Slovene Learning Community and Resources

The country of Slovene language is a beautiful small country, a hidden jewel in the heart of Europe. We must admit these places are connected to the Slovene language over geographical territories and Slovene culture & national heritage somehow, and together we will find out why.

We will mark the places that must have been seen & visited if you are staying in Slovenia for the Living abroad Forum, all of them have splendid hiking or bicycle paths and you are all very welcome to add your suggestions here.

1. POSTOJNA CAVE / POSTOJNSKA JAMA

Postojna cave is definitely worthy of seeing. If you are visiting in the summer, do not forget a warm jacket for an underground & unforgettable 3,7 km train ride and a walk! It even has a dance hall, check its schedule for concerts and other events. In the caves water still live baby dragons, unique animals who can live without food for ten years. You can get all the important information before visiting on their website.

2. BLED LAKE / BLEJSKO JEZERO

The hosting country of the Slovene language has only one island, and it is not to be found in the sea area but north of the capital in the Alps: the Bled lake. It is definitely worth visiting the island by boat and hiking to the Bled hill castle for the fantastic view. The church with a bell (wishing) tower on the island was renovated in 1465 and rebuilt in single nave Gothic style. The staircase has 99 stone steps.

3. LJUBLJANA

Ljubljana is the capital city of Slovenia and a good starting point to see all the country's must-see places within an hour's drive and an international community with 50.000 students that gives Ljubljana a special vibe together with the locals as a top new culinary destination, where you can walk (or rent municipality bike) across the city center or take a boat on Ljubljanica river. Jože Plečnik, a well-known national architect, built the market & the National and university library we suggest visiting, as well as the Dragon bridge.

4. PIRAN 

Piran, the beautiful salt-producing historical Mediterranean town with Venice's influence, will blow your mind. With its 700 years tradition of salt harvesting, you can visit Sečovlje Saline Nature Park and borrow bicycles there, do a traditional walk through the old town and city walls. Also, it is very expensive to go into the town by car, so the cars are left outside the town, and a free bus is available to Tartini square and back all day, even if you don't have a car. Piran to Portorož is a beautiful half-hour walk by the coastline for ice cream!

In the high season, we can also do a day speedboat trip from Piran to Venice on Thursdays and Sundays.

5. PTUJ

Ptuj (or Poetovio from the Roman times) is the oldest documented Slovene town in the east of the Podravje region, and it is definitely worth visiting. Ptuj became self-governing in 69 AD and reached its greatest extent in the second and third centuries. The walk upon the castle is worth the view and the Pokrajinski muzej Ormož museum there. Muzikafe hostel is worth some time off in their gardens as part of the popular tourist attractions of the town. It is worth visiting Ptuj in February/March, where the yearly national traditional festival Kurentovanje is going on to scare the winter away in costumes.

6. THE OLDEST VINEYARD IN THE WORLD IN MARIBOR

If you are visiting the Štajerska region, Maribor the second greatest city in Slovenia is currently having its Lent region by the Drava river under construction. Still, over there we can find the oldest vineyard in the world, wow! Maribor is also a famous Slovene city with a strong student community and regular Wednesday student gatherings across town long in the night: ask about Poštna ulica. 

7. VINARIUM LENDAVA & EXPANO MURSKA SOBOTA

Most Slovene tourist & historical attractions are located central or west of the country, but not in the east so much, which is a huge mistake because we can find many. If at any time you are looking for some typical Slovene time off in "Toplice," the SPA (pools and saunas) with no crowded space, try Ptuj, Moravske Toplice or Rogaška Slatina (Pannonian region), also lots of green nature to hike or bicycle trips around Haloze/Jeruzalem, Slovene so-called Tuscany.

In Vinarium Lendava, sightseeing in the Prekmurje region begins. On the way back, at Expano Murska Sobota we can eat traditional Prekmurje foods, do a museum sightseeing in the top technology set up, and do an afternoon swim in the lake in front of it.

8. CLOSEST CITIES ABROAD

This is a relatively small ethnical territory of the Slovene language with 2 million inhabitants, and even when Slovenes travel, we start our travels in the nearest neighboring countries with a 2/3 hours drive, for example, besides a trip from Piran to Venice, we can also do an hour drive from Ljubljana or Maribor to Zagreb, the Croatian capital or other south of the borders Croatian towns, especially now after 1. 1. 2023 when Croatia is part of the Schengen area, and there is no borders between Slovenia and Croatia, like Opatija, Rijeka, Pula, Krk island. 

Slovenes would also do a five-hour drive to Belgrade in Serbia, and three hour drive to Vienna or Budapest for a weekend, why not? 

#What would you add as a #must_see places in Slovenia?
How can you connect these places with learning Slovene and why?
#Share with us in a comment here.

#FORUMS   #ASK_THE_COMMUNITY    #LIVING_ABROAD    #PRACTICE_SLOVENE
To receive future email notifications from the Forums for all the living abroad news, articles, and fun short language assignments for #SLOVENE, you need to subscribe HERE.