Europe’s leading publisher of locally produced city guide
ESSENTIAL CITY GUIDES
Browse Content
Slovenia
In Your Pocket
Features
- Traffic penalties increased in Slovenia
- Slovenian wines continue to gain popularity abroad
- Where is Slovenia?
- Accommodation Slovenia
- Slovenian Weather
- Famous Slovenes: Žižek
- Slovenia Goes Green!
- Lipica and The White Horses
- Why Slovenia? Part III
- Why Slovenia? Part II
- Why Slovenia? Part I
- Wine tasting in Brda
- Top 5 Slovenian Souvenirs
- Celica: Ljubljana's prison-turned Hostel
- Lake Bled Nominated For New 7 Wonders
- Bohinj Makes the Top 5!
- Slovenian Humour
Links
More features:
-
Why Slovenia? Part III
After my first two columns people generally seemed surprised that I'd been able to come up with so many reasons why an American would want to live in Slovenia, but I assure you that we've barely scratched the surface.... -
Accommodation Slovenia
... -
Why Slovenia? Part I
When a Slovene meets a foreigner the first question they usually ask is the standard, 'Where are you from?' - which is understandable.... -
Slovenian Weather
In a nutshell, Slovenian climate comprises hot summers and harsh winters. The latter seems to be due to its proximity to the alps, the former courtesy of the mediterranean tendencies of the Adriatic sea (and of course its latitude: 46°07'11.... -
Celica: Ljubljana's prison-turned Hostel
Chosen by Lonely Planet as the 'Hippest Hostel in the World' last year, Celica was formerly a military prison in the Metelkova army barracks.... -
Wine tasting in Brda
Occupying 72km² of rolling hills between the Soča River and Italian border, Brda is one of Slovenia's foremost wine-growing areas and only an hour's drive from Ljubljana.... -
Slovenian Humour
One of the most beautiful things about Slovenia is its size. The place is tiny. Yet you can still enjoy completely different regions, weather conditions, food, people and neighbouring countries, all within less than three hours driving.... -
Lipica and The White Horses
If you are lucky enough to have been alive in the 1960's, cast your mind all the way back. If you were a child in Europe in those heady days, 'The White Horses' should mean something to you.... -
Slovenia Goes Green!
2010 is the year of green sLOVEnia! The country is all set to launch itself into the eco-tourism sector.... -
Famous Slovenes: Žižek
With his only serious competition coming from an overweight alcoholic who floats down rivers, it's fairly safe to say that Slavoj Žižek is by far the most widely-known Slovene living today - which is no small feat given that his chosen profession is philosophy.... -
Where is Slovenia?
So where is Slovenia? With only one game remaining during the group stage of the 2010 World Cup a popular ... -
Traffic penalties increased in Slovenia
Although the number of road deaths in Slovenia decreased dramatically after stiffer fines for traffic violations and drink driving were introduced in 2008, the penalties were again raised as of 1 July 2011.... -
Bohinj Makes the Top 5!
Times online make a list of Europe five best spring breaks, and Bohinj came in their list as a best place to see in April-May.... -
Lake Bled Nominated For New 7 Wonders
Lake Bled is among the nominees vying to become one of the 7 new natural wonders of the world, which are to be announced by the Swiss not-for-profit organisation New Open World Corporation (NOWC) in 2011....
50th Kurentovanje
From humble beginnings back in February 1960, the annual Kurentovanje festival in Ptuj has grown into a two week Carnival extravaganza attracting over 100,000 visitors every year and is one of the truly must-see events on the Slovenian cultural calendar.
The festivities officially start on St Martin's Day (11 November) the previous year, when the Prince of the Carnival is crowned. After a couple months of preparation, the actual Carnival kicks off at midnight on 2 February with the lighting of bonfires, drinking, dancing and the unleashing of the Kurents, the traditional Carnival figures that lend their name to the festival.
Dressed in sheepskin coats and resembling some kind of hairy mythological beasts, they meander about the streets with wooden clubs and five heavy cow bells clanging around their waists, attempting to scare off the stubborn winter. Nowadays, dozens of individual events and activities take place over the following two weeks, but the main event is the Carnival parade held on the second Sunday (14 February 2010), which sees all kinds masked and costumed characters join the Kurents and act out various traditions and fables as they pass through Ptuj's absurdly crowded medieval streets.
A full schedule of events can be found here: www.kurentovanje.net, and the drive from Ljubljana to Ptuj should take 1.5 hours if you have your own car, or around twice that if you're coming by public transport.
The festivities officially start on St Martin's Day (11 November) the previous year, when the Prince of the Carnival is crowned. After a couple months of preparation, the actual Carnival kicks off at midnight on 2 February with the lighting of bonfires, drinking, dancing and the unleashing of the Kurents, the traditional Carnival figures that lend their name to the festival.
Dressed in sheepskin coats and resembling some kind of hairy mythological beasts, they meander about the streets with wooden clubs and five heavy cow bells clanging around their waists, attempting to scare off the stubborn winter. Nowadays, dozens of individual events and activities take place over the following two weeks, but the main event is the Carnival parade held on the second Sunday (14 February 2010), which sees all kinds masked and costumed characters join the Kurents and act out various traditions and fables as they pass through Ptuj's absurdly crowded medieval streets.
A full schedule of events can be found here: www.kurentovanje.net, and the drive from Ljubljana to Ptuj should take 1.5 hours if you have your own car, or around twice that if you're coming by public transport.