Cultural heritage enriches our environment and preserves the memory of our ancestors’ lives. Traditional buildings such as vinedresser’s and vineyard cottages, and stone-vaulted wine cellars still dot the Haloze countryside.
The open-air ethnological museum provides a glimpse into our ancestors’ traditional way of life and work. Visitors can explore a traditional Haloze house (cimprača) from the early 19th century, a sty, a shed with a barn, an apiary, trellises, and a fragrant herb garden.
More about: Cirkulane Heritage Park
The Church of St. Barbara has been the seat of the parish since 1784. It was founded by Count Georg Friedrich Sauer after a devastating plague in the early 17th century. The church boasts a magnificent baroque bell tower which, at 52 meters tall, is one of the tallest in Slovenia. The 1819 fresco under the choir loft depicting Cirkulane is of particular significance.
More about: Parish church of st. Barbara
The Church of St. Anne in Veliki Vrh was built in the 17th century on the initiative of the Counts of Sauer, who owned the Borl Castle at the time. Its location offers a stunning view of the surrounding area. According to folk tradition, prospective parents must circle the church twice on their knees if they want twins. There is a beautiful teaching vineyard next to the church.
More about: St. Anne's church
Next to St. Anne’s Church, you will find a bench with a carved heart, which is part of the nationwide Love Benches project. The bench offers stunning views of the Haloze vineyards, the medieval town of Ptuj, the River Drava and the Slovenske Gorice hills. These breathtaking views help to create unforgettable memories. To reach Veliki Vrh from Borl Castle, follow the path lined with the restored Stations of the Cross, which winds through the woods to your destination. The church was built in the 17th century by the Sauer family, who owned the Borl Castle at that time.
Location: Municipality of Cirkulane – Church of St. Anne in Veliki Vrh
Trail difficulty: easy
Altitude: 304 m
Did you know?
Each Love Bench carries a QR code. Scan it to create your own personalized interactive album, where you can record all the benches you visit and discover new ones.
More about: benches of love
Thirteen Stations of the Cross (chapels) were built alongside the path to the Church of St. Anna in the 18th century. The original chapels were demolished due to dilapidation before World War II, with only the largest one at the top of the hill remaining. In 2025, new, modern Stations of the Cross were erected on the sites of the original chapels. Their design resembles both a fish, which is a symbol of Christ, and a stylized silhouette of a mother with a child.
Dr. Vladimir Bracic, a distinguished educator, geographer, politician, and the first rector of the University of Maribor, was born in Cirkulane on 27 September 1919. His research work focused on social geography, with particular attention paid to Haloze and Cirkulane. A memorial room has been set up in the Rajher house, his birthplace, in the village center.
More about: dr. Vladimir Bracic
The filial church of St. Catherine of Alexandria in Cirkulane was built on the foundations of a 13th-century church, which was presumably the oldest parish church in Spodnje Haloze. The church was burned down by the Ottomans in the 16th century and then damaged by a strong earthquake in the 19th century, eventually leading to its demolition. Today, a community hall and a chapel stand on the site, and all that remains of the original church is the choir loft with the bell tower.
