Three Slovenian attractions off the coast

The Haystack by Dezela kozolcev

Slovenia landmarks


We recently got to know three Slovenia sights away from the coast. We heard on our trip that most visitors to Slovenia are immediately drawn to the sea. To our shame, I have to admit that until a few years ago we didn't think otherwise. No wonder! It takes just over five hours by car from Munich to Ankaran.

 

Three Slovenia sights
White hall, www.slovenia.info, Photographer: Miha Krivic

 

But I always wondered what to do off the motorway. That's why we've been traveling more inland in recent years. Ptuj and the surroundings of Kamnik we've already gotten to know each other. This time our trip took us to different regions of Slovenia. Again we discovered interesting places for Slow Traveler and above all the good cuisine Slovenia.

 

 

There are many reasons why you should take your time traveling through this small country. This includes

three Slovenia attractions off the coast.

There is much more. But these three sights are particularly remembered from our last trip. Here we introduce you to them:

 

Castle Zuzemberk
Slovenia Attractions - Zuzemberk Castle

 

The castle of Zuzemberk

The small Place Zuzemberk is located near the Dolenjska wine region in the east of the country. From Otocec we need about an hour to Zuzemberg by car. The market is currently taking place in the town. It mainly sells clothes and knickknacks. However, we hardly see fresh fruit. Instead, just behind the market square rises the castle wall of the medieval fortress. The castle was badly damaged during the Second World War, but is now rebuilt in large parts. It belonged to the noble family Auersperg for centuries. It was heavily under the Turkish invasion of the 16. Century to suffer. After all, Andreas von Auersperg was responsible for the decisive defeat of the Turks. At the Battle of Sissek on the Kupa his 5000 man strong troop beat an allegedly four times as strong Turkish army.

 

Pillory in the castle Zuzemberk
Castle Zuzemberk

 

Medieval festivals and culture in the castle

Today, the castle serves primarily as a venue for medieval festivals, plays and concerts. For visitors it is open all year round. Admission is free. You can see them on your own. We too do that. I particularly like the view from the castle tower on the city and the surroundings. Below the castle, the river Krka flows through the valley. There you can go fishing well in summer.

Only half an hour away, we visit then in Sentrupert

 

The Haystack by Dezela kozolcev
Slovenia Attractions - Dezela kozolcev hay barn

 

the Haystack of Dezela kozolcev

We had already seen such hay racks on our trip to Kamnik. Back then we wanted to learn more about it. Therefore, we were delighted to visit “Land of the hay barn" most notably. These wooden scaffolds stand out when driving overland through Slovenia. However, it is only in this open-air museum that we realize how different they can be in their form. In the course of time, real masterpieces made of wood were created from simple branch forks that were stuck into the ground. Everything from cereals to hay, grain, flax, hemp, vegetables and ferns was dried on it. If the hay barn was larger, agricultural machinery was also placed in it.

 

Haystack big and small farmers
Heustadel

 

Haystack Museum

Rupert Gole, architect and mayor of Sentrupert, is fascinated by these wooden structures. He therefore committed himself to preserving them. A total of 19 of these drying frames are in the Sentrupert Hay Barn Museum. “They show the development of these frameworks over time,” explains Rupert Gole. He points to various examples: “You can easily see which belonged to simple farmers and wealthy landowners.” He is right. Some of the scaffolding is simple. Others are beautifully carved. This makes it easy to see what social class the owner belonged to. In any case, they are part of the image of Slovenia today. After all, you see them everywhere in the country.

The third Slovenian sight we present to you is one of the highlights of the country:

 

Postojna cave entrance - Slovenia sightseeing
Postojna cave entrance, www.slovenia.info, Photographer: Miha Krivic

 

Postojna Caves - one of the top Slovenia attractions

We look at the caves the next day. They are Slovenia landmarks that one should know about. This time we stay at the Hotel Convent in Ankaran * Directly at the sea. From there we drive a good hour inland. You can see immediately that this is one of the main attractions of the country. We meet one tour group after the other. Almost everyone speaks a different language. From Scandinavian to Chinese I hear everything during our stay. I am glad that access to the caves is limited. The visitors drive at fixed times only with a train in the caves. From there it goes on foot into the cave system.

 

By train to the Postojna Cave - sights of Slovenia
Train ride through Postojna cave - Slovenia sights, www.slovenia.info

 

Adelsberg Caves, one of the sights of Slovenia

The Postojna caves are also called the Adelsberg caves. They are the second largest stalactite caves in the world open to visitors. (The largest are in Lebanon.) The caves extend more than twenty kilometers into the karst. The large halls and lime sinter curtains that grow downwards from the cave ceiling are worth seeing. An impressive example of what nature creates. The caves are one of the Slovenia attractions that you should not miss.

 

Postojna - Slovenia sightseeing
Highlights of Slovenia attractions. Postojna limestone formations, www.slovenia.info, Photographer: D. Mladenovič

Further information about opening times and current admission prices can be found on the Postojna website.

 

 

In any case, there are more than our three Slovenia attractions away from the coast. You can find some of them in our other Slovenia blog posts. Or in other blogs, such as B. on this one Mini road trip through Slovenia from Kids Adventure & More.

Here you can read how Wolfgang Brugger, for example, experienced the trip: Slovenia, Dolenjska, hilly wine region for connoisseurs and Slovenia: sleeping in the monastery, goulash gun and a meeting with the Grottenolm

Other Slow Travel Destinations here.

Source: own research on site. We would definitely like to thank Best Press Story for supporting this journey. However, as always, our opinions remain our own.

Text: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Photos: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline

Three Slovenian attractions off the coast

Monika Fuchs

Monika Fuchs and Petar Fuchs are the authors and publishers of the Food and Slow Travel blog  TravelWorldOnline. They have been publishing this blog since 2005. TravelWorldOnline has been online since 2001. Their topics are trips to Savor, wine tourism worldwide and slow travel. During her studies Monika Fuchs spent some time in North America, where she - partly together with Petar Fuchs - traveled to the USA and Canada and spent a research year in British Columbia. This intensified her thirst for knowledge, which she satisfied for 6 years as an adventure guide for Rotel Tours and then for 11 years as a tour guide for Studiosus Reisen around the world. She was constantly expanding her travel regions, but curiosity still gnawed at her: "What's beyond the horizon? What else is there to discover in this city? Which people are interesting here? What do they eat in this region?" As a freelance travel journalist (her articles have appeared in DIE ZEIT, 360° Canada, 360° USA, etc.), she is now looking for answers to these questions as a travel writer and travel blogger in many countries around the world. Petar Fuchs produces the videos on this blog as well as on YouTube. Monika Fuchs from TravelWorldOnline is among Germany's top 50 bloggers in 2021. Find more Information about Monika and Petar Fuchs here.

14 thoughts too "Three Slovenian attractions off the coast"

    1. Hello Jessica, the caves of Postojna are really worth seeing. They are among the highlights in Slovenia. LG, Monica

  1. Dear Monika,

    You make Slovenia always tastier. The caves look great, remind me of the grotto de Hahn in Belgium. This is always a great experience. And the houses, really great wooden structures. Again a page that I had not believed the country. So thank you, for the great insights :)

    Best regards,
    Nicole

    1. Hello nicole,

      That pleases me. Maybe you will be there soon. I still have a few reports in the pipeline that introduce other “sweets” in this country.

      Best regards,
      Monika

  2. Thanks for the great tips! Will next year explore the area around Graz - Slovenia and Styria can certainly be combined well!

    1. In any case. From Graz you are quickly on the highway in Slovenia. We liked the area around Ptuj.

  3. You are right, everyone is going to the coast. From the interior of Slovenia, I have yet to get anything to read.

    Especially the cave is definitely a great way to cool off in the hot summer.

    Thank you for the very new insights of Slovenia for me.

    1. Sincerely, Daniela. Slovenia is a country that wants to be discovered. We also liked the wine regions.

  4. Slovenia is not yet on our travel list. Nevertheless, I find your post very interesting and informative. Let's see if we will eventually aim for Slovenia.

    Best regards,

    1. Slovenia has surprised us with what it has to offer. Until just a few years ago, we also just drove to the sea.

  5. If these are the second largest limestone caves in the world, where can I find the biggest ones?

    The insights into a misunderstood travel destination, I find exciting.

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