Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

SLOVENIA 445

DIRECTORY

CRAFTS AND

SOUVENIRS

Etnogalerija Skrina

Breg 8, Ljubljana. Tel (01)

425 5161. http://www.skrina.si

Galerija Idrijske

Čipke

Mestni trg 17, Ljubljana.

Tel (01) 425 0051.

http://www.idrija-lace.com

Galerija Rogaška

Mestni trg 22, Ljubljana.

Tel (01) 241 2701.

http://www.steklarna-rogaska.si

Mladinska Knjiga

Konzorcij

Slovenska cesta 29,

Ljubljana.

Tel (01) 241 4761.

http://www.mladinska.com

FOOD AND DRINK

Čokoladnica

Cukrček

Mestni trg 11, Ljubljana.

Tel (01) 421 0453.

http://www.cukrcek.si

Kraševka

Ciril Metodov trg 10,

Ljubljana. Tel (01) 232

1445. http://www.krasevka.si

PUBS AND BARS

Metelkova Mesto

Metelkova cesta, Ljubljana.

http://www.metelkova.org

CLASSICAL MUSIC

Cankarjev Dom

trg republike, Ljubljana.

Tel (01) 241 7100.

http://www.cd-cc.si

Slovene Filharmonic

Kongresni trg 10,

Ljubljana.

Tel (01) 241 0800.

http://www.filharmonija.si

Slovene National

Theatre, Opera

and Ballet

Cankarjeva 11/1, Ljubljana.

Tel (01) 241 1700. http://www.

opera.si, http://www.balet.si

FESTIVALS

Druga Godba

Ljubljana.

Tel (01) 430 8260.

http://www.drugagodba.si

Lent Festival

Maribor.

Tel (02) 229 4000.

http://www.lent.slovenija.net

Ljubljana Summer

Festival

Ljubljana.

Tel (01) 241 6026.

http://www.ljubljanafestival.si

RAFTING

Bled Rafting

Hrastova 2, Bled.

Tel (04) 167 8008.

http://www.bled-rafting.si

Maya

Padlih borcev 1, Tolmin.

Tel (05) 380 0530.

http://www.maya.si

Soča Rafting

trg Golobarskih žrtev 14,

Bovec. Tel (05) 389 6200.

http://www.socarafting.si

Sports Activities

Dominated by one of Europe’s most stunning mountain

ranges, the Julian Alps, Slovenia is an excel lent outdoor
destination and a major centre for activity holidays.
The country’s picturesque mountains, beautiful rivers
and lakes offer unlimited opportunities to indulge in
a wide range of adventure sports including hiking and
skiing, white water rafting or kayaking in the Soča
valley (see p431) and cycling through the majestic
hills of Dolenjska. The Slovene coast offers some of
the best windsurfing in Europe while scuba diving and
sailing are also popular.

HIKING

Hiking has been a popular
pursuit in Slovenia for well
over a century and a half.
There is a wide variety of
trails to suit the recreational
rambler as well as the serious
mountain climber, and routes
are well kept with frequent
signposts. Hiking maps are
widely available and there is
an established network of
mountain huts offering refuge
to the long-distance trekker.

CYCLING

The popularity of cycling
has grown in recent years.
Slovenia’s varied topography
presents endless opportunities
for cyclists. There is a broad
range of well-marked moun-
tain biking trails in the north

and west of the country

including the mountain trails

in Triglav National Park (see

pp436–9). There are also

several well-organized recrea-

tional routes in the lowlands.

Cycling is permitted on

all roads except motorways.

Local tourist information

centres are well equipped

to advise visitors regarding

cycling routes. Mountain

bikes are available for hire

in the main resort centres.

RAFTING

Slovenia offers various water

sports, from boating for relax-

ation to adrenaline-inducing

white water descents over

steep waterfalls and rapids.

The fast flowing Alpine rivers

are perfect for rafting, canoe-

ing and kayaking, with

SKIING

In winter, visitors flock to

Slovenia’s wonderful ski

slopes. Snowboarding

and down hill skiing are

popular in the Alpine parts

of Slovenia. Kranjska Gora

and Mariborsko Pohorje are

the largest and best-equipped

ski resorts, although there

are several smaller destina-

tions to choose from, many

of which are only an hour’s

drive from the capi tal,

Ljubljana. Since Slovenia’s

split from Yugoslavia in

1991, many Slovenes have

achieved tremendous success

in winter sports. The most

notable event in the Slovenian

sporting calendar is the World

Ski-Jumping Championships,

held in Planica in March.

Other winter pleasures

include snowmobile rides – in

Kranjska Gora – and organized

sled runs out side the ski

cen tres. Depend ing on the

weather, the ski season usually

lasts from December to March.

numerous agencies offering

trips on the Soča river. Among

these are Maya, Soča Rafting

and Bled Rafting in the towns

of Tolmin, Bovec and Bled

respectively. The same agen-

cies also arrange adventure

sports such as canyoning

and bungee jumping.