Small european state Slovenia located between the foothills of the Alps and the Adriatic Sea. In the west, it borders with Italy, in the north - with Austria, in the south - with Croatia, and in the east - with Hungary.
Slovenia has a predominantly mountainous terrain and therefore the image of a "small ski paradise" has been firmly attached to it. In the north of the country stretches the Karavanke ridge and ridges of the eastern Alps, in the south - the Savinsky and Stone Alps, and on the west side - the Julian Alps, there is Mount Triglav (the highest point of the country).
As of July 2009, 2,005,692 people live in the country. The largest ethnic group are Slovenes (83.1%), Croats, Serbs, Hungarians, Macedonians, Albanians, Bosnians, Italians and Montenegrins are much less represented.
The Slovenian language is considered the state language, but in areas bordering Italy, Hungary - Italian, Hungarian languages also have official status. Most Slovenes are free to speak one of the following languages - Italian, English or German.
In Slovenia, euros are paid, which can always be exchanged at hotels, bank branches, travel agencies, at the Ljubljana train station and post offices.
57.8% of the population attends the Catholic Church, Orthodox Christians - 2.3%, Muslims - 2.4% and Protestants - 0.8%.
Slovenia - the capital and major cities
According to 2007 data, in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, the number of inhabitants was 267,920. This city is an important cultural and political center of the country.
You have to walk around the capital, as transport is prohibited in many squares and streets of the Old Town. A leisurely acquaintance with Ljubljana can take a whole day, but in order to fully feel the unique atmosphere of the city, you need to spend two or even three days in it.
Located on the right side of the river, the Old Town is famous, first of all, for the Ljubljana Castle, which was founded at the turn of the 10-11th centuries and rebuilt into the Baroque style in the 17th century (the dominant Ljubljana style). Fragments of Illyrian, Celtic, and ancient Roman structures have survived to the present day in the masonry of the castle. From the panoramic platform on fine days, the Julian Alps, Mount Triglav and the temples located on the surrounding hills are perfectly visible. Prešeren Square, another important attraction, got its name in honor of the famous poet Franz Prešern.
This square houses the Franciscan church, erected in the Baroque style in the 17th century. In the central part of the capital is located Trimostovye - these are three pedestrian bridges decorated with dragons, thrown across the Ljubljana River. Their author, the architect Jozhe Plechnik, created the unique flavor of old Ljubljana. Not far from Preshern Square is an indoor city market. Art lovers will find a huge number of museums and exhibitions.
You can also list such large cities as Celje, Maribor, Velenje, Kranj, Novo-Mesto, Koper, Trbovle, Ptuj and Nova Gorica.
Slovenia - holidays and tours
Slovenia will give an unforgettable experience - clear lakes and mountain rivers, grape valleys and green forests, snowy alpine peaks .... The most popular mixed tours: ski and thermal resorts, sea vacations and alpine lakes. In winter, tourists visit ski resorts in the Slovenian Alps.
Medical and thermal resorts, sea resorts on the Adriatic coast - Koper, Piran, Isola and Postorozh are very popular.
Slovenia - Attractions
Postojna cave, Bohinj and Bled lakes, Socha river valley, Lipitsa stud farm, Logarska valley, Shkotsyansky caves, Vršič pass, medieval cities: Shkofya-Loka, Piran, Ptuj, Izola, Idria ...
The southern region of Slovenia is famous for its amazing fantastic karst formations in underground halls and caves. The most famous cave is Postojnska Jama.
In the Triglav National Park, which occupies an area of 85,000 hectares, the Socha and Sava rivers take their roots, there are many waterfalls and lakes.
Alpine resort Bled is located in the north of Slovenia. Its main attraction is the glacial lake Bled, created by the Bohinj Glacier and fed by warm springs (in summer up to + 24 ° C).
It freezes only in frosty winters, while forming a natural ice rink. The depth of Bled is 31 meters, and it is rightly called the pearl of Slovenia. In the middle of the lake, on the islet, is the Church of the Assumption, and on one of the shores of Bled is the Blaski Grad Castle, which offers a panorama of the mountains and the lake.
Tourists like to visit such ski resorts as Bovec, Kranjska Gora, Rogla and Maribor Pohorje.
In the city of Maribor, the second largest in this country, you can look at the Judicial Tower, the old Dravsky Bridge, Slomshka Square and Gradskaya Square.
Roman ruins are preserved in Ptuj, where traditional carnivals are now held.
In Piran, it will be interesting to visit the Church of St. George, the courthouse and the town hall, and in Koper, the Prestor’s palace and the Gothic cathedral.
Slovenia - weather (climate)
In Slovenia, a temperate continental climate prevails. The country is conditionally divided into three climatic zones: Alpine, Mediterranean and Central European. In winter, the average air temperature is usually around 0 ° C, and in summer - + 21 ° C. For the holidays in the mountains, September - May are considered the best months. The summer swimming season lasts from June to early November.
Weather in Slovenia now:
Slovenia - Cuisine
Be sure to try "strukli" (flour balls with minced meat), pork sausages and dried ham "prshut", which is served in thin slices of wine.
Slovenian desserts are also very good: gibanitsa (stuffed with nuts, poppy seeds, apples, raisins, cottage cheese puff pastry, drizzled with cream or butter on top) and "potitsa" (pies with nuts).
Local wines and spirits made from pears, plum apples and honey will not leave anyone indifferent. So, liqueur "Plestershka Parsley", in the bottle of which there will be a pear.
Slovenia - interesting facts
In restaurants, hotels, service charges are included in the bill. It is customary to tip taxi drivers, waiters, gas station workers and porters, accounting for 10% of the total bill.
Slovenia - visa application
Slovenia is a party to the Schengen agreement. To obtain an appropriate visa, you must provide: a passport, a copy of it, an application, 2 photos, a travel agency voucher, confirmation of the hotel reservation, confirmation of sufficient money (25 euros per day for a child and twice as much for an adult), a certificate of employment, medical insurance and its copy.
Visa processing costs 35 euros.
Slovenia - Embassy
103006, Moscow, st. Malaya Dmitrovka, building 14, building 1
tel. (+7 095) 209-0815
Map of Slovenia
