Slovenia

SLOVENIA: IN THE HEART OF EUROPE


Where the Alps meet the Mediterranean and the Pannonian Plain meets the Karst, there is Slovenia. This small green country extends in the area of 20,273 km2. It is one of the countries with an exceptional number of top athletes and rich cultural creation. In Slovenia it is not difficult to compare the value of goods and services, as they are priced in one of the most important world currencies – in euros.

Slovenia In Numbers

Population: 2,066.880 (2018)

Position: Slovenia is a Central European country.

Area: 20,273 km2

Government: Slovenia is a democratic republic founded on the principle of the separation of powers into legislative, executive and judicial power.

Capital city: Ljubljana, population: 292.988 (2019).

International affiliations: Slovenia has been a member of the European Union since 1 May 2004 and a member of NATO since 7 April 2004. It is also a member of many other international organisations.

Other major cities: Maribor, Kranj, Celje, Koper, Novo mesto, Velenje, Murska Sobota.

Official language: Slovenian, also Hungarian and Italian in their respective ethnically mixed areas

Religion: The majority of the population is Roman Catholic; Slovenia also has 40 other officially registered religious communities.

Currency: euro (EUR), valid since 1 January 2007.

Climate: Alpine, Pannonian, Mediterranean

Average temperatures: July 21°C, January 0°C

Length of borders: 330 km with Austria , 280 km with Italy, 102 km with Hungary and 670 km with Croatia; in total 1,382 km

Length of coastline: 46.6 km

Highest peak: Triglav, 2,864 m

Ljubljana

A lively green city combining the charm of a small capital and the self-confidence of large European cities

Ljubljana is the green capital of a green country. The image of the town by a river with picturesque bridges and a marketplace was designed by the famous architect Jože Plečnik. The town of a thousand events is surrounded by parks and natural protected areas.

Ljubljana is a city of rich creativity that is always full of vibrant life. A wide variety of festivals, cultural events and open-air happenings take place throughout the year. Discover the architectural heritage of a city that boasts one of the oldest philharmonic societies in the world. Visit the Cankarjev Dom cultural and congress centre, which hosts more than 1,000 events a year, Ljubljana Opera House or the Ljubljana Festival, which brings top-level concerts and performances to the city every summer.

Ljubljana Castle, standing on a hill above the city for about 900 years, is Ljubljana's main attraction. The castle's Outlook Tower and ramparts offer some of the most beautiful views of the city, while the castle houses a museum exhibition on Slovenian history, a puppet museum, and a number of historical rooms such as the Chapel of St George, the Prison, and a video presentation room called Virtual Castle.

Ljubljana Castle, which can quickly be reached by funicular railway, also provides space for art exhibitions, houses a café, a nightclub, and two restaurants (Strelec and Gostilna na Gradu), and serves as a venue for cultural events, family entertainment, dance evenings, and open-air film screenings held under the title of Film under the Stars in the summer.

Bled

This Alpine lake with the only island in Slovenia has been a world-renowned paradise for centuries, impressing visitors with its natural beauty, wealth of legend, and special powers to restore well-being. Look out at the lake from a castle on a cliff and visit the island on a traditional “pletna” boat.

The most beautiful view of the lake, its island, and the surrounding peaks is from the castle towering over the lake on a cliff. Due to its beauty, it is considered to be one of the loveliest wedding venues in Europe, and it has also been the location of important diplomatic and state protocol meetings. In addition to the picturesque architecture, this 12th century castle is also home to a museum collection; a castle printing works, where you can learn about traditional manual printing; the castle cellar, where you can bottle wine and seal the bottle with wax ; a castle smithy, and a restaurant. In the summer months, you can meet a castle lord or experience an archery tournament.

Postojna

The most visited tourist cave in Europe is a place where the proteus or olm offspring are once again hatching. The cave railway has been operating at the cave for 140 years. Predjama Castle is located close to Postojna Cave and is the largest cave castle in the world.

Postojna Cave is the only karst cave with a railway, which was built more than 140 years ago. The unique tourist train will take you to the underground network of karst corridors, galleries and halls. During an hour-and-a-half-long guided tour, you will learn about all of the most important karst features: the largest, 16-metre-high stalagmite known as the Skyscraper, the crystal white symbol of Postojna Cave – the Brilliant, the oldest underground post office in the world and the most famous underground animal – the olm or the human fish.

Predjama Castle and its hidden cave entrances

Predjama Castle is located in the vicinity of the Postojna Cave and is the largest cave castle in the world. For over 800 years it has been guarding a rock face, 123 metres high. Mysterious underground tunnels connect it with the cave directly beneath. The castle, which has also been a film location, offered refuge to its legendary owner Erazem Predjamski in the 15th century. This robber knight resisted a siege for over a year in his castle with its incredible appearance and location. Visitors can take a bus between the Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle in order to see both of these attractions.

Every summer, Predjama Castle is the location of Erazem’s Knight Tournament, in which knights, archers, swordsmen, and horsemen show their fighting abilities and the historic way of life at a knight’s encampment. Medieval days, markets, and camps are also organised by many other Slovenian towns with castles.

Piran: the town of salt

Piran is one of the picturesque medieval towns of Slovenia. Lovers of defensive walls and other architectural and cultural features from times gone by can travel in Slovenia for a week, going from one historical town to another, from the coast to Ljubljana, and from the Alps to the Pannonian Plain.

The most beautiful town on the Slovenian coast grew with the help of salt. The Piran salt pans, where the world-class fleur de sel (flower of salt) is still produced today using age-old methods, were the reason why the picturesque Mediterranean walled town, with its church with a view and cultural attractions, flourished.

The old port town with remnants of a medieval wall is protected as a cultural and historical monument. Narrow streets with closely constructed houses descending from the hill and its church to the central square on the coast only emphasise its Mediterranean character. This worldly coastal town, which developed under the influence of Venice, is considered to be one of the most authentic and most photogenic towns on the Adriatic coast. In addition to architecture, the Maritime Museum, an aquarium and other attractions, visitors flock to this town to enjoy events, the culinary offerings, and nearby special natural features.