Useful Resources
SLOVENIAWELCOME.COM
For travellers, the best thing about Slovenia lies in its diversity and friendliness.Its coastal region is easily reached from historical towns, which are
often surrounded by vineyards, sport and wellness centres or breathtaking nature including Alps. Many of these sites become venues for festivals during
the summer. Families of protected animal species give their seal of approval to the unspoilt nature, fresh air and clean water all over Slovenia. In addition to Ljubljana, its spectacular architecture and hosting one of Europe`s largest universities, the city was named "world book capital 2010" by unesco. Slovenia is a small (20,273 km2) central European country and shares its borders with Croatia, Italy, Hungary and Austria. Official language is Slovene. Italian and Hungarian, both used by minorities are officially recognised as well. Slovene is also spoken and used by Slovene minorities living in Austria, Italy and Hungary, all with support of local governments. Slovenia is relatively safe country, with low criminal rate, however, visitors should be careful nonetheless. Slovenia, being connection of Slavic cultures with German and Romanic for over 1000 years, it is well versed in hospitality. With such a variety, come and let Slovenia
welcome you.
Events & Places
15th December 2011 - 4th March 2012
Museum of architecture and design, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Ljubljana hosts a large retrospective on Niko Kralj - founding father of Slovene industrial design and a towering figure among 20th century industrial designers. Kralj has come up with innovative, socially-conscious designs for countless pieces of furniture and contributed to the development of the quality of living in Slovenia and international recognition of the country's furniture industry. His famous foldable Rex chair is a part of the permanent exhibition of MoMA in New York.
52th Kurentovanje Carnival in Ptuj
11th February 2012 - 21st February 2012
Ptuj, Slovenia
During the ten day carnival in Ptuj, streets and squares will be enlivened by numerous and extremely varied carnival masks coming from
the entire Slovenia and from Europe. Kurentovanje 2012 will resound with music and dancing rythms and best masks will be awarded! Kurent groups will perform on stage, while street parties will be accompanied by famous Slovene and foreign music artists! Welcome to the 50th Kurentovanje!
Welcome to Maribor - European Capital of Culture 2012!
This year is definitely about Maribor, a multidimensional city on the banks of river Drava as it is under the lights as a place that promotes culture but even moreso a cooperation between itself and other towns of Slovenia as the organizers developed a partnership with Murska Sobota, Velenje, Ptuj, Novo mesto and Slovenj Gradec at staging several thousand events!
Visitors will find Maribor charged with life and expectation for great things in 2012!
Literatures of the World: Fable 201227th February 2012 - 10th March 2012
Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana, Slovenia
At the threshold of spring, stands the festival World Literatures – Fabula 2012. This year it again focuses on the first-rate literature and prominent writers and will be proud to host such names as Hanif Kureishi, Leena Krohn, Mikhail Shishkin, Amitav Ghosh, Dušan Čater, Mojca Kumerdej, Andrej Skubic, Suzana Tratnik and Goran Vojnović. Visitors will enter their worlds through books and through their own words. Come and savour it!
51st Vitranc Cup, FIS Ski world cup 20129th March 2012 - 11th march 2012
Podkoren and Kranjska Gora, Slovenia
Kranjska Gora obtained its great reputation as a ski centre through World Cup alpine skiing races. Every winter at the steep slopes of the
competition polygon below Vitranc, the two most important races in World Cup alpine skiing take place - men's slalom and giant slalom races.
www.pokal-vitranc.com
World Cup Final in Ski Jumping and Ski Flying in Planica 201215th March 2012 - 18th March 2012
Planica, Slovenia
Planica. A valley of ski-jumps. When the winter bids farewell it is when Planica, with all its natural beauty, honours the world ski jumping elite. The whole event lasts for three days with no less than 100,000 visitors from all over Europe!
Bavisela European Marathon 2012
6th May 2012
Trieste, Italy
In Trieste - the very heart of Europe, a unique annual event takes place. A course of high technical quality that is placed in a natural
environment, far from traffic, from Karst all the way to the Adriatic Sea. The European Marathon Bavisela runs through the picturesque karstic villages along the Isonzo river towards the cliffs of the Duino
Castle along the Cost Road, which is completely closed for traffic and
then continues towards the Castle of Miramare and finishes in Trieste,
in the grandiose Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia!
European Capital of Culture - Maribor 2012
ECoC Highlight - The Stage Between The Sky And The Earth
14th February 2012 - 21st November 2012
Maribor, Slovenia
"The Stage between the Sky and the Earth" will present various stage events, which will encompass various theatrical genres such as circus, cabaret, striptease, acrobatics, traditional Japanese butoh dance, equestrian performing arts and even a grandiose dramatic spectacle with a large number of performers.
Maribor - European Capital of Culture 2012The university city of Maribor is the second largest in Slovenia and it lies at the foot of Pohorje mountains with river Drava flowing through.
It is the centre of Lower Styria with long history and rich heritage. From renowned Slovene National Theatre with opera and balet to recreational centres and sights including famous aquarium-terrarium, it is a city for everyone.
Maribor is a lively place hosting sport, cultural and fun events like Lent, the two-week festival with numerous musical, theatrical and other events. Maribor is named European Capital of Culture 2012.
Friulian Dolomites Natural Park
Friuli, Italy
Emotion rises immediately as you enter the Park. Just a few steps and you'll find yourself in an uncontaminated natural paradise. Extended
valleys with no roads or centers of human inhabitation advance between the peaks of the Friuli Dolomiti Alps that elevate the Park to the
level of wilderness! Far from the confusion and the stress of modern life experience strolling the trails in contemplation, trekking, rock climbing, observing nature or simply relaxing without doing anything at all!
Brijuni National Park
Istria, Croatia
Brijuni are a group of two larger and twelve smaller islets along the west coast of Istria near Pula, with the total area of 7 km2. Both
archipelago and the surrounding sea are under protection. The Brijuni islands are famous for their preserved Mediterranean vegetation, which
is partly landscape and partly a safari park. The archipelago is noted for its valuable cultural heritage from the Roman and Byzantine times. Due to its extraordinary beauty, the Brijuni Islands have been, for over a hundred years now, a favourite tourist destination of world statesmen and aristocracy.
Triglav National Park
Julian Alps, Upper Carniola, Slovenia
The Triglav National Park is the only Slovene national park and got its name after Triglav, the highest mountain in the heart of the park,
which is also the highest summit in Slovenia (2864 m). Park extends along the Italian border and close to the Austrian border in the north-west of Slovenia in the south-eastern section of the Alps and covers 880 square kilometres, no less than 3% of the territory of Slovenia! The Triglav National Park is among the earliest European parks - the first protection dates back to 1924 when the Alpine Conservation Park was founded!
Nockberge National Park
Carinthia, Austria
The Nockberge National Park is located in the south of Austria, in the Province of Carinthia. It extends as far as the Lieser valley and along
an imaginary line from Eisentratten to Radenthein in the west, from Bad Kleinkirchheim to Patergassen in the south via Ebene Reichenau to the Turracherhöhe, and then along the provincial border to Innerkrems in the north. Since 2004 park has been remodelled into a Biosphere Park which will accommodate the needs and the actual circumstances of the Nockberge mountains in the best possible way.
