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Slovenia is a central European country located between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea. About 20,000 sq km in size, It is a land of great variety and natural beauty, featuring mountains, hills, plains, rivers and lakes, including extensive underground systems. Its capital Ljubljana is a modern city with a history reaching back to the Romans, when it was an important trade and military centre on the route between north and south of Europe. more...
Slovenian coastline, squeezed between the territory of Triest and Croatian Istria encompasses the port city Koper, and the recreation and tourist centres of Izola, Piran and Portorož. It includes the townships Lucija and Sečovlje with its unique Nature Museum-Sečovlje salt pans. more...
The recorded history of Ljubljana reaches to the period of Roman Empire between 1st and 5th century of our era. Strategically located on the river Ljubljanica with a great fortified castle above, it has been prosperous throughout its history. Rebuilt several times due to earthquakes, the most recent image of the city centre is a creation of the urbanist architect Joze Plecnik, whose expressed intention it was, to make Ljubljana a worthy capital of Slovenia. more...
The castle on its hill overlooking the oldest parts of the city Ljubljana is a remarkable feature of the cityscape. It was first mentioned in 1144 . A Habsburg seat, it received its present form in 15 century. From it ruled the Habsburg family. Today it is a favourite spot for walks and relaxation, but also for receptions, concerts, weddings and exhibitions. more...
Joze Plecnik has left his mark on three European cities, Vienna, Prague and Ljubljana. Ljubljana became for him a life's work in urban planning. He built magnificent public buildings and parks, and regulated the flow of Ljubljanica river so that it no longer flooded and became a focus for city life. more...
Grad, near the town Grad in Goricko - the region of 511 sq km north of river Mura - is one of the largest castles in Slovenia. It was first mentioned in 1214. In recent past it served as the administrative centre of the region, and at present functions also as regional museum. more...
The Soča Valley extends on the western border of Slovenia from the Alps towards the sea, and is regarded as one of the most picturesques and beautiful places in Slovenia. The Soča river is 96km long,flowing from high mountains down the valley. Since ancient times it has been trade route and the site of Hallstatt culture. It has become popular for recreational activities such as rafting, kayaking, canoeing, hiking and fishing. The river is renowned for its beautiful aquamarine colour. more...
The distinctive, towering shape of the Nanos mountain dominates and shelters the south western Slovenian landscape, interspersed with villages, green valleys, vineyards, and Karst limestone buildings and walls, which give it character . Nanos is a mostly forrested plateau which stretches for 10km along the fertile Vipava valley. more...
Pivka Valley is part of Slovenian kras, a unique limestone geological area, marked by underground rivers, intermittent lakes and rivers, and numerous caves. Postojna Cave and Škocjan Cave are the largest and most accessible, attracting an unending stream of visitors. Pivka river emerges in Zagorje, flows partly on the surface, partly underground along the Pivka Valley, depending on the season and the rainfall, disappears underground into Postojna cave system, to reappear as Unica in the Planinsko polje, there continuing its performance as vanishing river and occasionally as a lake.
Pivka valley and Planinsko polje are well worth a visit. This is a karst region of unspoilt beauty and unique natural phenomena. more...
The architect urbanist Joze Plecnik envisaged the sluicegates as a monumental farewell of the river Ljubljanica on its exit from the Ljubljana city centre. more...
In winter snow covers most of Slovenia, with the exception of the coastal regions, where there are only brief periods of below freezing temperature. Winter is not a comfortable season. You need protection of warm home and winter clothing. Then you can truly enjoy the beauty of snow flakes dancing in the air, the soft white festive cover of the fresh snow, the soft white shapes. For the adults there is the joy of skiing in the mountains, for the children, any hillock provides fun and training for sleighing and skiing, as practice for later serious snow sports. more...
Sasha Ceferin invites you to visit the unique Ljubljansko Barje/Marshes to the south of Ljubljana and enjoy the serene beauty and mystery of the area, with its unique flowering plants, birds and insects, and the ancient history of the lake dwellers and the 5000 year old wooden wheel. You are invited to share your own visual experiences of Slovenia by contributing an album for publication in the Slovenian Photolog. more...
The lake of Cerknica has perplexed people since ancient times. The Greek historian Strabo (63BC-23AD) called it Lucus Lugeus -the Mourning Lake. It was not until Valvasor explained how the water system worked in the 17th century that this periodic or intermittent lake was fully understood. For his efforts Valvasor was made a member of the Royal Society in London in 1697. - Cerknica is a polje above a collapsed Karst cavern full of sinkholes, potholes, syphons and underground tunnels, that can stay dry for much of the year and then flood. The surface area of the lake can reach almost 40sq km. It is a popular recreational area for fishing, windsurfing, swimming and ice skating in winter. more...
Slovenia in its location south of the Alps is largely known for the stunning alpine features of its north-west, with picturesque high mountains, high pastures, lakes and rivers. Particularly the lake Bled and Bohinj have always attracted a large international public. more...
It is a term that has entered international usage as "karst". It denotes an area of permeable karstic limestone. In geological terms it denotes a dry surface area, underground rivers, caves and intermittent lakes. Slovenian Kras has been defined by geologists as classical or primary karst. A beautiful picturesque environment, it is characterized by diverse geological formations, periodically vanishing and reappearing rivers and lakes, chasms and amazing cave systems. Stone is the main building material, lending the countryside its distinctive character. more...
The fortified church of Hrastovlje in Slovenian Istria is a unique monument of Gothic art and a historical document. It has retained its high walls, and vivid frescoes, particularly the Dance of Death, the only complete fresco of this charateristic image of European religious baroque painting. more...
Planinsko polje is a typical karstic polje, a natural grassland, on which forest growth has been prevented due to the intermittent flooding.It is 6km long and up to 3.5km wide, with river Unica meandering over its length. Pastureland in summer, the plain becomes a lake in the wet season. There is nothing to compare the beauty and magic of a landscape that becomes a lake overnight. more...
Traditional rural architecture of Slovenia is varied, reflecting the diversity of materials, climate, the land, lifestyle and history of each region. In the south the main building material is stone, in the Alpine north more wood is being used. The traditional straw roofing has been long replaced by bricks in all the regions, with just two examples left in Pomurje. In the villages there are still many 300 years old houses still in use, but constant rebuilding some due to fire, war and earthquakes has led to a great deal of rebuilding and renovation. In the more recent times the old houses have for their neighbours spanking new structures, keeping by and large some of the most characteristic features of the typical local style. more...
The river Ljubljanica is rightly named for the city Ljubljana to which it has given its character, its charm and its heart. Known as the river of seven names, changing its name every time it surfaces, it starts underground in the Pivka valley and emerges finally as Ljubljanica near Vrhnika. It flows into the river Sava after it has taken its course through Ljubljana. more...
