


During World War II, Germany, Italy, and Hungary occupied and annexed Slovenia, with a tiny area transferred to the Independent State of Croatia, a newly declared Nazi puppet state. In December 1918, they merged with the Kingdom of Serbia into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. In October 1918, the Slovenes co-founded the State of Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs. Its territory has been part of many different states: the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Carolingian Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, the Kingdom of Hungary, the Republic of Venice, the Illyrian Provinces of Napoleon's First French Empire, the Austrian Empire, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Slovenia has historically been the crossroads of Slavic, Germanic, and Romance languages and cultures. Ljubljana, the capital and largest city of Slovenia, is geographically situated near the centre of the country. Toward the northeastern Pannonian Plain, a continental climate is more pronounced. The Julian Alps in the northwest have an alpine climate. A sub-mediterranean climate reaches to the northern extensions of the Dinaric Alps that traverse the country in a northwest–southeast direction. Slovenia has a predominantly continental climate, with the exception of the Slovene Littoral and the Julian Alps. Slovene, a South Slavic language, is the official language. Slovenes constitute over 80% of the country's population. Slovenia is mostly mountainous and forested, covers 20,271 square kilometres (7,827 sq mi), and has a population of 2.1 million (2,108,708 people). It is bordered by Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the southeast, and the Adriatic Sea to the southwest. info), abbr.: RS ), is a country in Central Europe.Slovenia ( / s l oʊ ˈ v iː n i ə, s l ə-/ ( listen) sloh- VEE-nee-ə Slovene: Slovenija ), officially the Republic of Slovenia (Slovene: Republika Slovenija ( help eu, shared with other European Union member states. ^ Hungarian and Italian are co-official in some municipalities.Expect more rain in spring, but fewer crowds and cheaper hotel prices.

The best time to visit the country, if you’re not here for the snow, is spring or summer. Winters are accompanied by low temperatures, sometimes below freezing, which bring with them snowfall across both lowland and highland regions. That means it enjoys warm summers averaging around 25 degrees, which can climb into the 30s on extremely hot days.

Its European continental climate means that Slovenia has a typical Central European climate. Whatever holiday you decide to take in Slovenia, one thing’s for sure, you’ll be talking about it for years after. And when you’re not sitting back and relaxing in the capital’s riverside cafes you’ll be visiting the Venetian coastal city of Koper, admiring the architecture of the Germanic looking Maribor, Slovenia’s second city, or walking the medieval streets of Celje. Spend the morning wandering its picturesque streets, and follow up with an afternoon of waterpark fun. It’s a Renaissance, Baroque and Art Nouveau mix of cultural treats and family-friendly activities in one of the most idyllic riverside settings you’re ever likely to see. The capital Ljubljana is like Vienna in miniature. The difficulty is choosing which one to go for.Īnd the cities? Well, they’re not bad either in fact they’re great. Cycling, hiking, white water rafting or paragliding – you name it, it’s here. Going hand in hand with this outdoor beauty you’ll find more than enough activities to suit even the most hardened daredevils out there. Oh, and let’s not forget that crystal clear coastline with all those lively Italian-style fishing villages and resorts like Piran and Portoroz. We’re talking mountain vistas that would make Switzerland blush, impossibly green river valleys, glacial lakes flanked by medieval castles and vine sprinkled hills. The third most forested country in Europe after Sweden and Finland, Slovenia is a super model when it comes to natural beauty. And with a small but beautifully formed Mediterranean coastline, lakeside resorts and locals who literally fall over themselves to welcome you to their beautiful country, you’ll soon see why Slovenia’s got everyone talking. It might be tiny, but this feisty country located to the south of Austria is making waves with its abundant natural beauty, picturesque towns and wonderful, but inexpensive ski resorts. These days you can’t talk about up and coming tourist destinations without Slovenia cropping up into the conversation somewhere.
