Travelling to Slovenia on an Erasmus+ or Turing Scheme placement will doubtless bring you extraordinary opportunities to learn about a brand-new country. Of course, the benefits of enhanced qualifications and experience comes first, but imagine immersing yourself in an exciting culture, meeting people from another way of life and becoming part of the fabric of this extraordinary country! You’ll become more independent, rise to challenges, make long-lasting friendships, learn skills you never knew you had, and you’ll have an amazing few months. Begin your journey by arming yourself with some useful knowledge as we take you through 10 brilliant facts about Slovenia that will give you a flavour of what’s to come. Let’s dive in!
1. Schnapps is One of the Most Loved Alcoholic Drinks in Slovenia
You won’t go very far without seeing Schnapps on the menu! This short alcoholic drink is literally everywhere, in bars, restaurants and clubs. Seen as their national drink, you have to at least try it once (but beware, it’s strong). As well as Schnapps, Slovenia is really fond of its wine and there are lots of delicious types, especially as it’s home to the Maribor Vineyard, which houses the oldest grapevine in the world. Pay it a visit and try some of the local wines, they’ll be some of the best you’ve ever sampled.
2. Italian is Widely Spoken in Slovenia!
Surprised? We bet you are but it’s true. While Slovenian is the official language, there’s also Hungarian and Italian in some areas. So, if you have these languages already (or you’re learning them), you’ll get by just fine in Slovenia.
3. The Soca River Valley Was Used in Film
If you’ve ever seen the Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian then you may recall its resplendent scenery. No, it wasn’t a set, some of the scenes were filmed in the Soca River Valley, an area renowned for its magnificent natural beauty thanks to its endless coastline. You can visit the area when you’re in Slovenia to see it for yourself, it’s the perfect place for water rafting, canyoning and hiking.
4. The Celebrated Long-Distance Swimmer Martin Strel Comes from Slovenia
Long-distance swimmer Martin Strel has swum some of the most challenging rivers in the world, including the Danube, the Mississippi and the Amazon River! He has obtained 5 Guinness World Records, and his achievements have never been matched!
5.There are Some Outstanding Examples of Natural Beauty in Slovenia
Amongst them, there’s Mount Triglav, which is home to the Triglav National Park. The mount is the highest mountain in Slovenia and the Julian Alps. As well as the park, there are many caves in the Pannonian Plain, home to the Skocjan Caves (open daily between 10 and 3.30 pm). With waterfalls and more than 6 km of passageways underground, this is a fantastic place to visit and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Additionally, there’s the Postojna Cave, which is home to a salamander (sometimes called the human fish) that lives in the dark.
6. The Oldest Wheel In the World Was Discovered in Slovenia
The wheel dates back 5,000 years and was discovered in the marshes in Ljubljana (the capital of Slovenia). Made out of oak, it’s believed it was used on a cart.
7. Slovenia is Also Home to a near on 800-Year-Old Tree
If you love trees and nature, then you’ll like to know that the Najevnik Linden Tree is the oldest Linden tree in Slovenia and stands 24 metres tall. You can see it in the Koroška region of Slovenia, and it is just shy of 800 years old. It must have seen a lot in its time!
8. Slovenia is Brown Bear Country
Slovenia is home to the biggest brown bear population in Europe. There are nearly 600 brown bears who live in the regions of Kocevsko and Notranjska, in the forests. They may be nice to look at but never go near a brown bear as they’re extremely dangerous.
9. Castles Are In Abundance in Slovenia!
There are more than 500 castles in Slovenia, so if you like castles, this is the place for you. Do visit Predjama Castle and the medieval 900 year-old Ljubljana Castle which you can’t miss if you stay in the capital as it’s right in the centre.
10. Slovenia Was Part of Yugoslavia
Slovenia is a relatively new country and became independent in 1991 when the citizens refused to be part of Yugoslavia. It took ten days of war before the Slovenians won and since then, Slovenia has remained its own country.
Let’s Wrap Up
If you long to visit Slovenia on an Erasmus+ or Turing Scheme work or study placement, then why not let us organise it for you? We take thousands of students from Europe and the United Kingdom to multiple destinations every year. Working with schools, colleges, universities, other higher education institutions and NGOs we are the number one partner for you. We guarantee an excellent experience for all students, building full itineraries of activities to help with immersion and organising application forms as well as accommodation, travel and more. Why not find out more by clicking on this link to speak to one of the team at TravelEdventures?