Slovenia among the top 10 destinations for active holidays

Above the oldest Slovenian town of Ptuj stands an imposing fortification – Ptuj Castle. The strategic location atop the hill drew people to settle there 2000 years BCE, and the Ancient Romans were the first to erect a fortress and basilica on it. In the Middle Ages the castle was home to the Lords of Ptuj, and its present-day appearance dates back to the 17th century. Today the castle houses a regional museum with numerous exhibitions, including one on the Ptuj kurent, the most famous Slovenian Shrovetide Carnival figure. Also among the biggest draws of Ptuj are the oldest wine cellar in Slovenia and Terme Ptuj, the spa with an Ancient Roman history.

Among the hills of Posavje in south-eastern Slovenia are Slovenian castle full of tales and mysteries. One tale speaks of the unrequited love of Count Barbara at Mokrice Castle, which is just 8 km from Terme Čatež. In the castle cellar you can taste superlative wines from all of Slovenia’s wine producing regions, and the castle restaurant offers a wealth of culinary delights. Today the castle has been converted into a high-category boutique hotel with rooms in the castle towers, and around it is laid out one of the finest 18-hole golf courses in the country.

Kostanjevica na Krki, the smallest Slovenian town and the only one on a river island, amidst the waters of the River Krka. It is just a short walk from the first bridge on one side to the bridge on the other side of the island. The atmosphere gives the impression that Kostanjevica is a place of artists. The monastery at Kostanjevica na Krki, with its Forma Viva and Božidar Jakac Gallery, which exhibits the works of that great painter and graphic artist, along with sculptures by the best Slovenian sculptors, seems tailor-made for art enthusiasts and for spiritual journeys.

In the heart of unspoilt nature, on an island in the River Krka stands one of the most attractive hotels in Slovenia, the Grad Otočec hotel. Its boutique range of top-category rooms and suites is included in the Relais & Chateaux association of hotels and restaurants. The castle setting offers accommodation in 16 luxuriously appointed rooms, and guests can also enjoy a round of golf. The course is one of the longest in Slovenia, and is ideal both for professionals and amateur golfers.

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