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 and 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 most 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 Primorska. 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 as 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 tourist 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. In 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 of 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 partly 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 stamp 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 Ljubljanica 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 and 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.Due to its geographical position, Ljubljana also represents an ideal starting point to discover the amazingly diverse features and beauty of Slovenia.The Ljubljana Tourist Board and its Tourist Information Office stand at your disposal for information regarding accommodation, sightseeing tours and conference facilities in the city and will gladly provide you with general promotional brochures as well as with the travel agents’ manual.pohorje and the Maribor region is a green oasis on the eastern end of the Alps. Maribor Pohorje covers an area of about 1000 square km and is covered with coniferous forests. Pohorje is divided, according to its boundaries into: Maribor and Hoče, Slovenjska Bistrica, Konjice and Zreče, Ruše, Lovrenc, Ribnica and Slovenj Gradec Pohorje. Maribor and Hoče, Konjice and Zreče, and Slovenj Gradec Pohorje are winter tourist areas where skiing centres have developed (Areh, Rogla, Kope); in the Maribor Pohorje region there are competitions for the World Cup in Alpine skiing for women. Other areas of Pohorje offer widespread mountain trails for hikers and lovers of cycling and horseback riding. Pohorje is also visited by lovers of parachuting, hang-gliding, ballooning and those who enjoy discovering its primeval forest and pure waters. with a little less than 115,000 inhabitants developed in the foothills of Pohorje. It is considered the second most important centre of Slovenia. It boasts the oldest vine in the world, which has been growing by the Drava River for more than four centuries. Along the Drava River which has always marked the life of Maribor, there is the picturesque and lively Lent and there you can take a trip on a raft.Bearing witness to a flourishing history is the rich architecture of past centuries, which reflects in the facades of the houses. Contrary to its stormy history, the old town centre is well preserved with visible remains of the defence wall.
Mariborians are renowned as being good organizers and hosts. The international multicultural Festival Lent, Borštnik gathering which is the culmination of Slovene theatrical creativity and events within the frame of The Embrace of the Old Vine, The Rafter’s Christening, and along with skiing and a number of other top sports competitions there are excellent opportunities for different kinds of experiences in Maribor. A casino – Casino Maribor, enriches the nightlife in the city. Extensive vineyards, which rise from the edge of the town over the hills of Maribor, are interwoven with more than 50 kilometres of wine roads. These roads are sown with wine shops and tourist farms, which with their homemade wine and food, entice ramblers, cyclists and friends of the iron horse. The wine roads begin their way up the hills right from the city streets, where guests can visit the underground city cellar, which is one of the biggest and oldest classical wine-cellars in Europe, to taste selected wines.Maribor with its congress premises in the Convention Centre Habakuk, is becoming an important congress centre. The Wellness & SPA-centre in Hotel Habakuk and the Medical-Recreational centre Fontana offer excellent opportunities for relaxing holidays.The mighty but easily accessible Julian Alps, the tourist area in this attractive geographical area is linked by the offer of four developed tourist towns: Bled, Kranjska Gora, Bohinj and Bovec with the Soča Valley. Most of the area is within the which measures 85 hectares and is one of the largest natural parks in Europe. The park lies in the vicinity of high stony mountains including Mount Triglav (2864 m); the highest mountain of Slovenia – and deep river gorges, highland karst potholes and friendly highlands. It protects many endemic animal and plant species (living in the park, among unique plant species there are chamois, mountain sheep, wild roosters, grouse, eagles and marmots) and the tradition of the hard life of alpine dairymen and mountaineers.
The renowned with its lake and the island with a church from the 17th century (and the bell of wishes) is situated at the edge of the park, and above it stands a medieval castle. Bled, celebrating its 1000th anniversary in 2004 is considered a real tourist paradise with its thermal springs and other natural attractions, numerous recreational possibilities, its conference hall, casino and golf corse. The best rowers of the world measure their strength in competition at Bled.is the starting point for numerous mountain hikes, Lake Bohinj and Bohinjska Bistrica are a paradise for lovers of water sports (kayaking, canoeing, rafting, hydrospeeding, swimming) and fishermen. In its surroundings there are ski slopes and trails for cross-country skiiers and also facilities for mountain biking, paragliding, sport climbers, horseback riders, tennis and mini golf players. Bohinj (and its surrounding areas) inspire visitors with a rich ethnologic heritage with many cultural and sacral attractions as well. In Bohinjska Bistrica a new water park is being built.A famous tourist destination attracts visitors with outdoor sports (hiking, mountaineering, cycling, horsmanship, paragliding, fishing etc) in the summer, and in winter with excellent slopes for winter sports and other joys of the winter such as the dog sled , night sledging from Vršič, roaming across the landscape by snowmobile. In Kranjska Gora there are the World Cup competitions in Alpine skiing. Visitors can enjoy its casino and wellness programmes, and younger visitors can enjoy the original land of the Slovene hero Kekec. In the nearby Planica, in the shelter of two thousand metre high mountains, the best ski jumpers in the world compete every year; we have seen the competitors surpass 100 and 200 metres in our Planica. In the Soča Valley, the valley of the emerald river, attracts those who search peace as well as lovers of adrenaline. Here there are opportunities for numerous water sports . from kayaking to canoeing and rafting. You can also go paragliding, hang-gliding or cycling and experience the valley which is also loved by fishermen. The largest number of accommoation and guest-houses can be found in Bovec, and From the valley you can reach the highest Slovene ski centre Kanin which is only an hour’s drive from the coast, and where it is possible to ski until Summer. Along the Idrijca River you can come to and This is the home of famous lace-making tradition, Idrija’s mercury mine and the Gewerkenegg Castle. That area also has reminders of many terrible battles of the First World War. They are presented in the award winning Kobarid museum. In the upper part of the valley is picturesqe Trenta with the information office of the Triglav National Park, a museum and the famous alpine botanical garden Julijana.Slovenia is an excellent place for sport and recreation; active holidays are possible in all parts of the country during all seasons. In the winter time visitors are attracted by wonderful ski slopes, in summer by the waters and the sky above Slovenia, in spring and autumn by the colourful hiking and cycling trails… Slovenian ski centers and winter resorts attract Alpine and tour skiers, cross-country skiers, borders, sledgers. Many schools of skiing will introduce you to winter joys which can also be experienced by air and at some places – by paragliding.Numerous clubs for parachuting, hang-gliding, ballooning and flying centres offer the experiences of enjoyable winds. The land of forests promises many joys to hunters and clean rivers and lakes attract fishermen. The Slovenian coast of the Adriatic sea is a nice starting point for lovers of sailing, surfing and diving. The Soča and other rivers present a challenge to kayakers, canoeists and rafters. Everywhere across Slovenia there are riding clubs , and there are well-marked mountain and other hiking trials . Bicycling is also possible almost everywhere – from the temporary tourist to the lovers of more challenging rides, who will enjoy specially prepared and marked cycling trails. As a part of Slovenian tourist centres, especially health resorts, many sport halls, tennis courts, squash courts etc. are available. golf has become an increasingly popular sport among the lovers of active holidays; it is played not only by Slovenians but also by our foreign visitors. It has been popular in our country since the year 1938. At that time the golf course at picturesque Bled was opened. Today golfers are welcome to eight golf courses and numerous practice areas.