Among the residents of Novo mesto, an increasingly popular circular route is suitable for everyone, and the starting point is not necessarily tied to a specific location. We will begin the five-kilometer walk at the former Hotel Kandija, once a prominent landmark of the city, but today you can leave your steel horse in the hotel’s parking lot. From there, head onto Kandija Bridge, also known by locals as the “old” bridge, dating back to 1898. Just beyond it, descend along Pugljeva Street into the valley and continue along Župančič Footpath, named after the poet, playwright, and translator Oton Župančič, who spent part of his life in the capital of Dolenjska.
After a few hundred meters, you will be greeted by the first of two footbridges – Julija’s Footbridge (in the nearby Neuhof Castle, which now houses the hospital, lived Julija Primic, muse and later wife of Prešeren, with the title of pl. Scheuchenstuel). Along this path, you can observe the fish life of the Krka beauty, and then proceed to the pedestrian path under Neuhof, along Julija’s Footpath, to the wooden bridge at Loka. There, instead of crossing the bridge, turn uphill, then continue right towards the city forest of Portoval.
A beautifully maintained sandy path with organized stops and four stone sculptures will lead you to Irča Village, or to the second new bridge – Štukljev Footbridge, named after the great Olympian Leon Štukelj, whose statue you first encounter on this route at Kandija Intersection. Eleven meters above the surface of the Krka, stroll across the unique bridge, which spans the river in a single sweep, to the other side, from where you then return along the Krka to Župančič Footpath passing by “Pumpnca” and Gostišče Loka back to the starting point.