SLOVENIA

Physical geography

Slovenia, 20,273 km², is in south-eastern Europe, where the Eastern Alps border the Adriatic Sea between Austria and Croatia. There is 122 km² of lakes. The climate is Mediterranean on the coast, and continental with mild to hot summers and cold winters on the plateaus and in the valleys to the east. Precipitation is high away from the coast, with spring being particularly prone to rainfall. There is frequent snowfall during the winter on Slovenia's Alps.

An iconic place

Ljubljana is the political and cultural heart of the Slovenian nation. It is an important European commercial, business, exhibition and congress centre as well as the transport, science and education centre of Slovenia. Ljubljana is a city with a high quality of life. It is a city of greenery.

An iconic object

Maribor, Slovenia's second-largest city, is home to the oldest vine in the world. Although it is over four hundred years old, its Žametna Črnina grapes still produce 25 litres of wine every year.

A famous dead person

Jože Plečnik (23 January 1872 - 7 January 1957) was a Slovene architect who had a major impact on the modern identity of the city of Ljubljana the capital of Slovenia, most notably by designing the iconic Triple Bridge and the Slovene National and University Library building, as well as the embankments along the Ljubljanica River, the Ljubljana open market buildings, the Ljubljana cemetery, parks, plazas. His architectural imprint on Ljubljana has been compared to the impact Antonio Gaudi had on Barcelona.

A famous living person

Tomo Križnar (born 26 August 1954 in Slovenia) is a peace activist, notable for delivering video cameras in Southern Kordofan to the local ethnic Nuba civilians in order to help them collect the evidence of the North Sudan military's war crimes against them. He has written several books. He was also a special envoy of the then Slovenian president Janez Drnovšek for Darfur.

Something the country has done for the rest of humanity

In 2006, Križnar entered the Darfur region with the help of Darfur rebels during the War in Darfur. He entered without a valid visa via the neighbouring Chad. On 20 July 2006, he was arrested. On 14 August 2006, he was convicted of "publishing false news, espionage and entering Sudan without an entry visa" and the criminal court of Al-Fashir in Northern Darfur sentenced him for two years imprisonment and a fine of 500,000 dinars (2,400 USD). His photo equipment and films were confiscated. The Slovene government urged Sudan to pardon Križnar. Then, Janez Drnovšek, the president of Slovenia, addressed a special letter to Omar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir and sent another special envoy to Sudan. On 2 September 2006, al-Bashir agreed to pardon and release Tomo Križnar. Križnar returned to Slovenia on 5 September but had to leave all his equipment and films, containing proof of mass graves, in Sudan.

History

The territory of Slovenia was first inhabited by Celts and Illyrians. The Habsburgs rule the country from the fourteenth century until 1918 (apart for four years when it came under the tutelage of Napoleon). The coup by Croatian, Slovenian and Serbian nationalists on October 6, 1918 led to a formal declaration of independence of the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs on 29 October. The country joined the Kingdom of Serbia (in which the Kingdom of Montenegro had already entered three days before) to form, on 1 December 1918, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, renamed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929. Slovenia became the Socialist Republic of Slovenia, part of the Federated States of  Yugoslavia on November 29, 1945. On December 23, 1990, a referendum led to a formal declaration of independence; it came into effect on 25 June 1999.

Human geography

The inhabitants of Slovenia are called Slovenes. The total population is about 2 million, and the density is about 95 hab./km² (one of the least densely populated countries in Europe). The different ethnic groups of Slovenia are: Slovenes (83,1%), Serbs (2%), Croats (1,8%), Bosnians (1,1%), Hungarians Italians, etc. (12%). About 50% of the population lives in urban areas.

Languages and cultures

The official language is Slovene. On the Italian and Hungarian borders, Hungarian and Italian are also spoken. The most prestigious institutions exhibiting works of Slovene visual artists are the National Gallery of Slovenia and the Museum of Modern Art.

Political system

Slovenia is traditionally divided into eight regions. It joined the European Union and NATO in 2004.

Economy

Slovenia today is a developed country that enjoys prosperity and stability. It adopted the Euro in January 2007. It has been a member of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development since 2010. Slovenia has a highly educated workforce, well-developed infrastructure, and is situated at a major transport crossroads. The level of foreign direct investment however is very low and the Slovenian economy has been severely hurt by the European economic crisis, which started in the late 2000s. Almost two thirds of the working population are employed in services.

Youth

The Youth Party-European Greens is a green political party in Slovenia. It is led by Igor Jurišič. Until July 2009, it was called Youth Party of Slovenia. Traditionally, youth in Slovenia have been unresponsive to political issues and though the party strongly encourages young people to get involved it considers itself a party for anyone who desires a fresh and spirited approach to politics in Slovenia. The party is a member of the European Green Party.

Article by Emeline GAILLOT

What must you absolutely go and visit in Slovenia? See below!

Ljubljana

Slovenia’s vibrant capital, with cobbled streets, is along the banks of the Ljubljanica River. Ljubljana is one of the greatest cities in Europe. It is home to no more than 270,000 people; it feels like a small town. Lots of greenery is found in the Old Town, particularly along the Ljubljanica River and around Ljubljana Castle, and there are plenty of historic buildings. It is an architectural melting pot of Slavic and Mediterranean cultures.

Bohinj Lake

Bohinj offers the best outdoor opportunities, mountain views and scenery. It is in the Julian Alps. Bohinj is where you want to be based for outdoor activities, which range from kayaking and fishing to hiking, cycling and skiing. Bohinj is easily one of the most spectacular destinations in Slovenia.

Piran

Piran, one of the best preserved medieval Venetian ports of the region, has narrow streets, squares and churches and historic monuments. It is situated in Slovenian Istria, which is the place to soak up the Adriatic sun in Slovenia. The small town center is centered around gorgeous Tartini Square, lined with colorful buildings and perched on a very narrow peninsula that juts out into the Adriatic Sea. Stay at the Hotel Piran and go sightseeing and exploring from there. The town has amazing food and you can enjoy a spectacular sunset at the same time.

The Škocjan Caves

Located in the Karst region in southwest Slovenia, this system of caves and caverns is easily the country‘s most famous natural landmark, and is among the most significant of its kind in the world. Carved from the surrounding limestone over millennia by the River Reka, its magical interior is like something straight from a Tolkien novel. It is an exceptional system of limestone caves, the largest underground wetland in the world, listed by Unesco as a world heritage site; there are stalactites and stalagmites of all shapes and sizes.

The Soča Valley

The Soča Valley is Slovenia's main centre for adventure sports enthusiasts, and offers a suitably hair-raising plethora of activities. Try mountain biking, climbing, bungee jumping and canyoning.

Mount Triglav National Park

The largest protected natural area and Slovenia's only national park, Mount Triglav is the highest point of the country at 2,864 metres, and the highest peak of the Julian Alps. The mountain is the pre-eminent symbol of the Slovene Nation. It is the centrepiece of Triglav National Park, Slovenia's national park.

Bled

This picturesque, fairy-tale town is Slovenia’s most popular resort. People flock there to enjoy the stunning views of the crystal clear Lake Bled with its small church that sits on an islet in a setting of alpine mountains. Beyond it you can see the gothic Bled Castle that is perched on the cliff’s edge. It is a great town if you want an active holiday as it is perfect for cycling, canoeing, and hiking.

Predjama Castle

At the entrance of the cave, one of the most remarkable natural curiosities of Slovenia, there is a 700 year old castle carved into an 123m cliff. It became famous due to the legend of the Robinhood-esque knight called Erazem Lueger, a robber-baron who stole from the rich and gave to the poor and fought the established order. Go in July and you can watch their annual medieval duelling tournament.

Culinary specialties you absolutely have to try:

• Ocvrti sir : fried cheese.
• Polenta : semolina corn flour.
• Kruhovi cmoki : bread-based dumplings.
• Žličniki : potato-based balls and stuffed with different fruit, boiled, topped with melted butter, sugar or bread crumbs, and served in soup.

This tourist guide was compiled by

Alexandre BATRET & Liz FAYOLLE