6 Facts About Slovenia You Never Knew
Slovenia is a country with a great deal to offer – even though it’s small, it’s one of my favorite places in the world because of how much there is to do!
If you’re planning a break on the continent, then it should be high on the list of candidates – particularly if you’re looking for an outdoor holiday. Cycling in Slovenia is an increasingly popular way to spend a summer break!
If you’re unfamiliar with this particular corner of the continent, then it’s worth getting yourself up to speed!
Let’s take a look at six amazing facts about this amazing country:
Facts About Slovenia
The first married couple to reach the Everest summit were Slovenian
you’re surrounded by this much natural beauty, you tend to develop a taste for exploration.
That was the case with Andrej and Marija Štremfelj, who reached the peak of the world’s highest mountain in 1990. They became the first married couple to achieve the feat!
2. Mount Triglav is the national symbol
Slovenian mountains aren’t quite as tall as Himalayan ones. But the country is still home to some awe-inspiring peaks.
The most impressive of these lies in the centre of Triglav National Park.
Mount Triglav is the tallest mountain in the Julian Alps – which is the name given to a small stretch of the Alps that falls across northern Italy and Slovenia (it was the first mountain I ever climbed!)
The mountain itself is so beloved by Slovenians that it’s used as their national emblem.
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3. Slovenia has the really old trees
Slovenia is home to some amazingly ancient trees. Some of them have been standing since Medieval times.
The oldest, the Najevik linden tree, is an amazing 24 metres tall. It’s been around for more than seven centuries.
4. It has some of the most stunning caves
If you’d like to go caving, then you’ll find plenty of amazing places to do it in Slovenia.
Within the Škocjan caves can be found hundreds of natural wonders, all hidden from the view of the average tourist.
There are waterfalls, enormous caverns, and miles of passageways.
5. World Bee Day
Bees are increasingly being recognized for the essential work they do in preserving ecosystems.
To show their appreciation, human beings have set up World Bee Day, which you might have heard of.
What you might not know is that this is a Slovenian invention: Anton Janša, a Carniolan beekeeper and painter, was so successful in his craft that Slovenia lobbied the UN on his behalf to declare May 20th to be World Bee Day.
6. It has over 500 castles
Slovenia has witnessed a great deal of history, with control of the region being passed back and forth between warring factions over the centuries.
For such a small nation, it has its share of castles – more than five hundred of them, in fact.
Some of them, like the incredible Predjama Castle, are built in spectacular settings, and are well worth visiting!
