and animals. And it was their established existence on this area which placed Goričko into the Three Countries Nature Park and the Natura 2000 network upon entry into the European Union. In the Three Countries park of Goričko-Raab-Őrség, three nations together protect the natural and cultural landscape as an integrated whole on more than 105,000 hectares. In the Goričko Region, there are 7 habitats listed among specially protected areas and 38 animal species, of which 14 are bird species.

All this is offered by a picturesque carpet of interlaced areas of different usage of land for a number of cultural plants on the fields, colourful meadows, vineyards, full fruit trees next to houses in dispersed settlements and roadside villages as well as forests on the ridges and shady slopes. Streams wind among them shaded by the trees and shrubs, as well as the roads connecting people between the villages. That is pleasing for hikers and cyclists who have found their paradise here.

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