Banja Loka: St. James Church, the Way of St. James and cycling routes

Banja Loka brings together several distinct themes for your stay: the architectural history of St. James Parish Church, cycling routes with different itineraries, and the scenic setting of the Pri Papeževih excursion farm above the upper Kolpa Valley. A local product and an itinerary combining a walk, dinner and overnight stay round out these perspectives. This lets you decide whether culture, cycling or scenery should take priority when planning your visit.

St. James Church and the Way of St. James

St. James Parish Church in Banja Loka was built in 1742 and has a cruciform ground plan. The construction date indicates when it was built, while the ground plan describes its architectural form. The oldest of its three bells dates from 1798. The construction year and the bell’s date represent two different details of the same religious building: one marks the construction of the church, the other the oldest bell. The church is part of the Belokranjsko-kočevska branch of the Way of St. James cycle route. An itinerary on this branch dated 28 July 2024 lists St. James as a stop.

Cycling routes with different destinations

The Kostel Castle Trail leads from Briga through Banja Loka to the ruins of Kostel Castle. It is suitable for cycling because it runs mostly along paths and roads. This route therefore combines a named destination with a clear indication that it is suitable for cyclists.

The To the Land of Peter Klepec cycling route is challenging and suitable for experienced cyclists. It leads from Fara through Banja Loka and Štalcerji back to Kočevje. Both routes pass through Banja Loka, but differ in their explicitly stated features: the ruins of Kostel Castle are the destination of the Kostel Castle Trail, while To the Land of Peter Klepec is classified as a challenging route for experienced cyclists. When planning, you can weigh up the destination and level of difficulty side by side.

Another route description is titled Through the forests of Kočevsko to the Kolpa canyon. It leads from Briga along a gravel road parallel to the regional road to Banja Loka. The Deer Route also mentions the Pri Papeževih excursion farm and St. James Church in Banja Loka.

Scenery, local product and overnight stay

The Pri Papeževih excursion farm is located on a plateau 520 m above sea level, above the upper Kolpa Valley. This setting adds a specific elevation and landscape detail to the cultural and route-related themes. On the Deer Route, the farm and the church appear as named features; the farm’s location and the church’s architectural history offer two different points of interest for exploring the area.

Kostelska brandy with a protected geographical indication is available in Banja Loka. After a walk, enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in Banja Loka. If you include this itinerary in your travel plans, check the availability and arrangements for your overnight stay in advance.

Discover more destinations: Vrh pri Fari, Osilnica, Kočevje

Go to the main travel overview: Kočevje.