Cycling the Path of Remembrance and Comradeship

The Path of Remembrance and Comradeship (Pot spominov in tovarištva) is a circular route of about 33 km that encircles the city of Ljubljana in Slovenia's Central Slovenia region. It follows the line of the barbed-wire fence that Italian occupying forces built around the capital in 1942 to isolate the city from the resistance, and which residents commemorated after the war by creating a ring-shaped memorial route lined with trees, paths and monuments. Cyclists commonly start at Tivoli Park and ride clockwise or anticlockwise on a mix of gravel paths, cycle tracks and quiet roads, passing suburbs, allotments, woods and viewpoints. This is an activity for general cyclists rather than athletes. The surface is mostly flat to gently rolling, with only a few short climbs, and a rider of ordinary fitness can complete it in 3 to 5 hours including stops. There is no formal age limit, though children should be confident riders and the full distance may be long for the youngest. Riders bring or rent their own equipment: a city or trekking bike is adequate, together with a helmet, water, a lock and a repair kit or spare tube for longer stretches. Bikes can be hired from shops in the centre, typically EUR 15-25 per day, or taken from the BicikeLJ city bike-share network (bicike-lj.si), which has a low weekly subscription and a free first hour on each ride. As a self-guided route there is no operator, safety briefing or organised rescue plan, so riders should carry a charged phone, know the European emergency number 112, and note that the circuit is never far from built-up areas, bus stops and roads, making it easy to leave the route if needed. Route markings are not always continuous, so a downloaded map or GPS track helps. The best season runs from April to October, with May, June and September offering the most pleasant temperatures and fresh greenery. Visitors should avoid riding in heavy rain, when gravel and forest sections become muddy, and in winter when paths can be icy. Many riders combine the loop with a stop at one of the traditional inns along the way, which are popular with local cyclists and walkers, particularly at weekends.