In 2023, Slovenia was the 2023 guest of honour at the renowned Frankfurt Book Fair, which took place between 18 and 22 October this year. Visitors, lovers of written works, publishers and cultural workers had the opportunity to become acquainted with Slovenia's literary and cultural vibes under the motto "A Honeycomb of Words".
A small country with a huge treasure trove of literary and other cultural gems. Slovenian is a language known and spoken by only a tiny number of people in the world. But its history was written a millennium ago by the Freising Monuments, it is preserved in the famous Stična manuscripts, and it first appeared in book form during the time of Protestantism and the great Primož Trubar. Literary and other artistic treasures have been accumulated over the centuries by countless individuals who are now known through their works, and their heritage is preserved by libraries, events and festivals, memorial houses, rooms and memorials, as well as interesting literary routes.
On the world map, Slovenia stands out with great art and culture. In this video, Noah Charney, a professor of art history and a writer, explains why he chose Slovenia for his forever home and why he devoted his time to exploring the wonders of Slovenian culture and sharing it in writing with those who have not had a chance to encounter it yet.
It's all here, in Slovenia. Waiting for the wise explorer to discover, as so many others have before.
Noah Charney
Prešeren's Slovenia Learn about the greatest Slovenian poet, France Prešeren, by taking a walk through the places where he left his greatest mark. On 8 February, the day of his death, the Slovenian Cultural Holiday is observed.
Slovenians love to read. For decades, the Reading Badge has been encouraging young readers to read voluntarily in their free time. According to data from 2020, there were 58 general libraries in Slovenia in that year, with a total of 274 local libraries and 13 bibliobuses – mobile van libraries that bring books to readers who live in more remote places. More than 20 per cent of the country's population is a member of a general library, and almost 16.5 million books were borrowed that year. In addition to general libraries, there are also specialised libraries, faculty libraries, school libraries and other expert libraries.
The National and University Library, an imposing building in Ljubljana city centre, designed by the renowned architect Jože Plečnik, is the Slovenian central library. Its mission is to collect, preserve and ensure the use of the national collection of library materials. It is also a university library, and its landmark Great Reading Room is always full of students and researchers. The library is also open to the public – external visitors can walk up the staircase to the lobby, the Information Centre and the Plečnik Corridor daily, while non-members are only allowed in the Great Reading Room on Saturdays or by prior arrangement.
For years, there has been a plan to build a new National and University Library to be located not far from the famous Plečnik Palace, above the remains of the former Emona. The designers describe the new library as a meeting point for culture, science and business, tailored to the needs of the modern user. Seven floors and 13,600 square metres dedicated to knowledge transfer, creativity, research and networking. The plans for NUK 2 have been drawn up by Bevk Perović Architects and construction is due to start this year and last until 2026.
Over the centuries, monastery libraries have been responsible for preserving and restoring many valuable works of literary history, and monasteries have been considered important theological, cultural and economic centres. Unfortunately, not all of these literary treasures have survived to the present day, but some monastic libraries across Slovenia still contain stunning examples. Not all of them are open to the public, but the following can be viewed by appointment.
On warmer days, while walking through many Slovenian cities, you may find the lovely Libraries Under the Canopy – islands with comfortable deck chairs inviting you to browse and read for free in city parks, promenades, on lawns and elsewhere. You can find libraries under the canopy in several points in Ljubljana, in Lendava, Kamnik, Kropa, Novo mesto, Nova Gorica, Ribnica, Rašice ... and even on Velika planina!
Did you know that Slovenia is the second country in the world in terms of the number of books published per million inhabitants?
📖 6,000 books published annually
📖 1,400 publishers with at least one book published per year
📖 23 million books borrowed in libraries in one year
📖 150 bookshops
📖 3,000 e-books in Slovenian available for borrowing and purchase
In 2015, the Slovenian capital was awarded the permanent title of UNESCO City of Literature. As part of UNESCO's Creative Cities Network, which brings together different spheres of urban life, Ljubljana, the Slovenian capital, is also among the UNESCO Cities of Literature. It is considered a centre of literary creation, with an average of 850 books published each year. The city has an extensive network of general libraries with more than 500,000 members. Ljubljana was named World Book Capital in 2010. It was the first host of the World Book Summit, which adopted the Ljubljana Resolution highlighting the importance of books as a key driver of sustainable development and cultural diversity.
Memory of the World is a UNESCO Written Heritage List. It includes the Codex Suprasliensis, an Old Church Slavonic manuscript in Cyrillic script, considered to be the oldest surviving written document in the Slavic language. The manuscript was written in Bulgaria and later found its way to Poland, but thanks to Slovenian linguist Jernej Kopitar, part of it has also found its way to Slovenia. Today it is preserved in the National and University Library in Ljubljana.
There are more than 10,200 streets in Slovenia with a variety of names. They are often named after famous figures in Slovenian history and art. The list of the ten most common streets in Slovenian towns includes Prešernova ulica, Cankarjeva ulica, Gregorčičeva ulica, Kajuhova ulica, Levstikova ulica and Trubarjeva ulica. Many Slovenian schools, libraries, cultural centres and other institutions also bear the names of famous cultural figures. In Ljubljana, for example, there is the Cankarjev dom cultural and congress centre, in Sežana Kosovelov dom, in Kranj the Prešerenovo gledališče theatre, etc.
In the centre of Ljubljana, in the garden of the building that houses the Slovene Writers' Association, you can sit in an open-air café named after the poet Lili Novy. Nearby is the city's Tivoli Park, where you can sit on a bench on a small hill next to statues of the writers Edvard Kocbek and Boris Pahor.
The authors mentioned so far, who worked in the past centuries, paved the way for the contemporaries of Slovenian poetry and literature. Among the world's best-known (and most translated) authors are Drago Jančar, Tomaž Šalamun, Kajetan Kovič, Žarko Petan, the aforementioned Boris Pahor, Aleš Debeljak and Evald Flisar. The historical fiction Alamut, written by Vladimir Bartol in the 1930s and translated into almost 30 languages, is still well-known abroad.
Children's picture books and teenage works also have a special place in book production. Among the authors, Ela Peroci, Kajetan Kovič, Oton Župančič, Svetlana Makarovič and Anja Štefan stand out, and among the illustrators, Jelka Reichmann, Lucija Marija and Marlenka Stupica and Ančka Gošnik Godec have made an outstanding mark, while the picture books of the illustrator Lila Prap are internationally renowned. Today, many authors are working in the field of illustration, and their works are regularly presented at the the Biennial of Slovenian Illustration and at the Illustration Fair at the Vodnik Homestead.
You can discover the literary history of the places and authors who grew up, lived and worked here on guided walks, hiking routes or other experiences.
The homesteads of Slovenian writers and poets hold many interesting facts, personal stories and objects. Some of the houses have been converted into museums with a wider historical significance, and in some places memorial rooms have been dedicated to the authors.
Slovenia's festival scene is extremely rich and vibrant. This also applies to the field of literary festivals and events. From the famous poetry festival in the Karst Cave to the book fair that attracts thousands of book lovers every year.
Read the life story of the explorer and writer Alma M. Karlin, learn about the first (true) Slovenian poet Valentin Vodnik, and discover the precious literary gems kept by the National and University Library. In the stories on the Google Arts & Culture platform.
The identity of the Slovenian nation is inextricably linked to culture and the Slovenian language. Explore evidence of people living on Slovenian territory dating back at least 60,000 years. Here, a turbulent history will reveal some of the oldest artefacts in the world. Discover castles and manor houses, unusual museums and galleries, go to a concert, theatre or opera. The festival calendar is particularly rich: more than 100 festivals invite you to all parts of the country throughout the year. Where will you go first?
Slovenia boasts a rich cultural tradition.
Visit interesting festivals and cultural events in Slovenia!
Where can you top off your visit to the museums and galleries with a good coffee or a glass of wine?
Discover Slovenia's greatest architectural treasures.
Slovenia is full of castles, manors, fortresses, and fortification systems.
You can enjoy the work of some of the most important creators and performers from all over the world if you visit festivals in Slovenia.
A celebration of culture, art and cuisine in Slovenia's historic towns.
Museums and galleries in Slovenia – a treasure trove of art from prehistoric times until today.
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