Brief information
Previously, Italians and Croats most often rested in Slovenia. However, in recent years, more tourists from Western Europe and the United States have begun to come to Slovenia. Europeans and Americans have slowly begun to discover the unique Slovenian nature, local beaches on the Adriatic coast, thermal spas, as well as excellent ski resorts in the Slovenian Alps.
Geography of Slovenia
Slovenia is located in Central Europe. In the west of Slovenia there is a border with Italy, in the north with Austria, in the south and southeast with Croatia, and in the northeast with Hungary. In the southwest, Slovenia is washed by the Adriatic Sea. The total area of this country is 20,273 square kilometers, and the total length of the state border is 1,524 km.
The territory of Slovenia is geographically divided into four types of landscape – Alpine (mountainous) in the north, Mediterranean in the southwest, in the south – a small Dinaric highlands, and in the east – a large Pannonian lowland. The highest peak in the country is Triglav (2864 meters).
Capital
According to itypejob.com, the capital of Slovenia is Ljubljana, where more than 300 thousand people live. On the site of modern Ljubljana, once upon a time there was a settlement of the ancient Romans.
Official language
The official language in Slovenia is Slovene, which belongs to the western branch of the South Slavic languages. Along the border with Hungary and Italy, where there are many Hungarians and Italians, Hungarian and Italian have the status of official languages.
Religion
More than 75% of the population of Slovenia consider themselves Catholics belonging to the Roman Catholic Church. Orthodox Christians and Protestants also live in the country.
State structure
Slovenia, according to the Constitution, is a parliamentary republic. The head of state is the President, elected by direct popular vote for a term of 5 years.
According to computerminus.com, legislative power in the country belongs to the bicameral parliament – the National Assembly, consisting of 90 deputies.
Climate and weather in Slovenia
There are three types of climate in Slovenia – continental in the central part of the country, alpine in the northwest, and Mediterranean – near the sea coast. The average air temperature in Slovenia in July is +20C, and in January – 0C.
Sea in Slovenia
Slovenia in the south is washed by the waters of the Adriatic Sea. True, the coastline in this country is only a little over 46 kilometers, but it is home to ancient cities (Koper, Isola, and Piran), as well as popular beach resorts (Portorož).
Average sea temperature on the Adriatic coast of Slovenia, Portorož:
- January – +10C
- February – +9C
- March – +9C
- April – +13C
- May – +17С
- June – +21С
- July – +23С
- August – +25С
- september – +23С
- october – +19C
- November – +15С
- December – +12C
Rivers and lakes
On the shores of alpine lakes and rivers in Slovenia, hundreds of thousands of tourists spend their holidays every year. The main rivers in Slovenia are the Sava and the Drava. The sources of the Sava begin in the highlands of the country near the resort of Kranjska Gora. This river flows all the way to the Croatian border. In turn, the Drava flows through the mountain ranges and valleys of the Tiglav National Park in northwestern Slovenia.
There are a lot of beautiful lakes in Slovenia. The largest of them are Bled, Bohinj, and Cerknica.
History of Slovenia
People on the territory of modern Slovenia lived 250,000 years ago. During the Iron Age, Slovenia was inhabited by Illyrian and Celtic tribes. Around 10 BC. The territory of Slovenia was included in the structure of Ancient Rome.
In the 5th-6th centuries, the Huns and Germanic tribes invaded Slovenia. The first Slavs settled in Slovenia in the 6th century AD. At the beginning of the 7th century, an alliance of Slavic tribes was formed, called Carantia.
In 745, Carantia becomes part of the Frankish Empire, and gradually loses its independence.
In the 14th century, Slovenia became part of the Habsburg Empire (later the Austro-Hungarian Empire). During the Napoleonic Wars, Slovenia was part of the French Empire.
After the end of the First World War, a small part of the Slovenian lands went to Italy, and the rest of the territory of Slovenia became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, which in 1929 was renamed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
As a result of World War II, in November 1945, Slovenia became part of the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia.
In December 1990, 88.5% of Slovenian voters voted in a referendum to secede from Yugoslavia and form an independent Slovenia. As a result, in 1991 Slovenia officially declared its independence.
In 2004, Slovenia became a member of the NATO military bloc and was admitted to the European Union.
Culture
Art and culture have always occupied a special place in the history of the Slovenian people. Slovenia was part of other states for a long time, and it was through culture that Slovenes retained their national identity.
Every summer in Slovenia there are many different (including folklore) music festivals. The most popular of them are Okarina Festival in Bled, Bela krajina, and Folkart in Maribor.
Every year in Slovenia they celebrate Maslenitsa, where during the Carnival one of the most important figures is Kurent – a fantastic demonic creature, which, oddly enough, symbolizes fertility.
Traditional holidays in Slovenia are Easter, Maslenitsa, and Christmas.
Kitchen
Slovenia is located in the center of Europe, which means that its cuisine has been significantly influenced by neighboring countries. However, Slovenians have one unique quality – they create their own national cuisine from borrowed foreign dishes.
Traditional Slovenian dishes are potica (nut roll), žganci (corn or buckwheat porridge), and pogaca pie. Corn or buckwheat porridge žganci is served with milk or honey, but it is also a side dish for stews.
In the coastal regions of Slovenia, seafood dishes are popular, and in the south of the country, where Hungarians live, goulash is traditional.
Slovenia is known for its winemaking traditions. The most famous Slovenian wines are Teran and Cviček.
Sights of Slovenia
Tourists in Slovenia will not be bored, because this country has not only thermal, beach and ski resorts, but also a large number of attractions. The top ten attractions in Slovenia, in our opinion, include the following:
- Postojnska Pit Karst Cave
- Bled Castle
- Predjama Castle
- Škocian cave
- Stud Farm Lipica
- ljubljana castle
- Museum in Kobarit
- Vintgar Gorge
- Tivoli Park in Ljubljana
- Škofja Loka Castle
Cities and resorts of Slovenia
The largest cities in Slovenia are Ljubljana, Maribor, Kranj, Velenje and Celje.
In the Slovenian Alps there are several large ski resorts with a well-developed skiing infrastructure – Bovec, Cerkno. Vogel, Bohinj, Kobla, Rogla, and Kranjska Gora. We can safely say that in recent years, most tourists come to Slovenia precisely in order to ride on the local ski slopes.
However, Slovenia’s thermal spas are also of great interest to foreign tourists. The best of them are Terme Olimia, Terme Čatež, Terme Ptuj, Dolinske Teplice, and Terme Snovik.
The Adriatic coast in Slovenia is only 46.6 kilometers long. There are several popular beach resorts here – Portorož, Izola, Piran and Koper.
Note that most of the beaches in Slovenia are made of sand, while in neighboring Croatia the beaches are pebbly.
Souvenirs/Shopping
From Slovenia, tourists most often bring Slovenian national alcoholic drinks, dragon figurines (and other items with the image of a dragon), salt (it is made near Portorož, has a unique aroma), lace, and handicrafts.
Office Hours
State institutions in Slovenia are open Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 16:00.
Shop opening hours:
Mon-Fri: 09:00-17.00
Sat: 09:00-16.00 (big stores)
Banks are open:
Mon-Fri: 07:00-19:00 (or 17:00)
Some banks are also open on Saturdays.
Visa
Ukrainians need to obtain a visa to enter Slovenia.
Currency
Since 2004, Slovenia has been a member of the European Union, and therefore the euro is in circulation on its territory. All major credit cards are accepted.
Customs restrictions
The amount of 10 thousand euros and more Ukrainians at the entrance to Slovenia must make a declaration.
The rules for the import and export of goods and products in Slovenia are practically the same as in other EU countries.
Useful phone numbers and addresses
Embassy of Slovenia in Ukraine:
Index – 01030, Kiev, B. Khmelnitsky street, 48
T: (044) 585-23-30
F: (044)
585-23-43 Email: [email protected]
Embassy of Ukraine in Slovenia:
Index – 1000, Slovenija
Ljubljana, ul. Teslava 23
T: (8 10 386) 1 421 06 04
F: (8 10 386) 1 421 06
03 mail: [email protected]
Emergency numbers
Fire department – 112
Police – 112
Road assistance – 1987
Time
The difference with Ukrainian time is -1 hour. Those. if in Ljubljana, for example, in the summer it is 9:00 am, then in Kyiv it is 10:00 am.
Tips
Tips in restaurants in Slovenia are usually 10% of the bill, although they are not required.
The medicine
No special vaccinations are required to enter Slovenia.
Security
Slovenia is a safe country for foreign tourists. Nevertheless, we advise tourists in Slovenia to still take reasonable precautions. Skiing is necessary only on specially equipped tracks, in other places there is a danger of avalanches.
