- Slovenia is one of the most bio-diverse countries in the world.
- Over a third of the territory of Slovenia is protected.
- The Karst plateau in Slovenia has given its name to karst phenomena all over the world.
- The oldest grapevine in the world grows in Slovenia’s second biggest city.
- Slovenia is one of the richest countries in Europe in terms of water.
- Slovenia has more than 100 castles.
- In Slovenia you can be at the sea or a ski resort in a matter of hours.
- Slovenia is the third most forested country in Europe.
The Central European nation of Slovenia offers tourists a wide variety of landscapes in a small space: Alpine in the northwest, Mediterranean in the southwest, Pannonian in the northeast and Dinaric in the southeast. They roughly correspond to the traditional regions of Slovenia, based on the former four Habsburg crown lands (Carniola, Carinthia, Styria, and the Littoral). Each offers its own natural, geographic, architectural and cultural specificities. This picturesque nation comprises of snow-capped mountains, lush meadows, pristine lakes, subterranean caves and the restless sea, making it one of the unique destinations in Europe.
The nation’s capital, Ljubljana, has many important Baroque and Art Nouveau buildings, with several important works of the native born architect Jože Plečnik. Other attractions include the Julian Alps with picturesque Lake Bled and the Soča Valley, as well as the nation’s highest peak, Mount Triglav. Perhaps even more famous is Slovenia’s karst named after the Karst Plateau in the Slovenian Littoral. More than 28 million visitors have visited Postojna Cave, while a 15-minute ride from it are Škocjan Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Several other caves are open to public, including the Vilenica Cave.
Further in the same direction is the Adriatic coast, where the most important historical monument is the Venetian Gothic Mediterranean town of Piran. The neighboring town of Portorož is a popular modern tourist resort, offering entertainment in gambling tourism. The former fishermen town of Izola has also been transformed into a popular tourist destination; many tourists also appreciate the old Medieval center of the port of Koper, which is however less popular among tourists than the other two Slovenian coastal towns.
Styria is known for its white wine, especially the Ljutomer Riesling, after the ski resort Pohorje, after summer cultural festivals in Maribor, and after pumpkin seed oil. It is also known as a hop growing area producing Styrian Goldings, a variety of the English aroma hop Fuggles.
The northeastern Prekmurje region is known for its distinctive cuisine. Among traditional dishes, the best known are a pork, turnip and millet casserole called bujta repa and a layered pastry called prekmurska gibanica. An important spa town in the region is Moravske Toplice, which is attracting many German, Austrian, Italian and Russian visitors.
Rural tourism is important throughout the country, and it is especially developed in the Kras region, parts of Inner Carniola, Lower Carniola and northern Istria, and in the area around Podčetrtek and Kozje in eastern Styria. Horse-riding, cycling and hiking are among the most important tourist activities in these areas.
Triglav National Park (Slovene: Triglavski narodni park) is a national park located in Slovenia. It was named after Mount Triglav, a national symbol of Slovenia. Triglav is situated almost in the middle of the national park. From it the valleys spread out radially, supplying water to two large river systems having their sources in the Julian Alps: the Soča and the Sava, flowing to the Adriatic and Black Sea, respectively.
The Karavanke mountain range and the Kamnik Alps are also important tourist destinations, as are the Pohorje mountains. Unlike the Julian Alps, however, these areas seem to attract mostly Slovene visitors and visitor from the neighboring regions of Austria, and remain largely unknown to tourists from other countries. The biggest exception is the Logar Valley, which has been promoted heavily since the 1980s.
Slovenia has a number of smaller Medieval towns, which serve as important tourist attractions. Among them, the most famous are Ptuj, Škofja Loka and Piran. Fortified villages, mostly located in western Slovenia (Štanjel, Vipavski Križ, Šmartno), have become an important tourist destination, as well, especially due to the cultural events organized in their scenic environments.
Source: Wikipedia
Shortly:
Half of Slovenia’s colorful area is covered by forests, but the country also has another part, a tiny, but very nice coastal area on the Adriatic Sea, with such venetian style cities as Izola, Piran and Portoroz, as well as 2,800 meters high mountains and ski resorts.
The picturesque lakes Bled and Bohinj both lie in a wonderful landscape. The gem of the karstic area is the Postojna cave.
The tiny country has plenty of wild rivers suitable for rafting and healing waters. Golf, mountineering, diving, mountain biking and rock climbing are also warmly welcomed in Slovenia.
The Lippizan is well known all around the globe. All of this is completed by such medieval towns as Maribor, Skofja Loka and Ljubljana, and such romantic castles as the Predjama.
*TO FEEL SLOVENIA MEANS… TO FEEL GOOD 😉
