Moravske Toplice

Moravske Toplice: črna termalna voda sredi prekmurske ravnice

Moravske Toplice lies in the plain north of Murska Sobota, where the fields stretch to the horizon. The only higher ground is the hills of Goričko to the north. Without the spring the place would probably be just one of the Prekmurje villages, as everything there today grew up around the water that was found while drilling for oil.

It is precisely this story that is the reason for its distinctiveness, as the water is dark rather than clear and rises from a great depth. For a visitor this means swimming of a kind you will not find elsewhere in the country. Take time also for the plain around the place, which you get to know best by bike.

Črna termalna voda

The thermal mineral water in Moravske Toplice is dark in colour because of organic substances, for which the place is also known, and at the spring it is quite hot and is cooled on the way to the pools. In the filtered pools the temperature is around thirty-two to thirty-four degrees, which means you can stay in the water longer than in cooler bathing areas.

The bathing area is divided into indoor and outdoor pools, and beside them you can choose among saunas and wellness programmes. Part of the bathing offer is covered, so the place is visited in the cold part of the year too, when the plain is otherwise foggily quiet.

Prekmurska ravnina in kolesarjenje

Okolica je ravna kot malokje pri nas, zato je cycling the most natural activity in this place. The paths lead among fields, along watercourses and through villages of low houses, and there are practically no climbs. You can rent a bike right in the village and adjust the distance as you go.

For longer tours you can drive across the plain towards the Mura or the Hungarian border, where the traffic dies down almost completely. You will also find an overview among daljšimi kolesarskimi potmi.

Bogojina and Plečnik's church

In the nearby Bogojina stands a church redesigned by Jože Plečnik, who inside combined a white ceiling with built-in earthenware bowls, an unusual solution for a country church. A visit takes a good hour, and you can drive to the village from the place in a few minutes, even by bike.

If you are interested in architecture, this is the most surprising destination in the surroundings, since Plečnik's work here stands in the middle of the plain and not in a town. It is precisely this contrast that makes it worth seeing even if you do not otherwise visit churches.

Goričko and Lake Bukovnica

North of the place the plain rises into the hills of Goričko, where the villages stretch out along the ridges, with orchards and forest remaining between them. This is the least visited part of Prekmurje, so for a quiet day it is a better choice than the area around the spa.

On the way towards Goričko is Lake Bukovnica with the surrounding paths and the chapel above it, which is considered an energy point. The loop around the lake is short and shady, so save it for the afternoon, when the plain is at its hottest.

Kaj početi v Moravskih Toplicah?

The basis of a visit is the spa, to which most people add a bike ride, a visit to Bogojina or a trip to Goričko. If you are staying several days, devote one day to Murska Sobota and the museum in the castle, as it is right there that you can understand why Prekmurje is different from the rest of the country.

Pozimi ostanejo bazeni, savne in obiski cerkva ter vasi. Pregled ponudbe najdete med doživetji v Moravskih Toplicah.

Moravske Toplice z otroki

For families the place is simple, because the pools, the playground and the accommodation are all in one place, with no journeys between them. The water is warmer than usual, so even younger children last longer in it, which is a noticeable difference for a full day of swimming.

For the afternoon a cycling trip across the plain, where there are no hills, works well, or a walk around Lake Bukovnica. In the rain the indoor pools remain, which are large enough for the day to pass without any rush.

Moravske Toplice v dvoje

For two, a slower rhythm works well: saunas in the morning, and a wine road on Goričko or a farm visit with home cooking in the afternoon. On the farms the atmosphere is more homely than in the large spas, where the guests barely meet one another.

For a quieter part of the day, choose the outdoor pools early in the morning, or drive up into the hills, where in the evenings you can see storks on their nests.

Kaj in kje jesti v Moravskih Toplicah?

Prekmurje cuisine is hearty and different from the rest of the country: bograč, bujta repa, Prekmurje želodec and gibanica, a protected dessert with several layers of filling. Try it where it is prepared to the traditional recipe with several layers.

The offer is tied to the spa and to the surrounding villages, where you can visit farms with home-made food and wine. You will find an overview among the culinary offer.

Kje prespati v Moravskih Toplicah?

Most of the accommodation is tied to the spa, and in addition the surroundings offer apartments and private rooms in the villages. The latter are closer to the plain across which you will cycle, and more scattered across the villages.

For a stay in the countryside, choose one of the farms in the surrounding villages, where home-made food is part of the experience. You will find an overview of the whole offer among namestitvami.

Kam na izlet iz Moravskih Toplic?

The nearest is Murska Sobota with its castle and museum, a good ten minutes' drive away. To the north opens up Goričko, with the castle complex in the village of Grad, the largest castle in the country.

Proti vzhodu je Lendava with a bilingual character and a tower above the vineyards, half an hour's drive away. A broader overview of the destination you will find under Termalno Panonsko Slovenijo.