Tourist trail: From hops to beer - Sustainable development of public and shared tourism infrastructure and natural attractions in tourist destinations

The project sets up a two-hour circular footpath, which will include many tourist attractions on its way and will be freely accessible to visitors - pedestrians, hikers and cyclists. The tourist trail From hops to beer starts in the center of Žalec - at the Beer Fountain, just a step away from nature - in the Vrbje Pond Landscape Park. It is embedded in a green environment and is an excellent starting point for exploring the surroundings, which give it the unforgettable impression of hop plantations.

The tourist route will invite and inspire towards active lifestyle. A large part of the investment will be directed towards creating conditions for recreation, which will be additionally achieved by investing in equipment to improve physical fitness. Attractive playgrounds will be available for public free use at two points within the tourist footpath, which will depict a hop heap - a wooden column with a green climbing net, an intergenerational playground mainly made of robinia wood, an outdoor fitness center and equipment for relaxation and sitting (benches and bins).

A strong emphasis will also be on sustainability, as these points will be equipped with natural water sources - drinking fountains (wells or smart water filling stations), an ecological toilet system in Vrbje and modern sanitary facilities in Žalec (at the Beer Fountain). The inclusion of digitization is reflected by elements of a panoramic 2D IT model, e-info points with a touch screen, marking boards with a QR code and a panoramic camera.

The Recovery and Resilience Facility provides funding of EUR 350,000, while the total value of the investment is EUR 543,715.

The project started in June 2023 and will be finalised by September 2025.

Additional links:

Reference: C3.K11.IC
Project locations: Slovenia

EU contribution: €350 000

Project website: https://zalec.si/obcina/...