www.slovenia.info Travel Agent´s Manual 2010

THE GREEN
MEDITERRANEAN
Slovenia’s coast may be less than 47 kilometres
long but the coastal region is a real
treasury of natural and cultural sights of
interest. Th e Sečovlje saltworks provide a
home to numerous plant and animal species.
Th e most popular tourist destinations
are the wonderful medieval towns. Th e old
centre of Koper is one of the most picturesque
parts of the Istrian peninsula. Izola
is best known as the venue for numerous
international musical, cultural and sports
events. Piran still preserves its medieval
appearance. With its narrow streets and
charming squares, the whole town enjoys
protected monument status. Portorož, the
town with the longest tradition of tourism
on the Adriatic coast, has the most modern
range of hotel accommodation. Th e town
is full of opportunities for entertainment,
sports and relaxation.
THE MYSTERIOUS
KARST
Th e combination of limestone and water
has given the Karst two faces. One above
the surface and the other below. On the surface
you can admire numerous natural karst
phenomena, including the intermittent
Lake Cerknica, which disappears underground
on a regular basis, as you visit the
little stone villages and sample Karst ham
and Teran. Th e Karst underworld conceals
over 8,000 karst caves. Th e most popular attraction
is Postojna Cave, whose mysteries
can be viewed from aboard the cave train.
Th e beauties of the Karst also include the
Škocjan Caves, inscribed on the UNESCO
World Heritage List as an outstanding example
of natural heritage. In the middle
of the picturesque Karst, at the modern
Lipica stud farm, the elegant Lipizzaner, a
world-famous breed of horses originating
in Slovenia, has reigned here for over four
centuries.
LIVELY
LJUBLJANA
Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, is a medium-sized
city by European standards with
roots dating back to the time of the Roman
Empire. Slovenia’s greatest architect, Jože
Plečnik, left a lasting mark on Ljubljana
in the 20th century. His work includes the
unique Triple Bridge, a main meeting-point
for the inhabitants of the city. Th e pulse of
the city can be found in over 10,000 events,
14 international festivals and the numerous
cafés and restaurants along the banks
of the river. Th e over 50,000 students of the
University of Ljubljana give the city a particularly
youthful atmosphere, while Slovenia’s
capital is also a frequent venue for
important business events and meetings.
Ljubljana’s central location makes it the perfect
starting-point from which to discover
the beauties of the whole of Slovenia.
POHORJE AND
THE MARIBOR REGION
Th e Pohorje massif rises like a green oasis
at the eastern end of the Alps. Countless
forest paths invite visitors to discover its
beauties on foot, by bicycle or on horseback.
In winter the green slopes of the summer
become a winter sports paradise. Maribor,
the city at the foot of Pohorje, is an annual
venue for Alpine skiing World Cup events.
A venue for numerous cultural events, the
city really comes to life in the summer,
when its streets are thronged by performers
and spectators of the Lent Festival.
Th e city is set in the midst of vineyards and
surrounded by over 50 kilometres of wine
routes. It is also home to one of the oldest
wine cellars in Europe. Th e most famous
symbol of Maribor’s centuries-old viticultural
tradition is the Old Vine, over 400 years
old, which adorns the front of a house in the
Old Town, on the bank of the Drava. Th e Old
Vine has earned a place in the Guinness Book
of Records as the oldest vine in the world.
Madrid
Dublin D
London
2000 km
Paris
Bruss uss ssels s s
Amsterda rdam
1000 km
GREEN FACTS
Slovenia For You____ 15
Bern
500 km
Rom Rome Rom
Berlin
Copenhagen
Copenhag enhag
250 km
Ljubljana
Prague
Vienna
Zagreb
Bratislava
Sarajevo
Warsaw
Budapest
Beogra ra raad
Pristine Pristin P s
Podgorica Po Podgor
gorr
Skopje
Slovenia occupies less than 0.004 percent of
the Earth’s surface, yet it is home to more
than 1 percent of all known living creatures
and more than 2 percent of all land species.
Th e coexistence of around 24,000 animal
and plant species in such a small area ranks
our country among the richest in Europe.
We can preserve this wealth through wise,
green measures in tourism!
As much as 36 percent of Slovenia is in
the European green network Natura
2000. With forest covering 58.5% of its
surface area, Slovenia is one of the most
heavily forested countries in Europe. It
has more than 9,000 karstic caves! One
fi fth of the Slovenian coast is protected.
Th ere are almost 27,000 km of watercourses.
In quantity of river water per
inhabitant, Slovenia is one of the richest
countries in Europe. You can drink
the water right out of the tap: it is
among the cleanest in Europe!
Tirana ra
Vilnius
Sofia S
Riga
Athens At
Buchareest
Minsk
Chis hisinau his
Kiev