Rich in resources, naturally good looking and persistently peaceful, Slovenia has been doing just fine since its break from the former Yugoslavia in 1991. No longer the undiscovered, bargain gem that it was, Slovenia still remains a wonderful antidote to much of Europe's crowds and high prices.
Many of its cities and towns bear the imprint of the Habsburg Empire and the Venetian Republic, while up in the Julian Alps you'd almost think you were in Bavaria. The relative affluence of this country on the 'sunny side of the Alps' is immediately apparent.
This is the country's only gazetted national park and includes almost all of the Slovenian Julian Alps. The tallest peak is Triglav but there are many other peaks here reaching above 2000m (6500ft), and the park is rich in flora and fauna. Mountain climbers are well catered for, but there are easy hikes too through beautiful valleys, forests and fields
There are several bustling beach towns along Slovenia's short Adriatic coast. Italianised Koper has a medieval flavour despite the surrounding industry, container ports and superhighways, and pretty Piran is a gem of Venetian Gothic architecture with narrow streets.
Adrenaline seekers in Slovenia head for three-headed Mt Triglav (2864m/9394ft), the country's highest peak. It presides over the Julian Alps, which cut across Slovenia's northwestern corner into Italy. The Alps are visited by hundreds of weekend warriors, not all of whom are on ambitious treks.
Early Slavs believed the mountain to be the home of a three-headed deity who ruled the sky, the earth and the underworld. Since the days of the Habsburgs, the 'pilgrimage' to Triglav has been a confirmation of Slovenian identity. Today Triglav figures prominently on the national flag.
Ljubljana is a smaller Prague without the hordes of tourists. By far Slovenia's largest and most...
Ljubljana is a smaller Prague without the hordes of tourists. By far Slovenia's largest and most populous city, this charming place feels like a clean, green, self-contented town rather than an industrious municipality of national importance.
Ljubljana began as the Roman town of Emona, and legacies of the Roman presence remain throughout the city. But contemporary Ljubljana has a vibrant Slavic air all its own. The 35,000 students who attend Ljubljana University keep the city spirited and young.
