Have you ever heard of the chicken-shaped country in the middle of the EU? A country so magical that dragons still live there? A perfect starting point for safe travels all over the EU, from the Mediterranean to the Alps? A country whose own highest mountain full of enjoyable hiking routes is called Triglav, literally meaning “three-peaks”? They say a mighty king sleeps under one of our tall mountains, waiting for his bears to circle the table nine times, did you know this? You probably answered no to every of these questions. But let me tell you a secret: such a country exists, and it lies in the heart of Europe. It goes by the name of Slovenia.
Are you still puzzled about where this Slovenia is? Take a map. Look for Italy, Austria, Croatia and Hungary. You will find a small country between them. Slovenia.
You should not be misled by its shape and size; first impressions are often deceiving. When you go and discover this country, the road will take you from majestic and mystical mountains to Pannonian lowlands where time stands still and you can hear the traditional windmill-like scarecrow, klopotec, making its familiar sound that will take you to another time. Or, you might choose to discover the mighty virgin forests of Kočevje and enjoy their peacefulness and magical vibe. You can also decide to wander around the western part of the country, the home of the bora (or burja) wind, vineyards, sea and sun.
If you can’t decide whether to visit the mountains or the coast, don’t fret: you can do both in a single day!
The Slovenians that you will meet along the way are friendly people that value good times and great food, so if you like to eat well, you will have come to the right place. But do not be surprised if you discover that people in areas that are not so far apart speak in different dialects. In fact, there are over 50 different dialects across Slovenia. You sure are in for an adventure when you decide to explore and learn more about our country. Moreover, our small but beautiful homeland is one of the top 10 countries in the world. Yup, it takes a lot of effort not to fall in love with it!
Here is some brief information about Slovenia:
- Area................................... 20,256 km2
- Population......................... 2 million
- Capital............................... Ljubljana
- Language.......................... Slovene
- Climate.............................. Alpine, Continental, Mediterranean
- Time Zone......................... Central European Time GMT + 1
- Political System................. Parliamentary democracy
- GDP per capita (PPP)......... USD 28779.85
For more information about Slovenia click here.
