slovenija

The Slovene coast which measures 46.6 kilometres is covered with abundant vegetation. Here is a natural reserve with a rich supply of marl and sandstone and the unique Strunjan cliff which ascends 80 metres above the sea and is the highest flysch wall on the Adriatic coast. Here are the Sečovlje saltworks, first mentioned in the 13th century. Due to their extremely abundant natural and historical heritage they were named a regional park and are a rich sanctuary of plant aand animal worlds. They play a very important role in the world of ornithology, because they offer ideal conditions for birds due to the warm climate and abundance of food in the saltwork pools. So about 200 bird species have been seen at the saltworks and they provide a natural habitat for about 80 bird species which nest there.

Here the towns of Piran, Izola and Koper attract visitors with their medieval image. with its historical core represents one of the mmost picturesque parts of the northern part of the Istrian Peninsula. Water sports are very important; there are many regattas in the Bay of Koper and the town has built a small marina. It also organises the Summer Festival of PPrimorska. The town’s surroundings and the countryside are exceptionally attractive: the steep rock walls by Črni Kal and Osp provide an ideal place for lovers of free climbing and the countryside “ boasts” specific culinary and wine offers.

is a coastal town with a rich fishing tradition. Most of the tourism is concentrated on the eastern side, at the bay Simonov zaliv, where there is a seaside resort with swimming facilities, hotels and restaurants. On the western edge of the town is the marina of Izola.

The old seaport of lies at the end of the Piran peninsula; it was surrounded by walls in the Middle Ages (200 metres of the city walls are still preserved). The whole town is protected aas a cultural and historical monument and it has preserved its medieval layout with narrow streets and compact houses, which rise in steps from the coastal lowland into the hills and give the whole area a typical Mediterranean look. Today it is an administrative and supply centre and also an important coastal tourist resort with hotels, restaurants and holiday houses, the Sergej Mašera Maritime Museum and an aquarium, cultural institutions and events.

a tourist town which boasts the longest ttourist tradition in Slovenia and offers comfortable hotels and modern swimming pools, restaurants and events. It is a popular conference centre – various conference and meeting facilities can accommodate up to 1500 visitors. Portorož has a casino, a sport airport and marina. It is a town visited by tourists from all over Europe and other countries as well. It is an internationally known holiday centre and climatic health seaside resort.

In the Šavrinska Hills in the hinterland of Portorož lies a number of old Istrian settlements (Padna, Krkavče, Koštabona, Pomjan, Gažon), and not far from the coast there is the picturesque village Hrastovlje with its Church of the Holy Trinity which is adorned by late gothic narrative frescoes. Due to these Hrastovlje is considered as a real treasure of medieval frescoe arts in Slovenia.

It is ’’the fault’’ of limestone and water that the Karst has two faces – one above and one under its surface. At the surface they create karst sinkholes, karren, springs, karst windows and poljes (Planinsko, Cerkniško polje), and under the surface there are numerous potholes and karst caves – it is said that the Slovene Karst is the most beautiful part of our planet’s underground world. IIn Slovenia there are more than one thousand karst caves and potholes, 20 treasures of limestone masterpieces by disappearing karst waters are opened for tourists. The most frequented are the Postojna Cave, the Škocjan Caves, Pivka and Črna jama Cave, Križna jama Cave, Vilenica etc.

The most famous and frequently visited is the first mentioned in 1213. With more than 26 million visitors so far it has been the most visited cave in Europe. There are about five kilometres of regulated passages out of a total of 21 kilometres. Visitors are taken for a tour of the cave which is full of shining stalagmites and stalactities of different colours and shapes and little lakes with clear water by a special electric train. The main attraction of the Cave is the human fish, proteus anguinus. The human fish is up to 30 centimetres long troglodyctic amphibian which has no eyes and no protective pigment either, so its colour of skin is similar to that of the human race.

Beside Postojna Caves the most famous are the situated at the heart of the Rakov Škocjan Regional Park. In 1986 they were included in UNESCO’s list of World Natural and Cultural Heritage sites because oof their immense importance to the world’s natural heritage. Škocjan Caves possess an extremely widespread system of cave passages which are 5.8 kilometers long and were created by the Reka River. “Cerkvenikov most” (a natural Bridge), is the most famous part of the cave. The bridge ascents 50 metres above the Reka in one of the largest underground caves in Europe. There are also fascinating flora and fauna in the caves.

There are no limits to the attractions of the Slovene Karst. You may not have known that the noble Lipizzaner horses originated in Slovenia. The birthplace of Lipizzaners is where the Stud Farm has been developing them for more than four centuries. Today it is a tourist recreational centre with its Riding School and it is known as an international centre of sports riding events. Visitors can go horseback riding, watch the performances of the Classical Riding School, ride in a carriage, enjoy the golf course or try their luck in the casino.

Villages with stony houses where excellent wines, especially the red Teran are served and where pršut is cured in the bora wind are the Slovene Karst. Štanjel, for example is considered a fascinating urban monument which boasts

a terraced scheme of a medieval settlement.

liublijana with about 276,000 inhabitants, is considered a city which suits everyone from its inhabitants to its numerous visitors as well. Despite the fact that it ranks among the middle sized European cities, it maintains the friendliness of a small town, and at the same time possesses all the characteristics of a metropolis.

Here, at the meeting point of the cultures of the east and the west, the old interlaces in harmony with the new .. In Ljubljana the remainders of all the five milleniums of its history are preserved, among these is the legacy of the Roman town of Emona and the Old Town with its medieval castle, Reneissance and Baroque facades, ornamented portals and uneven roofs. The mosaic is complemented with the bridges over the Ljubljanica River and the vast Tivoli Park which stretches into the very centre of the city.

The present image of Ljubljana is generated mainly by the Italian Baroque, and ppartly by two hundred year earlier Secession period, which is reflected in the style of numerous buildings errected immediately after the eartquake in 1895.

In the first half of the 20th century the famous architect Jože Plečnik placed a strong personal sstamp on his native city while also taking European standards into consideration. The city’s image was later shaped by his disciples, who were a little more liberal than him, and the Art Nouveau creations of other renowned young Slovene architects.

Ljubljana is a city of culture, home of many theatres, museums and galleries and it also boasts one of the oldest philharmonic academy in the world. More then 10,000 cultural events take place in the Slovene capital – top quality musical, theatre and fine arts performers as well as alternative and avant-garde performers – which can be discovered in 14 international festivals.

In the warmer months of the year numerous cafes and restaurants move outdoors, to the banks of the LLjubljanica and the squares of the city centre. Here the people of Ljubljana meet for a morning coffee after our Saturday visit to the market or our Saturday visit to the flea market or for an evening chat with friends. The first impression of Ljubljana obtained by the visitor is that it is an exceptionally young city, because here there are more than 50,000 students giving it a special pulse of youth.

Many scientists come to Ljubljana because of its University aand institutes with international reputations.

Famous artists from all over the world visit it because of its creative spirit, economists because of numerous business meetings and fairs and international experts because of conferences – to sum up: Ljublana is a city where people often travel on business or they come again due to pleasant memories of their previous visit.