Discovering Slovenia: land with a thousand surprises

This resilient and surprising European country draws today its pin of the game. Discover Slovenia, a land bathed in magic and rhythmed by the beauty of an intact territory.

In the middle of the Austria , Croatia and of Italy Slovenia is still a well-kept secret.

It gently whisperes in the ear of travellers who love destinations away from mass tourism. Yet, it is not the treasures that lack this small country, not greater than a region of France. It is rather that he remained for a long time under the Austro-Hungarian rule then under the bell of Yugoslavia and far from the front of the European scene.

Slovenia had to struggle throughout the twentieth century to gain independence in 1991. Today, Slovenia is ready to reveal to the world the extent of its assets. In this story, we invite you to discover this jewel on horseback between Eastern Europe and Western Europe. Follow our historical, cultural and natural walk.

Why do we love Slovenia so much?

Slovenia offers a kaleidoscope, epic and secret, intact and wild beauties. Moreover, its territory is so preserved that it is today nicknamed the “green lung of Europe”. But not that, since its variety of landscapes is also worth the nickname of "Small Europe".

Here, all the landscapes of the Old Continent are represented: the sea, pastures, rainforests, alpine lakes, karst plateaus, vineyards and even high mountains. It is therefore first of all for its bright and scattered nature that we love Slovenia.

Then we fell under the charm of his cosmopolitanism. Rare are the countries that can boast that they have managed to mix the influences of neighbouring countries as well. Slovenia is thus a joyous and savant patchwork between Hungarian, Germanic, Slavic and Romantic culture.

This mixture gives rise to an almost insolent amount of epic architectural ensembles and egregated villages such as open-air museums. Finally, Slovenia is a tourbillon that is thought to be done quickly, but that would require a lot of trips to get the whole range.

Despite its size that could be judged by lilliputienne, Slovenian territory has a wide variety of climates. In Alpes Juliennes , temperatures are cooler than along the coasts of Adriatic Sea . We chose the month of September: when the sun still looks proud, that the water temperature still benefits from the heat of the summer but that the few tourists have already returned home.

Three weeks in Slovenia, at the threshold of mountains and at the gates of the sea

Ljubljana: capital thousand-feuille

At the beginning of September, we flew to Ljubljana : the Slovenian capital and heteroclite. We arrive two hours later in one of the most confidential European cities it is. Barely on the ground, we find our rental car. Although Slovenia has a very functional public transport network, we left in a small group and Slovenia car rental quickly proved as practical as it was economic.

However, we left our vehicle in the parking lot on the first weekend of our stay. To visit Ljubljana, we only need a good pair of shoes, a bike to live like a local and... a canoe to visit the capital from the river: a most aesthetic point of view.

The unique atmosphere of this city, scintillated by the river and found by the Art Nouveau buildings, can only enchant and attract curiosity. The Slovenian capital reveals a deliciously colourful face, an incredible mix of styles and aesthetics. On an Austro-Hungarian background canvas, baroque, contemporary, Slavic and Italian touches emerge. At the turn of a street, one would even believe to recognize the great classics of Greek architecture...

For some, the most beautiful example of architecture in town is the impressive castle. For others it is the university library. The latter is an unusual sanctuary, a temple of knowledge, signature of the architect who redesigned Ljubljana. The city’s most eclectic architectural mileage is the result of a profound transformation between the two world wars.

Ljubljana shines and is expensive in the heart of Slovenians. It must be said that his incredible metamorphosis prefigured that of the whole country. The one that eventually brought the population out of poverty, rural and enclaved. We are immediately touched by the pride of the inhabitants who speak with fervour of the resurrection of their capital.

At the end of the days to stroll in the city center pedestrian and to ejaculate the river by the bridges, nothing better than to calfest in a small restaurant on a coquette square. Unless you prefer cultural and alternative places such as Squat de Metelkova . These old military barracks renovated by urban artists, now bars and nightclubs that drain all the Slovenian youth, deprived us of a few hours of sleep. But it is definitely worth the detour!

The Slovenian coast

After a long weekend in the capital, we take the road to the south of Slovenia and its stretch of territory licked by the Adriatic Sea.

On the way, we admire the ramparts of the troglodytic castle of Predjama . Found in a cliff of more than a hundred meters high, the castle built in a cave is the largest of its kind. It opens the doors of a vast and mysterious underground world, deployed in kilometers of galleries. Predjama stands still in the ranking of the ten most fascinating castles in the world.

After this break at this great winner of the Guinness of Records, we go to Piran : the most beautiful village of the Slovenian coast. On the way, we multiply the stops overflowing with charms. The adventure awaits us at every turn.

First, the caves in Skocjan and Postojna . These submarine canyons bathe in an intimidating silence and open a parenthesis out of time. Then we meet the enchanting castle Sneznik and the mysterious Idrija mine . Finally, we arrive at Piran.

We are immediately seduced by the unique atmosphere of the port and the momentum of maritime life. The iodine baths and the joys of sea tourism take us and lead us to two other coastal villages. Always as aesthetic and soothing: Izola and Koper . The bike paths have the beautiful part in the corner, inviting us to pedal between sea, salt marshes, vines and smelly fig trees.

Along Italy to Triglav

After three days the feet in the water and the gaze turned towards the Gulf of Trieste, we go further north along the Italian border. We then find the earth and the plains. We pass through the regions Vipava and Goriska Brda , two delicious kidneys with air Tuscany . In the middle of the hills, we discover the colorful hamlets, the hills carpeted vineyards and the taste of Slovenian wine.

We are finally at the top of Slovenia, in the West: Ljubljana in our diagonal. We land in the heart of the green lung of Europe.

In the middle of our journey, we fall on the adorable village of Kanal . The influences of Tuscany are always there, that the gaze catches on architecture or that we taste at the rhythm of life of the inhabitants, faithful to the Dolce Vita. We spend the day at musarding in the alleys of Kanal and snacking on the shores of the small beach that borders the Soča .

Many other wonders await us for the end of this stay at the gates of Italy. Including Kozjak waterfall . The trail is pleasant, you pass daring suspension bridges that curve the shank facing the Soča River. What if you were told that this watercourse is considered one of the most beautiful in Europe? At first glance, you will not doubt one second. We continue the shady ride. Then, at the turn of a undergrowth, the cascade appears in its magical setting.

Definitely crazy in love with the Soča, we want to follow her again. We then start to pursue his emerald blue pencil shot in the green countryside: direction the Gorges de la Soča . These spectacular arteries nest at the start of the Lepena Valley . We don't know where to give head in all these blue and turquoise jets that give the turquoise. All these bright waters invite you to swim but also to all kinds of nautical activities: canyoning, rafting and hydro-speed. Slovenia, a land of endless possibilities...

Austria for

We start the third part of our journey. Here we are flirting with the border of Austria. There is only one step to go to the country of Sissi and Viennese coffee. But we remain, very happy, on the Slovenian side in the Zelenci Nature Reserve . A corner to the extreme north of Triglav park which houses a pretty little turquoise lake.

We climb to a famous point of view to discover an exceptional panorama of the Julian Alps. Any advice? Do as we do: set the alarm clock or stay until sunset to discover this enchanting painting without the silhouette of other travellers.

The next morning we pass the acerated peaks and the rocky promontories of Col du Vrsic . We are very impatient because, behind, the Triglav National Park is waiting for us. A dizzy and photogenic place. We were waiting for this moment since the beginning of our stay.

In fact, Triglav houses the pearl of Slovenia: Lake Bled . In fact, Lake Bled is in Slovenia what the Eiffel Tower is France: an icon that crosses borders. In your opinion, have we been disappointed? Not the least in the world. All that we had imagined more beautiful and admired in photo was deployed precisely in front of our eyes. Even the most famous view of Lake Bled has preserved all its peaceful, authentic and local soul. For viewers and image collectors, don’t miss the panoramas of Ojstrica and Mala Osojnica and their decadent views of Lake Bled.

In the continuity of this lacustrine joy, we chained with the Lake Bohinj . Another wild pepit, jealously preserved by the Triglav National Park. We moisten the air with full lungs: the place is pure and bathes in an incredibly serene atmosphere. This is Slovenia: a sweetness of life and a permanent invitation to slow down.

We discover an incredible scene: the sweet chahut of the shiny wooden boats on a cobalt water with the white church and its dome as a gray ice ball. We want to enjoy this place again and again. For this, you walk on hiking trails around: the famous route des Sept Lacs .

The next day we enter the Logarska Dolina Natural Park and medieval village of Skofja Loka . All eyes turn to his church: Jamnik , perched on a hill, toizing the void and a chlorophyll-shaped decoration. This beautiful glacial valley scintillates in the light of the Savinja River, another alpine gem. It unfolds its beauty on just over seven kilometers.

A concentrate of natural splendour, of course, but also a concentrate of History since Logarska Dolina offers the most beautiful examples of wood houses in the country. These preserved traditional habitats even seem to have been created from any room to perfect the beauty of the place.

Despite its small size, a few days are not enough to explore all the paths that snake in the tender green of the altitude meadows, caves, sources, cascades and sites that gather fauna and flora. But we do our best to ease our boulimic momentum: mountain biking, climbing, hiking, fishing and kayaking, we spoil all the charms of this bucolic valley.

Just out of the Logarska Dolina nature park, the desire to resent us again. It falls well, we are not far from the incredible alpage of Velika Planina in the heart of the Julian Alps. This tray takes place like an endless green carpet. We discover it at the rhythm of its traditional rural villages, under the benevolent gaze of the cows that pasture.

The conical wooden houses of Velika Planina are real shelter villages for shepherds. Under their hat of melezes and spices, they shelter these welcoming men from the countryside that invite travellers to taste their dairy specialties and enjoy their mealballs. In any case, it was not necessary to offer it twice so that we can give it to these little rustic treats.

However, at the end of the day, our stomachs roared, claiming calories burned during our outdoor activities. So what do we eat in Slovenia to ease our voracious appetite? Uncontestably: from Prsut (slovene smokyjambon) accompanied by Zlikrofi (Idrija's typical ravens) or Burek (slippers and stuffed with cheese). Then we keep a little room for the pastries of Slovenia: caloric bombs that cannot be resisted. Among our favourites are Orehova Potica (dried walnut, honey and seeds) and Gibanica (sucreries based on nuts, apples, seeds and white cheese).

You will have understood it, Slovenia is an adventure that requires only to be lived. Its undeniable natural assets and multiculturalism shake and prove, once again, that the marvelous sometimes hides at hand.