According to wholevehicles, Slovenia is located in the southeastern part of Europe on the Adriatic Sea on the Balkan Peninsula. Since the independence of Slovenia from the former Yugoslavia, Slovenia has become a popular holiday destination that is particularly popular with active holidaymakers. Slovenia’s history only goes back to its independence in 1990, but the history of this part of Europe goes back much further. Not long ago, remains of human habitation in the area dating back to 45,000 BC were found in a Karst cave. However, it was not until the eighth century BC that the first permanent settlements were built in present-day Slovenia. The first civilizations in this region were the Indo-Europeans, the Celts and the Illyrians. Later the region became part of the Roman Empire. After the Roman period, it was the Slovenians who crossed the Alps and settled in Austria and parts of present-day Slovenia. Later this part of Europe was conquered by the Franks and has long been part of the Habsburg Empire. This came to an end after the First World War when It became part of Yugoslavia. For a long time, the country, like the rest of Yugoslavia, lived under the rule of Tito. Under his rule, he managed to keep the different parts of the country together, but after his death the call for independence was soon heard. It would take until 1990 for Slovenia to finally declare its independence.This was followed by the Ten Day War, which ended with the Brioni Agreement.

After this agreement, Slovenia could start building the future and its infrastructure. Today the country mainly lives from the tourist industry, it is part of the European Union, you pay with the Euro and it is one of the Schengen countries.

Sights

Most sights in Slovenia have to do with the rich history of the country or with the many natural beauty that can be found in the country. The most beautiful and impressive nature park in Slovenia is the Triglav National Park. This beautiful park can be found in the northwestern part of Slovenia in the Julian Alps. There are many beautiful hiking and cycling areas in this national park. The Soca River runs like a red thread through the area. Two of the most popular sights in Slovenia are Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj. These two lakes are a popular destination for tourists, especially in the summer months. The Vintgar Gorge can be found near these lakes. This gorge is visited daily by thousands of visitors during the summer period.

In Slovenia there are quite a few caves that are open to the public. The most famous and popular are the Postojnska Caves and the Skocjan Caves. It is also striking how many beautiful castles and fortresses can be found in Slovenia. The most beautiful are Bled Castle, Ljubljanski Grad and Predjama Castle. The most beautiful city in Slovenia is without a doubt the capital Ljubljana. There are quite a few places of interest in this city and is therefore very suitable as a city trip destination. The most important museum of the country “The National Museum of Slovenia” can be found in this city.

UNESCO

In 2016, three different inscriptions on the UNESCO World Heritage List can be found in Slovenia. The first registration took place in 1986 in the former Yugoslavia. This concerned the Caves of Skocjan. These beautiful stalactite caves have a total length of about five kilometers and are on average about two hundred meters underground. The caves are known for the beautiful waterfalls that can be seen there. The second entry must share the country with Germany, France, Italy Austria and Switzerland. The prehistoric pile dwellings in the Alps cover a total of 111 archaeological sites spread across the countries. A small part of these archaeological sites can be found in Slovenia in the Julian Alps. The third and final entry must share the country with Spain. This is about the heritage of the mercury. From the fifteenth century, mercury was extracted and stored in these areas. The largest mine was in Almamdén, Spain, and the second largest in Idrija, Slovenia. In addition to the mines, the homes and other buildings of the miners have also been placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Climate

There are three types of climate in Slovenia. In the area around the coast of Slovenia, the Mediterranean climate prevails, while further inland the maritime climate predominates. The continental climate occurs in the higher parts of the Julian Alps. The climate around the coastal region of Slovenia is mainly determined by the influence of the Adriatic Sea. This influence ensures, among other things, that there are few weather extremes in this region and that the climate is pleasant almost all year round.

The more inland parts of Slovenia have a Mediterranean climate that is still influenced by the Adriatic Sea, but also by the continental climate that occurs in the higher parts of Slovenia and in the countries surrounding Slovenia. The average daytime temperatures are a few degrees lower and you have a greater chance of frost or night frost. You can expect the most precipitation here in the winter period. The continental climate occurs in the mountains of Slovenia. In the summer months the average daytime temperature is just below twenty degrees Celsius, but in the winter months it can get quite freezing. The Julian Alps are therefore a popular ski area.

Geography

Slovenia is located in the southeastern part of Europe on the Balkan Peninsula. It is the westernmost country in the Balkans. Slovenia has land borders with Croatia, Austria, Italy Hungary and has a coastline of 47 kilometers on the Adriatic Sea. Despite the fact that Slovenia is a relatively small country, there are many geographical differences in the country. The northern part of Slovenia is formed by three mountain ranges; the Karawanks, the Kamnic Alps and the Julian Alps. Of these three, the Julian Alps are the highest and largest. The highest mountain in Slovenia Triglav can be found in this area. The total height of this mountain is 2864 meters. Fun fact is that this mountain is named after the Roman emperor Julius Caesar. One of Slovenia’s most important rivers rises on the Triglav mountain; the Sava. Other important rivers in the country are the Mura, the Drava and the Soca. In the Julian Alps you will also find the two most important lakes of Slovenia, Lake Bohinj which is also the largest lake in Slovenia and Lake Bled which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Slovenia.

The eastern part of Slovenia is relatively flat and flows into the Hungarian Pannonian Plain. The south and southwest of Slovenia consists of hilly Karst landscape with many lakes, caves and underground rivers. Slovenia’s largest city is the capital Ljubljana. Other important places in the country are Koper, Maribor, Bled, Piran and Ptuj.

Travel advice

There are no special security risks for a trip to Slovenia. There are no other safety risks in Slovenia than there are in the Netherlands. Be alert if you are in a major city or at major tourist attractions. Thieves and pickpockets can roam here. In addition, you have to be extra careful in public transport and in large crowds.

As in the rest of Europe, there is a general threat of terrorism in Slovenia, although the real probability of this is less than in other countries due to the lack of real well-known sights or strategic places.

Travel documents

Slovenia has been part of the Schengen countries since 2007 and since 2007 residents of the other Schengen countries can travel freely to and from Slovenia. However, as in the Netherlands, people are obliged to identify themselves, this also applies to children. There are severe penalties for possessing both soft and/or hard drugs, as well as trading them. If you want to drive your car on the Slovenian highway, you are obliged to buy a vignette and stick it visibly on the car.

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