About Slovenia
Slovenia is a country of great geographic diversity as it lies at the junction of four zones: Alpine, Pannonian, Dinaric, and Mediterranean. It borders Austria in the north, Hungary and Croatia to the east and southeast, the Adriatic Sea to the south and Italy to the west. It lies at the crossroads of Europe, an area of 20,000 sq kms.
The Republic of Slovenia was declared an independent state on 21 June 1991.The Slovenian nations has a remarkable history covering two millennia. Slovenia – under its ancient name of Caranthania - was the first democracy of Europe. The investiture ceremony of the Dukes of Caranthania was so extraordinary that it became a model for political theorists.
This Slovenian state, referred to by contemporary historians of 6th
century AD, was regarded as a model in the development of western
democracy. Thomas Jefferson referred to Caranthania for the Declaration
of Independence of 1776. This unique ceremony for the investiture
of the elected leader was conducted in the Slovenian language until
1728.
Slovenia was incorporated in a feudal state after 745 AD and was part
of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1918. In 1918 Slovenia became
part of the Kingdom of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs, later renamed Yugoslavia.
After World War 2 it formed a part of the Socialist Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia till 1991as its northern republic.
Today the Republic of Slovenia is a dynamic modern state of 2 million
people.Slovenia is reknown for its rich cultural life and many annual
international festivals in music and in the performing arts. There
is the annual international writers’ festival Vilenica. Slovenia has
a long history, in part reflected in the architecture of towns - a
blend of late gothic, baroque and modern, with fortifications and
historical places dating to Roman times.
Slovenian people have made notable contribution to the world of arts and sciences – to mention a few: Jurij Vega, Jozef Stefan, Herman Potocnik, and Frederic Pregl. In the 20th century, Joze Plecnik, a leading architect of the Vienna school, dedicated his genius to making Ljubljana a worthy capital of Slovenia. With many stunning buildings and unique features, this outstanding post-modernist architect of our time, has made Ljubljana into an “urban planning phenomenon”.
To the visitor Slovenia offers a spectacular range of natural wonders: the largest cave systems in the world, scenic waterfalls, intermittent lakes and rivers, beautiful lakes and mountains. There is a wide range of sports and leisure activities: fishing, canoeing, trekking, gliding and mountain climbing. In winter the whole country takes to the ski slopes and there are exciting international skiing and ski flying competitions. A famous annual event is the ceremonial grape picking of the 400-year-old vine of Maribor, the oldest vine in Europe.
Slovenia offers a great deal to interest the visitor, and much to explore.
