Slovenia Guide
Southern Slovenia
The three regions comprising southern Slovenia: Notranjska, Dolenjska and Bela Krajina, offer an attractive mix of darkly forested hills, karstic rock formations, river valleys, castles, monasteries and spas, not to mention several outstanding wine-producing regions. Moreover, with very few major centres of population in the region, there are opportunities aplenty for hiking, cycling and other leisurely pursuits.
The province of Notranjska encompasses an expanse of terrain extending south from the Ljubljana marshes to the Croatian border, bound by Primorska and the Karst to the west and by the Velika Gora hills to the east. Characterized by karst fields, underground rivers and thickly forested limestone hills and plateaus pocked by innumerable cave systems, its most celebrated attractions are the astonishing Postojna Caves and the majestically sited Predjama Castle. Largely ignored by most travellers, Notranjska's lesser-known sites include Lake Cerknica, Europe's largest intermittent lake, and the wonderful Križna Water Cave.
The thick forests of Notranjska extend eastwards into the neighbouring province of Dolenjska, the largest of the three regions. Its westernmost flank is home to the massive forest of Kočevski Rog, and the Kolpa River Valley on the Croatian border, the latter offering an exciting complement of fantastic scenery and superb walking, cycling and adrenaline-fuelled sports.
Quietly tucked away in the far southeastern corner of the country and bound by the forests of Kočevjski Rog to the west and the Croatian border to the south and east, is Bela Krajina. It is easily the smallest of southern Slovenia's regions, a gentle landscape where hilly slopes raked with lush vineyards descend to flatlands strewn with the region's famous white birch trees.
Today, viticulture and fruit growing are the main agricultural activities in this region, and it's these, along with strong folk traditions, that entice any visitors the region receives.
Getting around by public transport is more difficult here than in any other part of the country, so it's the one region where having your own wheels is particularly advantageous; trains serve relatively few places, while local bus services are patchy at best.
Highlights
1 Postojna Caves Vast chambers and dazzling formations in one of the world's truly great cave systems.
2 Predjama Castle Visit Slovenia's most dramatically sited castle, and discover the legend of Erasmus Lueger.
3 Lake Cerknica Europe's largest intermittent lake is another of Slovenia's great natural wonders.
4 Križna Water Cave Discover cave-bear bones and over a dozen lakes in one of Europe's finest water caves.
5 Walking in Kočevjski Rog Explore Slovenia's finest expanse of forest, and catch some wildlife along the way – mind the bears though.
6 Kayaking on the Kolpa River The beautiful, twisting, Kolpa River is a great spot for kayaking and other water sports.
7 Pleterje Monastery Visit the atmospheric church and grounds of Slovenia's only functioning Carthusian monastery.
8 Repnice wine cellars Down a few glasses of wine in unique cellars hewn from sand.