SLOVENIA

LJUBLJANA  CENTRE

LJUBLJANA    --   CAPITAL 

Slovenia is definitely a country for a perfect holiday.

It emerged from former Yugoslavia as the wealthiest and most industrialized. It has obvious a promising future after its period of communism even so a small country and is at the north of the Balkan Peninsula.

On the border to the south are Croatia and the Gulf of Trieste with Italy to the west. On its northern border is Austria and on its eastern border. Hungary  

A 47km coastline on the south-western; along the Adriatic Sea.A

The countryside is part mountains and fertile valleys. One third is in the Karst limestone plateau. The Julian Alps are a natural barrier between Slovenia and Italy and the highest point is Mount Triglav 2863m.

The climate in Slovenia varies from wet summers and cold, snowy winters in the north to the Easter plateau with warmer summers and bitterly cold winters. The small coastal area has a more Mediterranean climate

CASTLE  BLED

LAKE  BLED  AND  
THE MUNTAI

Almost half the country is covered with trees. The most widely spread is the lime tree which is Slovenia's national symbols. The chamois - a goat-like antelope - is to be seen and watched throughout the country.

Most of the population are Slovene with a few Italians, Hungarians, Croats, Serbs and Bosnian Muslim. The Slovene language is written in Latin alphabet while most Slavic languages use the Cyrillic alphabet. Half of the Slovenian people live in urban areas and the rest live in rural areas, many in alpine villages. The urban Slovenians enjoy concerts, operas and art galleries.

Their education is compulsory and for nine years at primary school with four years at secondary schools. Their literacy rate is 100%.

Their natural resources are oil, mercury and brown coal (lignite). Slovenia is so wealthy to be able to subsidize its former Yugoslav Republics. Although it lost its former trading partners but their main trade is with Germany, Croatia, Italy, France, Austria and the USA. Nowadays, they have major industries in electronics, electrical machinery, metal processing, metallurgy and motor vehicles. Another manufacturing and export market are in clothes, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. They have to import raw materials and foodstuff, semi-finished goods and machinery. Although small but it is an import sector of the economy; is their agriculture. produce such as grains, potatoes, fruit and grapes for wine are the major crops.

CAPITAL LJUBLIANA

The capital is Ljubljana and the seat of the government. A president is elected democratically and for a maximum of two five-year terms. The president is for the ceremonial part and the prime minister has the real power in his hands. The prime minister must win the majority of the assembly. The right to vote is from the age of 18 years old but if you are employed they can vote at the age of 16.

The area of Slovenia was once occupied by the Illyrian and Celtic people. Thousands of years ago. In the 6th century the Slavs or Slovenes started to settle there. During 14th century Austria occupied it and after First World War a Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was established. This became Yugoslavia. After the WW II, It became a communist country including notorious corruption.

The country experienced an economic decline in the 1980 and with that social unrest. The Slovene League of Communists tried to achieve self-government. An opposition party was legalized by the end of the decade. In April 1990 free multi-party election was held. The communist renamed their part - Party of Democratic Reform - PDR. They were defeated by the six-party Democratic Opposition of Slovenia - DEMOS - and their leader Milan Kucan became president.

In the next year, Slovenia decided to leave the Federation of Yugoslavia, The Yugoslav National Army moved in and a 10-day war followed which Slovenia won. In June 1991 Slovenia became independent and adopted a new constitution. EC and USA acknowledge their independence and they became members of the UN and are now a full member of the European Union

MOUNTAIN TRIGLAV  
THE HIGHEST POINT

SLOVENIA'S MOUNTAINS

Slovenia being such a small country it is unbelievable beautiful and offers such a diversity. It has awe inspiring mountains with caves, huge forests with enormous and great variety wildlife, lakes and waterfalls, rivers teeming with fish, a beautiful coastline and above all a great hospitality.  Travelling or walking you will never be able to put your camera away again.

There is a wide choice of accommodations from self-catering, farmhouses, small and big hotels villas with pool.

As for activities there is a wine trail to follow, biking, fishing and riding. Thermal springs in the Kranjska Gora where you can have spas

The Lake Bled is ideal for a family holiday where there is a Kids Club. The whole family can enjoy spas and water sports.

An excursion can be arranged for Bears' watching. As for people who are interested in History there is a special historical trail to follow and enjoy.

Hotels Antique in Ljubljana and on the coast, which is the Mediterranean Coast, Hotel Tartini and Salinera are recommended.

For horse lovers there is the world famous stud of Lipizzaners in Lipic. Where you also allowed riding them. Now this is definitely a treat in a million.