The most important museums in the country are in the capital, but there are some excellent exhibitions and collections in other cities: for example, the Museum of the First World War in Kobarid, and the Technical Museum in Bistra pri Vrhniki. A host of small museums all over Slovenia uncover the history of various artisan trades such as metalsmithing, beekeeping, lacemaking and Alpine herding. The mining museums of Idrija, Velenje and Mežica are particularly worth a visit for their vivid recounting of the underground experience.
 
Most museums offer foreign-language guided tours, although larger groups should pre-book. A visit to Ljubljana’s National Gallery or Museum of Modern Art will allow you to see major works by Slovenian artists.
 

Astonishing castles

There are major collections housed at certain castles, which are very striking in appearance. The most amazing is Predjama Castle, built into a cliff concealing an intricate cave system, which itself can be explored. The views from Ljubljana Castle and Bled Castle are wonderful, while Celje’s Old Castle offers a wide range of tours. Each of these castles is special in its own way, while all four are among the ten most popular tourist attractions in Slovenia.
 

A treasure trove of the past

Among the major archaeological sites in Slovenia are the Stone Age sites at Betalov Spodmol, Potočka Zijalka and Divje Babe near Idrija, where the world’s oldest flute was found. There are many excavations and fortifications from the Roman era in Slovenia. The most important finds are kept at museums, while many are on view at archaeological parks or sites specially set up to receive visitors.
 
Libraries and archives are also responsible for keeping the rich cultural and historical heritage, which is also maintained by numerous monuments to significant figures in Slovenian history, and by protected buildings.
 
Some cemeteries in Slovenia are monuments of national importance owing to their centuries-old gravestones. Particularly in the River Soča area, the scene of First World War battles on the Soča Front, there are military cemeteries with ossuaries. The main cemeteries at which notable figures in Slovenian history are buried are Prešernov Gaj in Kranj and Navje in Ljubljana. The latter is the work of architect Jože Plečnik.