From the Kolpa River to the town of Laško

Eastern Slovenia is as soft as bread that is never missing from the table in this part of the country. Green hills and fertile fields, rivers and lakes, vineyards and orchards are scattered throughout the rolling landscape. At the start of the New Year, people still wish for grain fields and vineyards to yield a good harvest.

Have you already heard of the Slovenian EDEN finalists and winners? These are the Kolpa River and Laško, Velenje, Kozjansko and the area between Pohorje and Bohor. Here you can find many excellent tips to indulge your taste buds, while during the mornings and evenings you can recharge your batteries in the best Slovenian thermal spas with their thermal springs. Stroll around Slovenia with a big spoon!

EDEN or European destinations of Excellence are European destinations with the commitment to promote sustainable tourism development that puts the benefit of local environment first.

The Kolpa River - the homeland of heroic Peter Klepec

The land of strong Peter Klepec is characterised by the Kolpa River. This green river is one of the cleanest and warmest rivers in Slovenia. And it is this, 113-kilometre-long river that makes the natural border with Croatia so full of life. The Kovač Hotel offers dishes that were perfect for supernaturally strong folk hero Peter Klepec: homemade bread with a celery spread or a vegetable soup, favourite dish of Peter Klepec.

Kostel and Bela Krajina - tales told over a flatbread

The infopoint of TrisOld School unveils the secrets of the healing world of the Kolpa River. Listen to what the Kostel peddler has to say about the old craft he is reviving. On his back, he carries a filled basket that used to be a travelling shop. On the way along the green Kolpa River, make a stop at fine resting posts, such as the Madronič Tourist Farm, where they serve delicious trouts that are said to jump out of the Kolpa River directly on your plate. When in Žuniči Village, visit Šokčev dvor, a heritage-protected Bela Krajina farmstead situated in the Kolpa Regional Park. In Bela Krajina taste traditional Bela Krajina fry-up, consisting of small meat loaves dipped in pancake batter and fried in oil. Integral parts of the Bela Krajina feast are also Bela Krajina-style žlikrofi (stuffed dumplings) and curd cheese povitica (cheese-filled hand-rolled desert bread). Knead your own Bela Krajina flatbread, which was awarded a Traditional Speciality Guaranteed label and which is said to be a flatbread of welcome and hospitality. Drive to Semič to a tasting of appetising Metlika red wine at Malnarič winegrowing farm. The Jakljevič Tourist Farm in the village of Gabrovec is famed for its homemade specialities, such as Bela Krajina lamb.

Roman lunch and the drink of the gods

You can start your wellness day at the Rimske terme Spa in the town of Rimske Toplice. Conclude your experience by taking a walk through the park of healing spots. Not far to the East you can find Thermana Laško with its more than 160-year-long tradition of thermal springs. The Laško Wellness Park Hotel has been awarded the EU eco-label with the daisy logo. Indulge in spa pleasures. The day gets even better with the aromas of seasonal dishes and with a mug of beer, which won fame for being a drink of the gods thousands of years ago.

Laško - castle feast among brewers

Morning swimming always makes a perfect day! Be fresh when you embark on the path of honey adventures! Laško has been the home of great beekeepers and gingerbread makers for over a century. Find your decorated gingerbread heart and try healing apitherapy in a beehive. For lunch, opt for a honey menu in Laško Thermana or visit a tourist farm for Laško cheese štruklji, which are wrapped in a tablecloth and cooked in salty water. In the afternoon, knock on the door of the Laško Brewery. Propose a toast with a glass of beer and take a tour of the brewery with an over 200-year-old tradition. Spend the evening at Tabor Castle and have a perfect castle meal of great delicacies and Laško beer. If you would like to experience the healing power of beer, you can also try a healing beer bath at Laško Thermana.

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