This is a guest post by Nazeli K. Kyuregyan.
Slovenia’s minute dimensions are inversely proportional to its huge variety of outdoor adventures. Situated in the heart of Central Europe, the “Country of thousand castles” offers a unique mix of enchanting architecture and natural wonders. With almost 60% of its territory covered with forests, the official faith here is hiking. Add to this the relatively cheap accommodation and the friendly people and you’ll get your next most favourite destination.
Cultural crossroads
Before surrendering to Slovenia’s natural temptations, get acquainted with your hosts’ history and heritage. On a busy European crossroad, the country’s silhouette has been shaped by the Austro-Hungarian, Mediterranean and Balkan cultures, evident in its varied architecture.
The capital Ljubljana is a tiny kingdom of its own with Baroque houses, Gothic churches, Art Nouveau cafes and Austrian-style squares.
As a true fairy-tale setting, its medieval castle stands proudly on top of a green hill; the river Ljubljanica runs next to it with its Dragon Bridge guarded by four fierce dragons.
Two of the best-preserved medieval castles in the country are the Predjama Castle, build partially inside a cave, and the Podsreda Castle, on top of a picturesque hill. Visit also the medieval towns of Koper, Piran and Pruj with their narrow cobbled streets and colourful markets.
Nice to meet you, Nature!
As soon as you’re done familiarizing with Slovenia’s man-made marvels, proceed to the nature-made ones. Exploring some of its 750 caves will make you feel in an elaborate underworld. You must pay a visit to the Skocjan Caves, an awe-inspiring world heritage, and the Postojna Cave – home to 84 animal species including the mysterious ‘human fish’, the olm.
Switch from deep darkness to blinding snow as you give in to skiing – the national sport invented by the Slovenians. Accept the challenge of the Julian Alps with their fantastic slopes, and, if you dare, climb their highest peak Triglav. If you succeed, you will be pronounced a true Slovenian, according to an ancient unwritten law. The Triglav National Park also offers a thick network of pathways for long or short hikes.
Meanwhile, try to squeeze in your busy extreme-sports agenda the delicious Slovenian cuisine. A hard skiing day will definitely require a plate of ričet (barley porridge boiled with beans), a few cevapcici (traditional long meatballs) or kranjska kolbasa (a type of sausage) and a slice of prekmurska gibanica – a layered cake with poppy seeds, apples, walnuts and cottage cheese. Of course, you’ll accompany your dinner with an excellent Slovenian wine like the light red Cviček or the much darker Metliska Crnina. Try also the cherry and plum liqueurs.
A solid breakfast with an extra-large nut roll called potica and a strong Turkish coffee are obligatory before facing the fierce torrents of the Soča River for some unforgettable rafting. If you are a free climber, you’ll cry tears of joy at the sight of the Karst rocks in the west.
Slovenia’s list of outdoor opportunities goes on and on and on: bird watching in its natural parks, diving in the charming lake Bled, sailing the waves of the Adriatic, mountain biking in the Downhill-Kanin Mountain Bike Park are just a few. But, if somehow you’re not the adventurous type, Slovenia will not let you yawn: Portoroz will love to share with you its golden Adriatic beaches, Lipica its luxurious casinos, the Pannonian Plain its golf courses.
At the end of the day, both the thrill-loving explorers and the easy-going spirits will share their day’s stories in a steamy outdoor thermal pool guarded by the tall, Slovenian snow-covered pines.
About the Author:
Nazeli K. Kyuregyan is currently studying Publishing and Journalism at the University of Verona in Italy. Her multicultural background and passion for travelling have convinced her that the discovery of new cultures is an essential key to understanding ourselves.
Images supplied by the author.
As you know Slovenia is a passion of mine and I’ve done a number of write ups on the country! Love that it is getting more and more exposure these days!
Yes, I’ve read your Slovenia posts and I know how much you love it! I agree that it is getting more exposure lately because a few months I knew nothing about it, and now I feel like I’ve been reading more often about it.
Looks like a beautiful country. Not a lot of people seem to go there as well, which is a bit of a draw card for me.
Yes, I don’t know of many people who have gone to Slovenia, but lately it has started to get some exposure on the web, so maybe it will inspire more people to go.