Gornja Radgona

Gornja Radgona is a municipality in northeastern Slovenia, situated on the Mura River along the border with Austria. The town of Gornja Radgona (Upper Radgona) sits directly opposite the Austrian town of Bad Radkersburg, linked by a bridge across the Mura — a border crossing that has connected the region for centuries. The municipality covers the Slovenian side of the Radgona hills, an area of gentle slopes covered in vineyards, orchards, and maize fields.

Gornja Radgona is best known as the home of the Pomurski sejem (Pomurje Trade Fair), one of the largest exhibition and fairground complexes in Slovenia, which hosts the annual Pomurje Agricultural and Food Fair. The town also has a long tradition of thermal spa tourism, with the nearby Radenci thermal springs drawing visitors since the 19th century. The landscape is classic Prekmurje — the flattest part of Slovenia, where the Mura River meanders through the Pannonian plain, creating a patchwork of riparian forests, oxbow lakes, and fertile farmland.

The municipality offers a blend of small-town attractions — a historic square, a castle, wine cellars — and rural experiences such as cycling along the Mura, birdwatching in the floodplain forests, and tasting the distinctive wines of the Prekmurje wine region. The Austrian border gives Gornja Radgona a natural cross-border dimension, with Bad Radkersburg's historic thermal baths and restaurants just a short walk away.

The best time to visit is May to September, when the weather is warm and the Mura Valley is at its greenest. The Pomurje Agricultural Fair in August is the highlight of the local calendar. Autumn (September–October) is harvest season and the wine cellars open for tastings. The thermal spas are enjoyable year-round. Winter (November–March) is cold and quiet, but the Radenci spa and the Bad Radkersburg thermal baths offer warm refuge.

Gornja Radgona is small and walkable. The town centre, the fairgrounds, and the bridge to Austria are all within a 10-minute walk. For exploring the surrounding vineyards, thermal spas, and the Mura River, a car or bicycle is recommended. Regional road 229 connects Gornja Radgona to Murska Sobota (20 km, 25 min) and Maribor (50 km, 50 min). The town has a railway station on the regional line between Murska Sobota and the Austrian border (services to Bad Radkersburg). Local buses run to Murska Sobota and Radenci several times daily. Cycling is excellent on the flat terrain and dedicated bike paths along the Mura.

• Gornja Radgona — the municipal centre, a historic border town with a trade fair complex, a castle, and a direct bridge to Austria

Prekmurje cuisine is distinct within Slovenia, reflecting Hungarian and Croatian influences. Signature dishes include prekmurska gibanica (the iconic layered pastry with poppy seeds, walnuts, apples, and ricotta), bograč (a paprika-spiced hunter's stew), and retas (savoury strudel-like pastries filled with cabbage or potato). The Mura River provides fresh fish — pike, catfish, and perch. Pumpkin-seed oil is a staple, used in salads and as a finishing oil. The Prekmurje wine region produces both white wines (Laški Rizling, Šipon, Sauvignon Blanc) and reds (Blaufränkisch known locally as Modra Frankinja).

The biggest event is the Pomurje Agricultural and Food Fair (August), held at the Pomurski sejem fairgrounds, drawing exhibitors from across Slovenia and neighbouring countries. The Gornja Radgona Wine Festival (September) celebrates the local harvest with cellar tours and tastings. Kurentovanje (February/March), though centred in Ptuj, has celebrations in Gornja Radgona as well. Craft traditions include pottery, basket-weaving, and the embroidery of Prekmurje folk costumes, which can be seen at local heritage events.

1. Walk across the Mura bridge to Bad Radkersburg — cross the border on foot or by bike into the Austrian town's historic centre, with its Renaissance square, thermal baths, and lakeside park.
2. Visit the Pomurski sejem fairgrounds — even outside fair dates, the complex hosts exhibitions, markets, and cultural events throughout the year.
3. Wine tasting in the Radgona hills — explore the cellars of the Prekmurje wine region, known for its aromatic whites and the distinctive red Modra Frankinja.
4. Cycle the Mura River Trail — a flat cycling path follows the river from Gornja Radgona to Murska Sobota and beyond, passing through floodplain forests and wetland bird habitats.
5. Thermal spa day in Radenci or Bad Radkersburg — relax in the mineral-rich thermal waters that have made this region a spa destination for over a century.