Something For Everyone
- Virtual Traveller 86
- May 21, 2020
- 3 min read
Day Four: Country No. 22
SLOVENIA Arrival Time: 6:11am
My flight to Slovenia, including a transfer with 2 hour wait in Belgrade, took just short of five hours. According to Lonely Planet, Slovenia is an “earthly paradise of snow-capped peaks, turquoise-green rivers and Venetian-style coastline.” “From the soaring peaks of the Julian Alps and the subterranean magic of Postojna and Škocjan caves, to the sparkling emerald-green lakes and rivers and the short but sweet coastline along the Adriatic Sea, tiny Slovenia really does have it all. An incredible mixture of climates brings warm Mediterranean breezes up to the foothills of the Alps, where it can snow even in summer. And with more than half of its total surface still covered in forest, Slovenia does more than simply claim it's 'green', it really is one of the greenest countries on earth.”
Are you sold? I certainly am (mind you I was already!).
Triglavski National Park
Triglav National Park is in northwest Slovenia, about 4km from Bled. Mt. Triglav is the highest peak in the Julian Alps. Soteteska Vintgar is a 1.6km gorge within the national park. The gorge has been carved by the Radovna River.
Slap Kozjak Slap Kozjak (bottom left picture below) is a waterfall in Ladra, near Kobarid. It plunges down a 15 metre drop into an emerald pool below. The River Kozjak is a tributary of the River Soca and is fed from Mt. Krnčice (2.142m). This and other nearby waterfalls are a popular tourist destination.
Lake Bled
Lake Bled is in the Upper Carniolan region of north western Slovenia. It draws many tourists but having seen some videos of it I can understand why. According to Lonely Planet, “it’s every bit as lovely in real life. With its bluish-green lake, picture-postcard church on an islet, a medieval castle clinging to a rocky cliff and some of the highest peaks of the Julian Alps and the Karavanke as backdrops, Bled is Slovenia's most popular resort.”
Predjama Castle
Predjama Castle is 9km from Postojna and certainly very dramatic. It sits in the gaping mouth of a cavern halfway up a 123 metre cliff. It has four storeys and is said to have been built bit by bit, beginning in 1202. However much of what we see today dates from the 16th century. It looks unconquerable. The castle also looks fun for people of all ages to explore. A 16th century chest full of treasure was only unearthed in 1991. So take a shovel! ( By the way, I am joking...don’t all turn up with a shovel otherwise I’ll be chucked in the castle’s dungeon!).
Other places I visited in Slovenia are highlighted in the pictures below.
Top row: Cerkev sv Trojice is a church in the village of Hrastovlje, southwestern Slovenia. Some dates from 12th century (...yep I couldn’t resist the frescoes!)
Middle row, from left to right: Planina Zajamniki, in the village of Srednja Vas v Bohingu, Upper Carniola region; The Logar Valley, Kamnik Alps, Solčava
Bottom row: Zelenci Nature Reserve, Podkoren
Leaving Slovenia: 7:27am
Sources:
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/slovenia/the-green-karst/attractions/predjama-castle/a/poi-sig/490460/1325401 https://youtu.be/S5LBhuwBkQ8 Lake Bled Walking Tour
https://youtu.be/nUxLIFAzwUs 10 secret Best Places of Slovenia
Google Earth
Street View
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