INTERESTING  FACTS  ABOUT SLOVENIA

Slovenia is the only country in Europe that combines the Alps, the Mediterranean, the Pannonian Plain and the Karst. The changing landscape is constantly surprising, time and again. You can have one eye on the sea, then look in the other direction and be surrounded by high mountains. Heading up into the forests, you can see green plains below you. From upland meadows, your view stretches into river gorges. This proximity of opposites and contrasts is a hallmark of the country.

  • Slovenia is the only country in the world that has a word love in its name.
  • It is third most forested country in Europe after Finland and Sweden. 64% of its territory is covered by forest.
Sport is an important part of life in Slovenia. The most popular ones are winter sports (ski jumping & skiing), hiking and team sports (basketball, volleyball & football). Slovenian athletes are among the best in the world in terms of medals won in major championships and Olympic games per capita. 
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Picture taken from Sijaj website (https://www.sijajnenovice.si/slovenski-smucarski-skakalci-tretji-v-vikersundu/)
Slovenia has its own language, which shares a lot of similarities with a Croatian language. Slovenians are known to be very good at speaking foreign languages. There are quite few spoken in our country: Italian, Hungarian, English, German, Croatian, Serbian and Bosnian.
​Slovenia is among the most biologically diverse countries in the world. Slovenia accounts for less than 0.004% of the Earth's surface but is home to more than 1% of all living creatures and 2% of terrestrial creatures.

Slovenia is one of the richest countries in Europe in terms of water - it has almost 27,000 kilometers of rivers, streams and other watercourses.​​
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The Slovenian cuisine is diverse and influenced by the diversity of Slovenian landscape, climate, history and neighbouring cultures. The main ingredients, such as cabbage, beans and potatoes, are of course produced in a natural environment. Without them there would be no typical jota or bograč, Idrija žlikrofi dumplings and sauté potatoes. A tasty meal is often concluded with a rich potica or kremšnita cake. We host interesting gastronomic festivals which include the Saltworkers' Festival, the Cabbage Festival, Chestnut Sunday and Bean Day.​
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Picture taken from Sava Hotels&Resorts website (https://www.sava-hotels-resorts.com/si/sava-hoteli-bled/kulinarika/blejska-kremna-rezina-kremsnita)
  • Ana Roš of Hiša Franko in Kobarid, Slovenia has been named as The World’s Best Female Chef 2017.
  • In June 2020: first edition of Slovenian Michelin guide was revealed. Hiša Franko received 2 Michelin stars.
  • Ana Roš also earned 7th place at The Best Chef Awards 2021. Her pastry team at Hiša Franko got first place in The Best Pastry Chef Awards 2021.
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Ana Roš, Hiša Franko, picture taken from Odprta Kuhinja website (https://odprtakuhinja.delo.si/recepti/izjemno-ana-ros-se-je-uvrstila-med-deset-najboljsih-kuharjev-na-svetu-best-chef-awards/)
Inspiring articles about Slovenia:
  • "20 Photos That Prove Slovenia May Be The Most Beautiful Country You’ve Never Been To" in EpicDash
  • "Dragons, romance and carnival: 10 reasons to visit Slovenia in 2015" in CNN
  • "Slovenian Rhapsody" in New York Times
  • "Exploring Slovenia's Undiscovered Towns" in Travel and Leisure
  • "The Hidden Paradise of Slovenia" in Condé Nast Traveler 
  • "Why I fell in love with Slovenia?" ​in Guardian

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