Interestingly this naming parallels Slovakia, also stemming from slověninъ but differentiated by regional Slavic branches—West Slavic for Slovaks versus South Slavic for Slovenes—despite no direct linguistic kinship beyond shared Proto-Slavic origins. (Both in contrast with non-Slavic Germanic neighbors referred to as Proto-Slavic němьcь meaning mutes.)
Slovenia is chock full of breathtaking natural beauty, lush vineyards and outdoor adventures all far from the madding tourist crowds.
@ a glance essentials:
.
Language:
Slovenian
-
-
Water safety
Generally Safe to Drink (but quite hard, high in lime)
Many Locals can speak English, particularly in the large cities.
Currency:
Euro
Local Transport
There are bus & train networks in large cities but smaller towns will require a car.
For a unique local experiance stay at a Turistična Kmetija (Tourist Farm) immersed in nature, or a traditional inn, called Gostilna, both offer hearty authentic, often home-cooked, meals from local produce. (Keep an eye out for the daily lunch specials too; malice or kosilo.)
Hot Tip:
Humans have lived in the land of modern Slovenia for ~300,000 years; a bear femur, pierced with evenly spaced holes from 50k-60k yrs ago, was found that's interpreted by some as a Neanderthal flute and the world's oldest known musical instrument, and it's also home to the Copper Age Ljubljana Marshes Wheel, the oldest known wooden axle wheel, (c. ~3150–3350 BC..)
Celtic tribes were inhabiting the region by the 4c BC, eventually establishing the 🔎Kingdom of Noricum which was later annexed by the Romans in 10 BC. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Huns and then Avar & Slavs🔍 from the Black Sea/ Carpathian🔍 region migrated into the territory in the 6c AD.
a bit of background...
A Frankish merchant, Samo, brokered tribal alliances amongst the Slavs against the Avars establishing Samo's Empire in the 7c; Central Europe's 1st Slavic state🔍, out of which the Principality🔍 of Carantania coalesced, (which included future Slovenia's Eastern Alps🔍 plus southern Austria.)
By the mid-8th century, Carantania had became a Bavarian vassal, and was incorporated by Charlemagne as a duchy of the Holy Roman Empire🔍 The Franks soon supplanted local Slavic elites who were in turn supplanted by the Hapsburg Monarchy in the 15c when they took control of the Empire. All of which inspired a series of Slavic resistance and uprisings over the next few centuries. During which time the Slovenian territories were a contested frontier between the H. Romans and Turkish Ottoman expansion,
In the 19c there was a rise in Slavic national consciousness and further revolutions. With the dissolution of the H.R. Empire Slovenian territories became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until it's collapse in 1918 at the end of WWI which prompted Slovenian leaders to seek unification with other South🔍 Slav peoples who merged with the Kingdom of Serbia establishing the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats & Slovenes. It 1929 it's dictatorship renamed the nation the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.†
In WWII Yugoslavia was invaded by Axis powers††† in 1941 and partitioned among Germany, Italy, and Hungary fragmented Slovene ethnic lands and leading to immediate repression,†† spawning a new resistance movement; the Liberation Front. After the war, in 1945, the Socialist Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia was reconstituted with communist People's Republic of Slovenia as one of it's member states, until, after a brief conflict known as the Ten-Day War, it declared independence as the 🔎Republic of Slovenia in 1991.
† Though the disputed southern Carinthia zone opted to remain part of Austria rather than join the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which left significant Slovenian-speaking population in Austria.
†† Including arrests of intellectuals, clergy, and the internment of thousands in camps.
††† It is the only modern European country to be occupied by both Nazi Germany & Fascist Italy
Must Try Local Cuisine:
Jota - traditional turnip, sauerkraut & kidney-bean soup ∞ Rričet - smoked ham & barley soup
Kranjska Klobasa -Carniolan sausage† - often w/ mustard on a bread roll like a hot dog 🌭
Bogračis†† - stew w/ wild boar, beef, & pork, mushrooms, sweet paprika & wine sometimes served w/
Ajdovi Žganci- rustic buckwheat spoonbread w/ cracklings or milk
Baked or boiled Dumplings like buckwheat Slovenian Dumplings filled w/ potato, cheese, pork or veal,
Štruklji - traditional cheese dumpling w/ cottage cheese, apple, walnut, poppy seed, or tarragon
AND Idrijski Žlikrofi: Small potato-filled w/ sauce or crispy bacon bits.
Kremšnita (Bled Cream Cake*) - tower of puff pastry, custard & cream ∞ Potica: - rolled pastry w/ walnut paste
Prekmurska Gibanica - 8 layer cake of cottage cheese, raisins, poppy seeds, apples & walnuts w/ 2 types of pastry
➿➰➿
† A protected national recipe; 68% pork, 12% beef, & 20% bacon †† Originally from Hungary * Only served at Lake Bled due to its 'protected designation of origin' status by the EU
I haven't yet had the opportunity to visit
Slovenia
(but it's on the list!) - So I don't have any personal
(If you get there first send me your best finds !)
recommendations yet, but you can start with the most popular spots
below, and I'll update with my favorites, hopefully soon!
Most Known For:
♦️ Ljubljana - w/ Castle & 🐉 Dragon Bridge + nearby medieval towns of Skofja Loka & Celje
🔸 Lipica boasts a unique, protected breed of White Horse 𐂃; found nowhere else, plus a 425+ yr
old Horse Farm, one of the oldest stud farms in the world.
♦️ Medieval Idrija known for historical mercury mine & local dumpling specialty, Idrija žlikrofi
🔸 Coastal towns like Piran; known for Venetian architecture & Church of St. George and Koper;
w/ charming a old town & Gothic Praetorian Palace.
♦️ 13,000+ Caves! - Vilenica international literary prize is even held inside a cave. Škocjan & Postojna
w/ nearby 'castle in cave' Renaissance Predjama Castle, built in a cliffside are the most well known.
🔸 Triglav (highest Mtn in Slovenia) & it's National Park in the Julian Alps🔍 - w/ hiking, cycling & stunning views
of glacier lakes & waterfalls plus cozy hikers huts like Dom na Kofcah (which specialise in štruklji/ cheese dumplings)
or Kredarica Hut, for those doing a multi-day trek to the peak
♦️ Wine 🍷 - Slovenia has a winery for roughly every 70 people! w/ the world's oldest vine, (400+ yrs old,) in Maribor
(Štajerska region), plus vineyards in Posavje, Istria & Goriška Brda, in Primorska, a hidden wine paradise, w/ small,
family-run operations & grapes harvested by hand, (the land is so steep it doesn’t allow for machine work)
🔸 Lake Bled (& nearby Soča River Valley) - home to Bled Cream Cake, swimming in summer/ ice skating in winter
& traditional pletna boat out to fairy-tale like Bled Island w/ a medieval castle on a cliff & a wishing bell 🔔 in
the prehistoric 🔎Church of the Assumption (where the Slavic goddess of love Ziva is said to have married.)
👀 NOTABLE SLOVENES:
✏️ Tomaž Šalamun | Poet 🗽 Melania Trump | Model & First Lady of the USA
👣
🌀 Kurentovanje (Carnival) (Feb) | Ptuj; Sloevia's oldest city - 10 day event featuring legendary Kurenti parade
(fury, horned figures w/ massive cowbells) parade who jump & make noise to scare away winter / welcome spring
- ranked among Europe's top carnivals
🌀 Idrija Lace Festival - exhibitions, workshops & demonstrations of intricate Idrija bobbin lace tradition
🌀 Martinovanje (St. Martin's Day) (Nov.) | across wine regions like Maribor - when the young wine 🍷 is blessed;
featuring tastings, traditional foods & folk music
🌀 Jurjevanje (St. George's Day) | Bela Krajina (June) - folk dances, songs, processions, bonfires, & rituals
honoring fertility + nature w/ pagan traditions blended w/ Christian elements
🌀 National Costumes / Clothing Heritage Days | Kamnik (Sept) - parades showcasing colorful traditional
Slovenian, European & folklore costumes
🌀 Salt Pans Festival | Piran (April) celebrating traditional Adriatic🔍 sea salt 🧂 harvesting & coastal folklore
🌀 Prešeren Day (National Day of Culture) (Feb 8) honoring Slovenia's greatest poet France Prešeren
🌀 "Hill of Death" race - a 400 m long run 🏃♂️ up a sheer, vertical climb
Site Key:
Five Star Recommend
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