Slovenia at a glance

Visitors come to Slovenia for many different reasons. We have designed this section to offer you an insight into the heartbeat of Slovenian life. Peer through the window at the lifestyle, habits and customs of Slovenes and find out what "pršut" might be (nothing for vegetarians!) and which exquisite local drop goes best with it. Perhaps you might like to know more about the history which has made Slovenia what it is today, which colourful events not to miss, or simply how to make the most of your stay by experiencing some of its best sights, arts, culture and excellent cuisine.

• tourism • climate & ecology • population & people

• education & science • cuisine • history & government

• economy • arts & culture • major events

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Tourism

Slovenian tourism is expanding at a rapid pace, perhaps as fast as any other part of the economy. Slovenia has been a fairly well-hidden tourist destination, known and loved until recent years by a select few. This has enabled it to avoid the problems of excessive visitor numbers, and you will find it in a remarkably natural state.

Ljubljana, the capital city, is the logical place to begin. It attracts visitors for weekend breaks and longer visits, and has a unique charm and atmosphere. The architecture is a special blend of Baroque and Art Nouveau, and Jože Plečnik, the city's favourite son, left an indelible impression on his home town in the years either side of the second world war. The best things about Ljubljana are the lively and colourful open market, where you may buy just about anything for the lunch table; taking a leisurely stroll along the banks of the river Ljubljanica, as you pass by numerous outdoor bars and cafes in summer months, or a visit to one of the countless artistic or cultural establishments, including opera and ballet, many theatres, the symphony hall, museums of every kind, or a performance of classical or modern music or dance.

Alternatively, Bled is an age-old tourist destination, which captivates the eye with its magical lake, adorned with a clifftop castle and an island with an old chapel. Bled is also a popular base for exploring the extraordinary scenery of the Triglav National Park and the three Alpine mountain ranges in Slovenia, or meeting the challenge of any of an unrivalled range of outdoor activities, from white water rafting in summer to skiing and snowboarding in winter.

Portorož is the main resort for those who choose the warmth of the sun and the Adriatic Sea. It has an array of good quality hotels, many with conference or convention facilities. The Slovenian coast is also blessed with several typically Adriatic harbour towns, the best of which is Piran, a short walk from Portorož. All of these little ports have medieval Venetian architecture, narrow streets and a special Mediterranean atmosphere. Portorož is also an excellent base for exploring inland, to such places as the stud farm at Lipica with its unique Lippizaner white horses, and the Karst region, famous for little villages with stone houses, its excellent cuisine and red wines produced in local vineyards. The two major attractions of this region are the cave systems at Postojna and Škocjan, where the visitor may explore the mysterious magic of the underworld.

Slovenia has 15 natural health resorts and many good quality spas, where visitors come for the wellness offer and to relax in the thermal waters. These are mainly in eastern Slovenia, in Dolenjska, Štajerska and Prekmurje, and an extensive programme of renovation has added state-of-the-art facilities and services.

Maribor, Slovenia's second city, not only offers a full range of culture and entertainment, but is also renowned as a base for discovering the region, which has a host of wine routes waiting to be explored and includes the beautiful Pohorje Plateau with numerous possibilities for the active ones in all seasons.

The Soča river valley, in northwest Slovenia, is a paradise for lovers of nature and adrenaline sports. The emerald-green water is crystal-clear and perfect for white-water adventures.

The rolling hills, fertile soil and sunny climate make Slovenia ideal for winegrowing. The many varied good-quality wines may be sampled on any of the more than 20 wine routes in every region where the flavour of the wine is enhanced with outstanding home-cooked food.

The countryside is adorned with numerous charming towns and villages where walls whisper of the past and the ancient streets and buildings are waiting to be explored.

Last but not least, Slovenia has many excellent casinos where you may flirt with Lady Luck.

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Climate & ecology

Slovenia is comprised of four distinct geographical areas, with the broad flatlands of the Pannonian plain in the east, three alpine ranges in the north and west, the hilly Dinaric area of the centre and south, and the mediterranean Adriatic coast. More than 50% of Slovenia is natural ancient forest, and the highest peak is Triglav (2,864 metres), which on a clear day is visible from hills above Zagreb in Croatia, more than 200 kilometres away.

Most of Slovenia has a distinctly continental climate, with hot summers and very cold winters, although the coastal area is mediterranean and therefore does not experience the winter cold. Generally, spring and autumn are short. Winter lasts from mid-November to around the end of March, and is mostly dry, although heavy snowfall is not uncommon. Spring is short, and can be rainy. Summer starts in the middle of May, and is hot. Due to the accumulated precipitation of winter, June is hot and very humid with frequent thunderstorms, whereas the rest of summer, until the end of September, is dry and sunny. Autumn is dry and still, with foggy mornings and sunny, warm afternoons.

Slovenia is thinly populated and has vast forests and other natural areas. Relative to other European countries, a major proportion (8%) of Slovenia is legally protected for wildlife. The jewel in the crown is the Triglav National Park, covering almost all of the Julian Alps, as well as 2 regional parks, 40 country parks, 50 protected nature reserves and more than 600 natural heritage sites. Three areas are of global significance. The Škocjan Caves are a UNESCO world heritage list site and Ljubljansko Barje (the Ljubljana fens or marshes) and the Sečovlje saltpans are included on the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance. The forests of Slovenia are abundantly populated with deer, boar, chamois, brown bears, wolves and lynx. Proteus anguinus, which is a blind salamander known as the 'human fish' that lives in underground pools in the Karst area is the only exclusively cave-dwelling vertebrate in the world. The marbled Soča trout (Salmo trutta marmoratus) is also only found in Slovenia.

Due to having such a high proportion of ancient forest and meadows, there are at least 3,200 plant species, and about 70 of them (many in the Alps) are unique to Slovenia or were first classified here. Triglav National Park is especially rich in endemic flowering plants, including the Triglav "rose", a pink cinquefoil.

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Population & people

The population of Slovenia, which is just under 2,000,000, mainly (83%) described themselves as being of Slovenian origin in the last census. The most commonly used descriptions of Slovenes are that they are easy-going, sporty, outdoor types who work hard, study hard and who have a flair (even a passion) for speaking foreign languages. Other than the elderly, almost everyone speaks English or German capably, and many speak several languages fluently. Slovenian society is very much orientated towards the family, with large gatherings, especially on Sundays, being commonplace. There is a strong belief in traditions, especially those of friendliness and hospitality towards your guests. There are also certain formalities observed, such as always beginning a meal by saying "dober tek!" ("Bon appetit!"), and Slovenes greet each other and say goodbye on the way into and out of lifts. Almost everybody starts skiing and hiking with their families at a very tender age, which leads to Slovenes having a particular love of the mountains. Slovenes also place great importance on arts and culture, with significant public investment in both. This would please their ancestors; a 35,000-year-old bone flute, which was unearthed by archaeologists in a cave near Cerknica in Primorska in 1995 is thought to be the world's oldest musical instrument.

The official language is Slovene, one of the Slavic family of languages. It is somewhat complex, with three genders for objects and a dual form for two objects or people, which is extremely rare in languages. In addition, Italian and Hungarian are also official languages in those parts of the country with mixed populations.

About half of the population live in urban areas. Many of those who live in towns also have properties in the country or on the coast, and it is common to spend the weekend away enjoying the fresh air in the countryside, as Slovenes are generally very active. Most describe their hobbies as skiing, cycling and hiking. There are claims that skiing was invented on the Bloke plateau in the 17th century, and Slovenia was one of the first countries in the world to establish a mountain association (1893). Slovenia is also proud to have the largest ski jump in the world, at Planica, where the World Cup is contested every year.

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Education & science

Slovenes value education incredibly highly. Qualifications provide much more status than employment, and this leads to some remarkable statistics. The literacy rate is 99.6%, and there are three universities with over 75,000 students in total. It is very common to continue studying after university, to masters or even PhD level.

Every visitor to Slovenia finds him or herself looking at the beautiful banknotes, and the faces on the back are all artists, scientists and musicians. Slovenia's finest scientists include Janez Vajkard Valvasor, who is most famous for his geographical study "The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola", and his explanation of how Lake Cerknica disappears every spring and returns in the autumn (it is Europe's largest intermittent lake). Jurij Vega (1754-1802) calculated pi to 140 decimal places, and Friderik Pregl won the Nobel Prize for organic chemistry (1923). Perhaps this rich tradition of invention explains why the oldest wheel in the world, estimated to be 5,100 - 5,350 years old, was found in Slovenia.

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Cuisine

Over the centuries, Slovenia has incorporated many items from neighbouring countries onto its t raditional menus. The most prominent of these may now be as Slovenian as the Julian Alps themselves, such as klobasa (sausage), zavitek (strudel), žlikrofi (stuffed pasta), njoki (gnocchi), rižota (risotto), golaž (goulash) and palačinke (pancakes). In addition, the perfect gift from Slovenia may well be a little pršut, a splendid air-dried smoked ham in the Karst region which has a distant cousin in Italian prosciutto.

The traditional Slovenian lunch is customarily started with soup, normally beef, mushroom or vegetable, although there are countless local recipes handed down from generation to generation. The soup comes with bread, the choice of which is far more varied than in most countries. Any visit to a baker's in Slovenia reveals the bewildering array of things that may emerge from the ovens.

The main course is invariably meat (pork and beef are definite favourites, while venison is also popular) or perhaps fish (the local Soča trout is a delicacy) served with vegetables. Slovenian desserts, should you still have a little room, include prekmurska gibanica (cottage cheese, apples, walnuts and poppy seeds) and potica (a cake which may be filled with tarragon or walnuts or poppy seeds, amongst numerous local variants). Štruklji is a sweet dessert or savoury side-dish which may come with any of 30 or more different fillings, the most common being buckwheat and cottage cheese.

To accompany your meal, it is traditional to drink wine, which is grown in three major winegrowing regions. Wine has been grown in Slovenia for countless generations, and the oldest vine in the world was planted in Lent, the ancient heart of Maribor, in the seventeenth century and still produces good grapes. Slovenian wine is less well known on international markets as the quantities produced are relatively small, although a Slovene might tell you it's because they prefer to keep it all for themselves. In addition to vast numbers of gostilnas serving local wines, there are also more than 20 "wine roads" in Slovenia, where it is traditional to pass from hostelry to hostelry, sampling the produce as you go. There are many speciality Slovenian wines which aficionados should not miss, such as the dark red Kraški Teran from the Karst area, which owes its flavour to the local climate and terra rossa soil, and whites such as Zelen and Pinela. As with anywhere else, ask the locals for their recommendations.

Beer is becoming increasingly popular at mealtimes. The two specialities are Laško, which has a fairly bitter taste, and Union, which is sweeter. Both are excellent.

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History & government

History

400 BC	Celtic tribes establish the Noric kingdom on Slovenian soil
2nd decade AD	Annexation of the Noric kingdom by the Romans
6th century	Early Slavic tribes settle in the Sava, Drava and Mura river valleys and the eastern Alps
7th century	A union of Slavic tribes establishes the Duchy of Carantania, the first Slavic state
748	Frankish empire incorporates Carantania as a vassal state called Carinthia The Slavs convert to Christianity and gradually lose their independence.
869-74	Carinthian Prince Kocelj rules a Slovenian "kingdom" in Lower Pannonia
Around 1000	The Freising manuscripts, the first known writings in the Slovenian and Slavic dialects in Latin script.
Late 13th century	All Slovenian lands fall under Habsburg rule, later the Austro-Hungarian monarchy.
16th century	The Reformation brings literacy, the first book printed in Slovene (1550); the first Slovenian translation of the Bible (1584).
1809-13	Napoleon establishes Ljubljana as capital of the Illyrian Provinces
1848	Slovenian intellectuals issue a national programme called United
1918	Austria-Hungary dissolved and Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes declared, later renamed Yugoslavia
1941	Yugoslavia invaded by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy; the Partisans under Tito lead the resistance
1945	Occupied Slovenia liberated; Slovenia joins the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia
1980's	The rise of Serbian nationalism in Belgrade leads to an independence movement for Slovenia and a trend towards political liberalism
April 1990	First democratic elections
23 December 1990	In a plebiscite, the Slovenian electorate overwhelmingly supports an independent republic (88.5%)
25 June 1991	Slovenia officially declares its independence
27 June-6 July 1991	Slovenia fights a 10-day war with Yugoslavia, ending with the withdrawal of the Yugoslav army and recognition as an independent nation
22 May 1992	Slovenia admitted into the United Nations
1998	Slovenia begins negotiations for entry into the European Union
2004	Slovenia joins the European Union and NATO

Government

Constitutional system	Parliamentary democracy
Head of state	The President of the Republic, elected for a maximum two five-year terms by direct elections. The current President is Dr. Janez Drnovšek (elected in December 2002).
Legislative authority	National Assembly (90 deputies) National Council (performs an advisory role)
Executive authority	The Government consists of the Prime Minister, Mr. Janez Janša, and other ministers.

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Economy

Slovenia is towards the end of its period of rapid transition to a market economy following independence. This has not been painless, with the closure of heavy industries such as the steelworks in Jesenice and the coal mine at Trbovlje. The denationalisation programme is almost complete, but there are certain ownership disputes still to be resolved.

That said, Slovenia is definitely in the strongest position of the ten new EU members. Per capita GDP (EUR 12,319 in 2003) is the highest of the ten and higher than in Portugal and Greece. Inflation is below 5% and falling, and unemployment has fallen to 6.7% (2003) from 9.1% in 1993 (according to ILO standards).

The economy is now based on services and light manufacturing industry; Renault has an assembly plant at Novo Mesto, pharmaceutical companies such as Lek and Krka are performing well, the supermarket giant Mercator dominates the retail sector and is expanding rapidly into neighbouring countries, and year-on-year tourist numbers are steadily increasing.

Overall, the position is healthy and the highly-educated workforce will enable Slovenia, which is scheduled to join the euro in 2007, to continue to develop.

Economic Facts (2003)

GDP per capita	EUR 12,979
Inflation	2.5%
Exports of goods and services	EUR 15.5 billion
Imports of goods and services	EUR 15.7 billion
Unemployment	10.3% (according to ILO standards)
Largest Slovenian exporters	Revoz, Lek, Gorenje, Krka, Prevent, Sava Tires, Talum, Impol

Slovenia's most important exports are vehicles, electrical appliances and pharmaceutical goods, and its main trading partners are Germany and Italy.

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Arts & culture

Slovenia prides itself on its rich cultural heritage, and the arts play an important role in modern life. Ljubljana is the home of one of the oldest symphonic societies in the world, and is the national and cultural capital. It is host to an opera house, a symphony hall (where Mahler was the resident conductor, and Brahms, Haydn, Paganini and Beethoven were honorary members), as well as ballet, numerous theatre companies and other venues of classical and modern music and dance. Slovenia is rich in writers and poets, including Prešeren and Cankar. Today, Slovenia has 6 professional orchestras and 17 professional drama theatres and is a prominent centre of graphic and fine arts.

Laibach were the best known Slovenian rock artists, while Siddharta are currently the most successful rock group and have an international fan base.

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Major events

There is always something happening in Slovenia. The most prominent traditional events are such things as Pust or Kurentovanje in Ptuj, which is an annual festival supposed to drive away the winter and greet a new spring every February. The ski jump at Planica is the biggest in the world and thus record distances are continually "flown" here. The first plus-100 and 200-metre distances were achieved here, and Planica attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators to its annual World Cup ski jump festival every February or March. The Ljubljana Summer Festival is the premier cultural event in Slovenia, comprising a list of events too vast to mention and running from July to mid-August. There are events going on nationwide all-year-round. This is a selection of the main events:

January	Women's World Cup Slalom and Giant Slalom Competition (Golden Fox), Pohorje Part of the Women's World Cup tour on the slopes southwest of Maribor. Come to see the fastest in the world.
February	Kurentovanje, Ptuj A "rite of spring" celebrated for 10 days up to Shrove Tuesday and the most popular Mardi Gras celebration in Slovenia. Other important pre-Lent festivals take place in Cerknica and Cerkno.
March	Ski Jumping World Cup Championships, Planica Three days of high flying on skis near Kranjska Gora. Huge crowds gather to party and see world records smashed.
end of April	Tulip Days, Volčji Potok Sloveni's largest flower and gardening show at the arboretum near Kamnik
May / June	Druga Godba, Ljubljana A festival of alternative and world music in late May/ early June.
June	International Biennial of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana From mid-June to September in odd-numbered years. Festival Lent, Maribor A two-week extravaganza of folklore and culture in the Old Town in late June/ early July. Festival Brežice, Brežice Month-long series of concerts of ancient music held from late June to late July. Ljubljana Jazz Festival Three days of world-class musicians at Slovenia's premier jazz festival (end-June)
June / July	Ana Desetnica International Festival of Street Theatre, Ljubljana One of the largest outdoor theatre festivals in Europe. Mime, dance and improvisation take over the capital.
July	Ljubljana Summer Festival, Ljubljana The nation's premier cultural event (music, theatre and dance) from early July to late August. Primorska Summer Festival Concerts, theatre and dance events held in various venues in Piran, Koper, Izola and Portorož from early June to mid-August. Rock Otočec Three-day rock concert in early July Slovenia's biggest open-air rock concert. Bled Days, Bled Weekend fair and crafts stalls by the lake, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display and thousands of candles on the lake (mid July). Mediterranean Festival, Izola World, ethno and folk music festival on an open-air stage in the Old Town. Soča Reggae Riversplash, Tolmin International festival consistently attracting some of the biggest names in reggae.
August	Trnfest Ljubljana Festival with gigs, exhibitions and workshops organised by the KUD France Prešeren cultural centre. Knights' Tournament, Predjama Castle ousting tournament and large doses of medieval merriment (the last Sunday in August) Shepherd's Ball, Jezersko A day and evening of folk music and dancing on the second Sunday in August
September	Cows' Ball, Bohinj Weekend of folk dance and music to mark the return of the cows from their high pastures to the valleys. Dormouse Night, Cerknica A celebration and feast during the very short dormouse-hunting season in late September.
October	City of Women, Ljubljana International festival of contemporary arts, focusing on art and culture created by women. Ljubljana Marathon First run in 1996, this marathon draws an increasingly international field.
November	St Martin's Day Nationwide wine celebration (November 11)
December	Christmas Concerts and Celebrations Throughout Slovenia. The most famous nativity plays are in Postojna Cave.

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