Mysterious Karst

Slovenia's karst landscape covers the area from the Karst Plateau along the border with Italy to Krško Polje on the border with Croatia. The most dramatic karst area is to be found in south-western Slovenia, where besides karst caves you can see other phenomena of the karst world such as poljes, dolines, karrens and karst springs. It is no coincidence that when experts studied the majority of these phenomena for the first time, some centuries ago, they did so on the Karst Plateau. All phenomena of this type around the world are known as karst phenomena, from the German name for this plateau in Slovenia.

The south of Slovenia is covered by the most extensive forests, including the virgin forest of Kočevski Rog. The south-west of the country, meanwhile, is lent a particular charm by vineyard-covered hills topped with little churches.

Natural sights

The most famous and most visited karst cave is Postojna Cave, first mentioned in written sources in the year 1213. With almost 35 million visitors to date, it is the most popular show cave in Europe, attracting almost half a million tourists every year. A standard visit takes in around 5 kilometres of the cave's 21 kilometres of passages, while some of the other sections can be visited by special organised groups. Visitors are carried through the cave – past dazzling cave formations in a variety of colours and shapes and little lakes filled with crystal-clear water – by a miniature electric train. The cave is notable as the home of the only cave-dwelling vertebrate in Europe, a pale-skinned amphibian popularly known as the human fish, scientific name Proteus anguinus; the proteus (or olm) grows up to 30 centimetres in length, is eyeless and has no protective pigment, with the result that its skin colour is reminiscent of that of a white-skinned human being.

The Škocjan Caves are currently the only karst caves in Slovenia to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as an outstanding example of natural heritage. The caves feature a highly complex system of passages created by the river Reka. The most famous part of the cave is by the Cerkvenik Bridge. The Škocjan Caves are located inside one of Slovenia's three regional parks.

Vilenica Cave near Divača is the oldest show cave in the world. People have been visiting it for almost 400 years. Poetry readings are held in it every year. The beauties of the lake in Križna Jama cave can be seen by boat, illuminated by the light of cavers' lamps.

Another extraordinary natural sight is the intermittent Lake Cerknica, Slovenia's largest lake in the months when it is full of water.

Not far from the lake, you can see a tall natural bridge in Rakov Škocjan. The entire area is a collapse doline.

The upper course of the river Krka has formed a picturesque valley, while on its lower course there are two river islands. The castle on the little island of Otočec has been converted into a hotel. Kostanjevica na Krki is an entire little town on a river island.

One of the most beautiful valleys in Slovenia is the Vipava Valley, the location of Zemono Manor.
 

Tourist resorts

In the little village of Lipica, on the edge of the Karst Plateau, the thoroughbred white Lipizzaner horses were first bred over 400 years ago. Lipica Stud Farm is a tourism and recreation centre with a riding school. It is also a well-known international venue for traditional equestrian events. Visitors can watch a dressage display in the classical riding school, ride in a horse-drawn carriage or even ride a Lipizzaner themselves. Near the stud farm are a golf course and a hotel with a casino.

One of the most beautiful places on the Karst Plateau is Štanjel, which is also a fascinating example of town planning. The terraced design of the medieval settlement can still be seen. Something else that makes the Karst Plateau a popular tourist area is the survival of the centuries-old tradition of the osmica or 'eight-day wine shop'. This is a genuine gastronomic experience. The Karst is also famous for its excellent karst ham, dried in the powerful north wind known as the burja (Bora), and the local Teran wine, often prescribed as a health tonic.

Slightly out of the way, but undoubtedly worth a visit, is Predjama, famous as the location of Predjama Castle. This picturesque castle is perched halfway up a vertical cliff. Behind it is an extensive cave system, through which the inhabitants of the castle were able to supply themselves with food during times of siege.

Owing to the presence of thermal springs, three important natural health resorts have developed in this part of Slovenia: Dolenjske Toplice, Šmarješke Toplice and Terme Čatež.

Not far from Terme Čatež stands Mokrice Castle, in the grounds of which there is a golf course.

South of Ljubljana, in Turjak, there is an interesting Renaissance castle, while nearby Rašica is the birthplace of Primož Trubar, the author of the first book in Slovene. The two sights are linked by a forest trail, one of many footpaths in the Velike Lašče area.

Major towns

Right on the border with Italy lies Slovenia's youngest city, Nova Gorica, which was not founded until after the Second World War. Since Slovenia joined the European Union and the borders between Member States have become merely nominal, the city is connected to Gorizia on the Italian side. Nova Gorica is famous as the largest casino centre in Slovenia.

The most important town in the Notranjska region is Postojna. Besides being very close to Postojna Cave, the town is famous for its Karst Museum.

Ribnica is a small town famous around the world as a centre of the woodenware tradition. You can see the craftsmen at work in the town's workshops and at numerous events.

Novo Mesto, which stands on a bend of the river Krka, is very picturesque. Extremely important archaeological finds from the Iron Age and later periods have been found in the town. The town has a beautiful medieval centre and is surrounded by several vineyard-covered hills such as Trška Gora, where the local Cviček wine is produced.

The most important towns in the region known as White Carniola (Bela Krajina), because of its countless birch trees, are Metlika and Črnomelj. Metlika Castle is worth a visit, as is Rosalnice with its famous Tri Fare – three Gothic pilgrimage churches from the 14th or 15th century, huddled together inside a common surrounding wall. Near Črnomelj is the Lahinja Nature Park.

Activities

One of the most beautiful parts of Bela Krajina is the valley of the river Kolpa, also known as the Land of Peter Klepec, after the legendary hero. Osilnica is a centre of water sports on the Kolpa and a starting point for hiking and cycling trails.

The river Krka is also very popular with kayakers, canoeists and anglers.

Several areas are suitable for hiking, for example Snežnik, with Snežnik Castle below it, the Gorjanci Hills and Nanos. Other popular hiking destinations are the hills along the river Sava, for example the area around Sevnica.

A famous hiking trail runs between Litija and Čatež. The numerous wine routes in the Dolenjska and Bela Krajina regions are also popular with walkers and cyclists.

Food and wine

The karst region offers great culinary diversity. Two of the most characteristic dishes are karst ham and Bela Krajina flatcakes. The wines native to the area include the Teran of the Karst and the wines of the Vipava Valley – Zelen and Pinela. Another local speciality is the reddish Cviček, which has a low alcohol content. The wine is a blend of two white grapes and two red grapes.