Slovenia

The Republic of Slovenia is located in central southern part of Europe.  It borders Italy to the west, the Adriatic Sea to the south-west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the north-east and Croatia to the south and east.  It has coastal areas but also alpine areas, lowlands and Karst.  Slovenia has been a member of the EU since 1994, and is a member of the Council of Europe and other organizations.  The Euro was adopted as currency in January 2007.  The country has a rich and complicated history, having been a part of the Roman Empire and wearing many different labels throughout its history until gaining independence in 1991.    About fifty percent of the country is forest, making it the third most forested in Europe, after Sweden and Finland.  There are remains of ancient forests, grasslands, fields, orchards and vineyards.  The highest mountain in Slovenia is Triglay at 9,397 feet (2,865 m).    There are many microclimates, with sub-mediterranean on the coast, continental in the plateau regions and valleys to the east, and Alpine in the mountainous areas.  The official language is Slovenian, but Hungarian and Italian are also spoken in areas of the Hungarian and Italian border regions. The country is fast developing and attracting a lot of foreign investors. 

For such a small country there is a wide diversity of landscapes.  There are the Alps in the north of the country and the Dinarides in the south.  In the south-western part of the country is an area of Karst, which comprises sink-holes above ground, and underground habitat for many species with caves and potholes.  Some areas of the Karst are open to visitors and on UNESCO’s list of natural heritage sites. The limestone Karst caves contain many amazing and unique formations and stalactites

There are plains and plateau areas and it is believed that many of the wooden posts used to construct Venice came from the pine forests of Slovenia. 
Some of the main tourist attractions and areas in Slovenia include Lake Bled and Lake Bohini, the caves of Karst, natural thermal mineral springs and spas, and the many picturesque medieval towns

At the eastern side of the Alps is the Maribor and Pohorje region where the main winter sports and ski areas are located.  All types of winter sports are available, including skiing, snowboarding, cross-country, sledding (www.slovenia.info).

Triglay National Park in the Julian Alps is popular with tourists where the towns of Bled, Kranjska, Bohini and Gora are located. There are many natural thermal health resorts and spas which are very popular for relaxation and rejuvenation.   In spring and summer the lakes and mountains are popular for outdoor activities such as fishing, mountain biking and hiking.  The coast of Slovenia on the Adriatic Sea is the place to go for sailing, diving and other water sports.   Slovenia’s rivers offer plenty of fun for canoeing, kayaking and rafting. There are also waterfalls, glacial lakes, and whitewater rivers to explore. 

Slovenia also has many golf courses, the first of which was opened at Bled.   There are casinos including the types of resorts and entertainment complexes you might expect to find in America. 

Slovenia is rich with history and this can be explored in its museums, galleries and thousands of churches throughout the country, of many eras and architectural types.  There are also many Cistercian and Carthusian monasteries.

Websites:  www.slovenia.info

Ljubljana

Ljubljana is the capital and largest city of Slovenia, located in the central part of the country between the Adriatic Sea and the Alps at close to 300m above sea level.  The city is a good place to base yourself if you plan to explore all the wonders of the country as they are all in within a few hours drive. 

Greek myth legend tells that Ljubljana was discovered by Jason and the Argonauts whilst fleeing with the Golden Fleece where he fought a monster known as the Ljubljana Dragon which is now on the country’s coat of arms.

Ljubljana has been destroyed by earthquakes and rebuilt several times in different styles. The cathedral is a must see and there are many other impressive and interesting buildings and sites to explore. A funicular connection to the Castle at Ljubljana was built in 2006. 

The city has many music festivals throughout the year, including classical, popular and jazz. 

For more information visit:  www.ljubljana-tourism.si

European Guide

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Czech Rebublic
• Denmark
• England
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Holland
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Malta
• The Netherlands
• Northern Ireland
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Russia
• Scotland
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Turkey
• Wales