From touring the Skocjan Caves to admiring the works of Joze Plecnik in the capital, Robin McKelvie explores five wondrous natural and cultural sites across Slovenia Each is worth a visit in its own right and grouping a few of them together makes for a thrilling way to explore the country You visit safe in the knowledge too that a Unesco listing means that development of each site is carefully monitored to help preserve it for future generations to enjoy and continue to learn from This epic cave system was the first Slovenian site to be added by Unesco in 1986 The word karst comes from the Slovenian name for its region with distinctive limestone scenery One of the world’s largest underground river canyons – the explored section of the caves runs for over 6km – passes through the massive caves here which feel like they have been sculpted as a James Bond villain’s secret lair Eking through them on an illuminating guided tour is one of Slovenia’s great travel experiences and much more rugged and rewarding than the Postojna Caves The usual guided tour takes around three hours and ventures 5km deep into the cave system with myriad highlights including crossing the Cerkvenik bridge (which is suspended 50m above the Reka River) and witnessing the force of the water as it surges through the system Read more: The world’s most beautiful Unesco World Heritage Sites The oldest of the wooden settlements – named as they were built on piles driven into the marshes or the water – dates back to the Mesolithic era around 5,000BC with further remnants dotted around this archaeologically rich landscape was found at the Ljubljana Marshes in 2002 and is now on display in the City Museum of Ljubljana so it gives you an idea if you are short on time Read more: These are the best towns and cities to visit in Slovenia Idrija in Slovenia is one-half part of this transnational entry along with Almaden in Spain Idrija sports the largest mercury mine in the world after Almaden with mercury first discovered in the hills here as far back as 1490 the mine still stands and you can delve deep down into it as a visitor an engaging experience as you literally step in the working footsteps of the miners the detritus of centuries of mining comprises an invaluable and irreplaceable record of how mercury mining developed and also commemorates the links between here and the Americas over 800 different samples of ore and minerals from the local mercury ore deposits There are exhibits that delve into traditional and more modern techniques used to extract the highly dangerous mercury Read more: The best European river cruises, from the enchanting Rhine to the magical Danube The Slovenian part of this transnational site is found around the Krokar and Sneznik–Zdrocle Virgin Forests which were added to the Unesco designation in 2017 alongside forests in another 17 European countries It is a life-affirming joy wandering in these deeply atmospheric ancient forests Sneznik–Zdrocle constitutes Slovenia’s largest forest reserve the highest peak of the karstic northwestern Dinaric mountains A variety of trails allow you to witness the ancient The Krokar forest reserve is located in the northern portion of the Dinaric mountains The 2km-long circular Krokar Primeval Forest Trail is the ideal way of getting into the midst of the beech forest and appreciating its beauty without damaging it Read more: The resort town where you can find Maldives-like winter sun closer to home This newest Slovenian Unesco world heritage site was added as recently as 2021 It focuses on the capital city of Ljubljana where seminal Slovenian architect Joze Plecnik totally transformed the city in the 20th century He reimagined the banks of the Ljubljanica River and made huge improvements to public spaces and public institutions Included in the Unesco designation are his aesthetically pleasing flood defence works on the Ljubljanica and the ornate Italianate Triple Bridge that crosses it in the centre the grand Zale Cemetery and the “green promenade” Perhaps his finest building is the National and University Library much visited by students of architecture from across the world Guided tours operate at Plecnik’s Ljubljana as they really reveal Plecnik’s genius in all its architectural glory This is the man who managed to conjure concrete into beauty and use other unfashionable and cheaper materials in his impressively grand designs Read more: This is the sophisticated way to go drinking in the French Alps Read more: The best lesser-known European beach destinations for sun without the crowds Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Cobblers’ Bridge in Ljubljana is one of the many examples of Joze Plecnik’s architectural legacy in the Slovenian capital Robin McKelvie explores five wondrous natural and cultural sites across Slovenia The World Heritage Centre is at the forefront of the international community’s efforts to protect and preserve World Heritage partnerships for conservation Ensuring that World Heritage sites sustain their outstanding universal value is an increasingly challenging mission in today’s complex world where sites are vulnerable to the effects of uncontrolled urban development Our Partners Donate Take advantage of the search to browse through the World Heritage Centre information This exceptional system of limestone caves comprises collapsed dolines some 6 km of underground passages with a total depth of more than 200 m many waterfalls and one of the largest known underground chambers located in the Kras region (literally meaning Karst) is one of the most famous in the world for the study of karstic phenomena Ce réseau exceptionnel de grottes calcaires comporte des dolines d'effondrement et quelque 6 km de galeries à plus de 200 m de profondeur de nombreuses cascades et l'une des plus grandes salles souterraines connues qui se trouve dans la région du Kras (c'est-à-dire du « karst ») est l'un des plus célèbres au monde pour l'étude des phénomènes karstiques تحتوي هذه الشبكة الفريدة من المغارات الكلسية على منخفضات وعلى نحو 6 كيلومترات من الأروقة التي يزيد عمقها على 200 متر، كما تتضمن عدداً من الشلالات واحدى اكبر الحجرات الجوفية المعروفة ويعتبر هذا الموقع القابع في منطقة كراس (أي الكارست) من الأشهر في العالم لدراسة ظاهرة تكوّن الكارست 特殊的石灰石溶洞系统包括坍塌的落水洞，有深达200多米的约6公里长的地下通道，还有很多的瀑布。斯科契扬溶洞位于克拉斯地区（原文意为喀斯特），这里是世界上研究喀斯特现象的著名地点之一。 Этот уникальный комплекс известняковых пещер включает карстовые провалы и воронки Некоторые пещеры достигают в глубину 200 м а общая протяженность подземных коридоров составляет примерно 6 км одном из самых известных в мире карстовых районов En este conjunto excepcional de grutas calcáreas pueden hallarse numerosas dolinas de hundimiento una red de galerías de seis kilómetros de longitud situada a más de 200 metros de profundidad numerosas cascadas y una de las cámaras subterráneas más grandes descubiertas hasta ahora Este sitio es uno de los más reputados del mundo para el estudio de los fenómenos cársticos y se halla en la región de Kras (Karst) que ha dado su nombre a este tipo de formaciones geológicas Škocjan Caves Regional Park is situated in the Kras Plateau of South-West Slovenia The protected area of 413 ha conserves an exceptional limestone cave system which comprises one of the world's largest known underground river canyons that was cut into the limestone bedrock by the Reka River the river suddenly disappears into the karst underground before passing through a vast and picturesque channel of up to 150 meters in height and more than 120 meters in width often in the form of dramatically roaring rapids and waterfalls The canyon's most spectacular physical expression is the enormous Martel Chamber which exceeds two million cubic meters in volume the vast underground halls and chambers of the cave system expose stunning variations of limestone bedrock and secondary cave formations It is no coincidence that karst research has its origin in this very part of Slovenia which is scientifically referred to as "Classical Karst" The term "karst" itself is derived from the name of the plateau and is one of many technical terms commonly used in geology and speleology that have their origin in the region Beyond its almost supernatural visual appeal the regional park is also home to noteworthy species and species assemblages which thrive in the distinct world of the underground environment and in the so-called collapsed dolines The caves support many endemic and endangered species including the Cave Salamander along with many invertebrates and crustaceans The very particular environmental conditions of the collapsed dolines provide a habitat for rare and threatened flora and fauna ongoing archaeological studies have been revealing ever more details of a very long history of human occupation since prehistoric times There is strong evidence that our ancestors appreciated the area as a place for settlements Archaeological research has also disclosed that the area was historically used as a burial ground as well as for rituals Criterion (vii): The Škocjan cave system and its surroundings are eminent and well-conserved manifestations of Karst topography It reveals a broad range of karst features with its exceptional scale and aesthetic quality Some outstanding landscape highlights include the vast roughly two-kilometre long underground canyon up to some 150 metres high and in places more than 120 metres wide An underground torrent runs through it along series of cascades turning it into a major visual and auditory spectacle Higher up in the drier ceilings and walls of the canyon limestone deposition from dripping water has been shaping astonishing stalagmites and stalactites such as the so-called Giants in Velika Dvorana (or "Great Chamber") The magnificent rimstone pools in Dvorana Ponvic (or "Chamber of Rimstone Pools") are equally impressive manifestations of calcite deposits The famous pools have been attracting scientists and artists ever since their formal discovery in 1888 and their representations came to epitomize the otherworldly beauty of the Škocjan Caves The main channel of the celebrated underground river resurfaces in two picturesque collapsed dolines named Velika and Mala The breath-taking view of these two collapsed dolines is depicted in the drawings of the pioneering explorer Valvasor that date back as early as 1689 and has never ceased to fascinate visitors Criterion (viii): The Škocjan Caves and their surroundings are the major localities for karst topography and are the place where fundamental terms such as "karst" and "doline" This is not only a strong indication of the property's importance for science but more specifically of its importance for the history of earth sciences An impressive array of exceptional karst manifestations are clearly at display for scientists and visitors alike within a relatively small area the main cave system with the underground stretches of the Reka River has been formed in a thick layer of cretaceous limestone The constantly dynamic system is an outstanding textbook example of contact Karst with well-developed features this geological diversity supports an equally fascinating biological diversity which has important implications for land and water management Compared to many other protected areas of global significance Škocjan Caves Regional Park is neither large nor does it enjoy a particularly strict protection status Set in a rural landscape with permanent human presence since time immemorial the Škocjan Caves are an encouraging example of how exceptional nature conservation values and longstanding and ongoing human presence are not necessarily mutually exclusive The boundaries of the regional park and the World Heritage property respectively encompass the most striking features of the karst topography and therefore strongly contribute to the conservation of these key natural values The landscape and parts of the cave system have been subject to some construction and other forms of human intervention Major construction took place after the discovery of the caves in order to facilitate research and public visitation major damage to the overall integrity could be and is being prevented The World Heritage property is surrounded by the Karst Biosphere Reserve of which Škocjan Caves Regional Park is the core zone The buffer of the Karst Biosphere Reserve increases the options and chances to maintain the integrity of the broader landscape of which the property is visually the protected area in its current extension was only established in 1990 following earlier designation of roughly half the area as a Natural Monument In an explicit effort to study and manage the outstanding geological and biological diversity the paleontological and archaeological heritage as well as the ethnological and architectural characteristics of the cultural landscape in an integrated manner the Škocjan Caves Regional Park (Zakon o Regijskem parku Škocjanske jame) was published in the 1996 gazette whereas the surface land is divided into public and private parcels The public management authority became operational one year later eventually introducing management planning large parts of the site also became a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention in recognition of the outstanding value of these underground wetlands A much larger landscape unit was designated as the Karst Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme in 2004 Three Sites of Community Importance under the European Union's Natura 2000 overlap with most of Škocjan Caves Regional Park implying valuable local knowledge and a need to fully involve local residents in the management and benefit-sharing of the property Other basic management needs encompass communication and public awareness activities is an essential part of the conservation approach whilst also providing information for site management Tourism and recreational activities require careful planning control and impact monitoring in light of the limited overall size of the protected area the localized concentration of access and the fragility of some of its attractions threats do not all stem from within the regional park thus suggesting the need to take into account the broader landscape The Reka River epitomizes this permanent challenge Its water quality has been varying as a result of industrial pollution sewage and agricultural waste among other external factors past debates about possible impacts of proposed wind turbines on the nearby Vremscica Plateau serve as a reminder that conservation management is required to respond to inevitable change to defend its position and to help balance competing demands the largest underground chambers in EuropeŠkocjan Caves the first Slovenian location inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage list is considered the largest underground canyon 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Malaysian trade minister on US tariffsMalaysia's minister Zafrul Aziz will be representing the ASEAN bloc in its negotiations with the US. is located on the Kras Plateau in the central European country of Slovenia The Skocjan Caves were declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986 making them the first World Heritage Site in the country The caves are currently the only natural World Heritage Site in Slovenia The Skocjan caves make up one of the largest underground karst wetlands in Europe along with the Reka River's underground stream and are also one of the largest underground river canyons in the world The known length of the caves is 3.85 miles (6,200 meters) and the caves are encompassed in a 984 foot (300 meter) thick wall of limestone The underground channel that flows through the Skocjan Caves is around 2.17 miles (3.5 kilometers) long and is anywhere between 32.8 to 196.85 feet (10 to 60 meters) wide The Skocjan caves are also unique for their huge underground chambers with the largest and most notable being Martel's Chamber which is one of the largest in the world The caves are also unique for the endemic and rare species that live there Archaeological studies done in the cave have suggested that the area has been used for human settlements and as a burial and ritual site since prehistorical times with the first known written source coming from the 2nd century B.C from the Greek polymath Posidonius of Apamea (135-51 B.C.) Modern tourism to the Skocjan Caves started in 1819 since that is when the first known visitors' book was introduced In 2011 the first part of the caves that tourists can visit was renovated and in recent years the site has averaged around 100,000 visitors a year who flock to see the natural beauty and scenery that the Skocjan Caves offer The collection of Prehistoric Pile Dwellings in the Alps were made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011 with it being the second UNESCO World Heritage Site in Slovenia and the first cultural site Slovenia is the location of two of the piles which are both located in the settlement of Ig The oldest site which is believed to have been occupied between 5000 to 2500 B.C while the younger site is believed to have been occupied between 3000 to 1500 B.C it has been a boon for archaeologists due to the sites well-preserved status The site has given researchers a lot of detailed information about the perception of the early agrarian socialites in Alpine Europe from the Neolithic (10,200 to 4,500-2,000 B.C.) and Bronze Age (3200 to 600 B.C.) on their agriculture and animal husbandry practices The Idrija Mercury Mining Sites are actually a joint UNESCO World Heritage site officially known as the Heritage of Mercury: Almadén and Idrija, which is made up of the mercury mining sites in the towns of Almadén, Spain The Idrija Mercury Mining Sites were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012 the last UNESCO World Heritage site designated in the country of Slovenia The mercury mining site in the Idrija was first founded in 1490 A.D and mercury was then extracted from the site until recently The Idrija Mercury Mining Sites was one of the largest mercury mines in the world and the site represents when the trade of mercury was important in trading between Europe and America as well as the sociotechnical systems that rose around mercury mining Tourists that visit the site at Idrija can be given a tour to see the infrastructure of the mine and the site around it They can visit the living quarters that the miners once inhabited as well as the miner's theater and the location where the mercury was once stored The Skocjan Caves is an example of how human presence in an area can co-exist with natural conservation as the construction that has taken place in the caves to facilitate the presence of tourists archaeologists and researchers have been done with the cave system in mind to preserve the overall integrity of the caves and prevent damage the country has worked to protect and manage the caves and lighting being carefully monitored and controlled so as to not affect the fragile ecosystem of the caves The Prehistoric Pile Dwellings in the Alps that were chosen to be UNESCO sites were those that are still largely intact but these sites face a variety of threats like the encroachment of human settlements and agricultural lands around these sites The Idrija Mercury Mining Sites have been very well preserved so far in terms of the mine itself the infrastructure surrounding it and in the authenticity of the mining materials and artifacts at the site The management that governs the site must work to ensure that urban or rural planning around the site does not affect the area or impact it visually photos and original descriptions © 2025 worldatlas.com sloveniaSpecial to The Globe and MailPublished September 10 2015This article was published more than 9 years ago But as I stepped gingerly onto the narrow rock bridge 45 metres above the floor Or was that the sound of the river echoing far below I reminded myself that this natural bridge had been here for millennia Because when you’re 150 metres underground knowing you could fit a 45-storey building here and it still wouldn’t reach the parking lot above I was in the largest underground canyon in all of Europe: Slovenia’s Skocjan Caves six-kilometre-long system of passages that reach 223 metres underground Carved through limestone by the Reka River crashing below the caves are among the most extraordinary in the world They were the first site in modern-day Slovenia to be given UNESCO World Heritage status back in 1986; although Slovenia has more than 7,000 caves in total they remain the country’s only caverns – and the only natural site at all – inscribed on the list today compared with what earlier visitors experienced It took another 39 years before even the three-kilometre main section Our guide pointed out a line of twine-narrow steps cut into the sheer side of a cliff dimly visible across the expanse of the subterranean lake beneath Those stairs were what visitors used up until 1933 Despite the obvious dangers – the pitch black the tiny tunnels – it’s little wonder that people felt pulled to explore the caves as glittering white as snow-covered icicles; stalagmites towered like overgrown mushrooms stood 15 metres tall – taller than a city bus standing on its nose The whole scene looked like what would happen if Alice in Wonderland met Mordor Getting a handle on the sheer size of everything was hard enough But wrapping my mind around the time that scale and size represented was even harder It takes about 100 to 150 years for each stalactite or stalagmite to grow a single centimetre The Giant is 250,000 years old; the entire cave All of the fantastical creations around me were the result of millennia of a slow which has between 80 per cent and 100 per cent humidity The Skocjan Caves are considered among the world’s largest underground wetlands complete with many of the critters you’d expect: cave salamanders and crustaceans But the water also has led to something else: flooding Despite the canyon’s enormous size – one section alone has a volume of 2.2 million cubic metres – the river ends in a relatively tiny siphon (The Reka River then disappears underground The area where we’d been plunged into blackness And despite the surge of fear it had given me The writer travelled as a guest of the Slovenia Tourist Board Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. Non-subscribers can read and sort comments but will not be able to engage with them in any way. Click here to subscribe If you would like to write a letter to the editor, please forward it to letters@globeandmail.com. Readers can also interact with The Globe on Facebook and Twitter Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff We aim to create a safe and valuable space for discussion and debate If you do not see your comment posted immediately it is being reviewed by the moderation team and may appear shortly We aim to have all comments reviewed in a timely manner Comments that violate our community guidelines will not be posted UPDATED: Read our community guidelines here We have closed comments on this story for legal reasons or for abuse. For more information on our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines and our Terms and Conditions Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page used his flashlight to point into the crystal clear rockpool but then everything in underground Slovenia was proving otherworldly Also known as the “human fish” for its pale the proteus can live for more than 100 years among the innermost recesses of these caves We were completely off the grid in Postojna, one of world’s longest karst cave systems. A late June discovery brought the system's length to 24km with the possibility of it reaching more than 31km via a yet-to-be-found link to the neighbouring Planinska cave This was a breathtaking and bizarre world of stalagmites and stalactites in bewildering colours from slim spaghetti-like stalks to towering 17m-high columns that took more than 14,000 years to form We had already spent two hours exploring the alien landscape on a purpose-designed 1920s railway that travels for 2km inside the vast system passageway after passageway and gallery after gallery of colossal limestone features was used for large gatherings in the 1800s and early 1900s due to its great acoustics It could comfortably hold 10,000 people and has enthralled the likes of Archduke Ferdinand I Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria and Benito Mussolini It is still occasionally used for music performances today lit paths and we continued on foot into the depths where the Pivka River that carved out this immense range of caves quietly bubbled lightless world of the proteus and other bizarre subterranean creatures Postojna has been known as the cradle of speleobiology since local explorer Luka Čeč discovered the cave beetle here in 1831 Scientists have since identified 114 endemic species – including the otherworldy proteus – as well as an array of prehistoric animals such as cave bears the darkness was sensory deprivation of the most extreme kind When the first extensive exploration of the caves was carried out in 1818 the intrepid souls had somehow explored using only candlelight and fortitude “Hey, listen to this,” said Miran as we passed an array of stalactites that looked like a pipe organ. He tapped out the unmistakable first few bars of Deep Purple’s Smoke on the Water on the slender Postojna is just one of 23 explorable caves in Slovenia’s karst territory which makes up the history-rich southwestern portion of the country and includes prehistoric settlement sites dating back more than 5,000 years rivers and underground lakes have carved out many of the underground features that attract more than one million visitors each year About 30km southwest of Postojna are the less developed – but just as stunningly beautiful –Skocjan Caves. This Unesco World heritage site is an underworld of such enormous vertical dimensions it was as if we had stumbled upon some mad collaboration between Jules Verne and Peter Jackson mist from the river spume filled this otherworldly vista of precipices and passageways with an eerie glow In the largest of the four main caverns – the evocatively named Thunder Canyon for the torrent that roars its way through the lower strata – the roof loomed high enough to swallow a 45-storey building the foaming Reka River was straddled by the 14m-long Cerkvenik Bridge a daring feat of engineering that mimics Tolkien’s Bridge of Khazad-dum The chill of the air – barely 10C – was exacerbated by the 95% humidity from the river spray giving the canyon the feel of a ghostly hollow we could just make out a rude stone staircase carved out of the far wall by the first visitors testament to another group of explorers who had passed this way in 1851 we exited through a gaping 15m hole at the bottom of a deep sinkhole where the Reka River once wreaked havoc on the soft limestone and scoured the far-reaching caves behind us Hollowed out by the River Lokva, which now disappears underground at the base of the craggy cliff that encompasses the castle, Predjama’s depths can only be explored by small-scale tours in full caving equipment. However, the castle itself is a fascinating study in 15th-century living, including period furniture, kitchen fittings and – even in early summer – the sense of how chilling this cave-like location could be. This story provided a quasi-comical ending to our cave tours, but nothing could remove the sombre feeling of having travelled through a rare and overpowering part of Slovenia, a secret world of hidden treasures and surprising history. Postojna: Two hour guided tours run every hour in peak season (May to September, 9 am to 5 pm), four times a day between April and October, and three times a day between November and March. The additional guided tour into the lower caves must be booked at least three days in advance and requires groups of three to 10 people. Protective clothing is provided. Postojna is the only cave system that is disabled accessible. Predjama: The castle is open from 9 am to 6 pm during peak season (May to September), 10 am-5 pm between April and Oct, and 10 am to 4 pm between November and March. Tours of the underground cave system run from April to October and must be booked in advance. Tours can be quite strenuous and are not recommended for children. A free shuttle bus service operates between Postojna and Predjama in July and August for those buying combination tickets for both sites. Skocjan: Two hour guided tours run every hour during peak season (June to September, 10 am to 5 pm), three times a day in April, May and October, and twice a day between November and March. An extended tour (for an additional 5 euros) follows part of the underground section of the Reka River. CORRECTION: A previous version of this story had an incorrect photo of Lake Bled. The photo has been removed. Rome's most stunning optical illusions revealedFrom the Malta Knights keyhole to a set of vanishing columns, discover the Eternal City's visual secrets. antique churches and age-old ruins tell only part of the story To dig deeper in time — much deeper — visit a cave showcase 17-foot-long bulls drawn by our ancient forebears and 100-foot-high stalagmites sculpted by nature The world's most famous cave paintings are at Lascaux metalworking and farming — back when mammoths and saber-toothed cats roamed the earth — prehistoric people painted deep inside these limestone caverns These are not crude doodles with a charcoal-tipped stick costly and time-consuming engineering projects the caves were closed to visitors in 1963 due to the deterioration of the artwork But a “copy cave,” the impressive Lascaux II painstakingly reproduced by top artists using the same dyes tools and techniques their predecessors did 15,000 years ago When I first heard a guide call the Lascaux caves the “Sistine Chapel of the prehistoric world,” I thought “Promotional hyperbole.” But then I climbed into Lascaux II and almost immediately forgot that it's a copy the Grotte de Font-de-Gaume is the best place to see actual original prehistoric art Even if you're not a connoisseur of Cro-Magnon culture you'll dig this cave — the last one in France with prehistoric multicolored (polychrome) paintings still open to the public Font-de-Gaume contains 15,000-year-old paintings of 230 animals including many red-and-black bison painted with a moving sensitivity — often in elegant motion will trace the faded outline of the bison and explain how cave dwellers used local minerals and the rock's natural contours to give the paintings dimension But getting in is tricky — only 26 tickets per day can be reserved in advance by email or phone; otherwise 52 tickets are doled out in person each morning Try to reserve in early January for a summer visit the ancient history found below ground relates to geology the country's Karst region is honeycombed with a network of caves and underground rivers Spelunkers agree that this region has some of the most remarkable caves on the planet visitors begin by seeing a multitude of formations in a series of large caverns stalactites grow from spaghetti-thin strands to mighty sequoia-like stone pillars The experience builds as you go into evermore impressive grottoes But then you get to the truly colossal final cavern — the “Murmuring Water Cave” — with a mighty river crashing through the mist It's a world where a thousand evil Wizard of Oz monkeys could comfortably fly in formation Crossing a breathtaking footbridge 150 feet above the torrent gives you faith in Slovenian engineering and you emerge — like lost creatures seeking daylight — into a lush canyon The nearby Postojna caves are Slovenia's single most popular tourist attraction but the formations at Postojna are slightly more abundant with stalagmites and stalactites as tall as 100 feet lightly guided stroll through an amazing underground cavern (in contrast to the fairly strenuous hike required on a visit to Skocjan) A little open-air train slings you deep into the mountain paved path up the “Big Mountain,” where you're surrounded by a sea of fairy chimneys A bridge over a canyon takes you into “Spaghetti Hall,” named for the long skinny stalactites that seem to drip from the ceiling you'll wind up in the impressively vast cavern called the “Concert Hall.” Here salamander-like “human fish,” a cave-dwelling creature celebrated as a sort of national mascot in Slovenia After exploring some of the world's best caves mull over what you've seen — and return to more modern history — with a glass of local wine from the famous wine regions not far from these caves: Primorska in Slovenia and Bordeaux in France colossal caverns and human fish that hide beneath Europe's modern surface Rick Steves (www.ricksteves.com) writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio Email him at rick@ricksteves.com and follow his blog on Facebook will be available to guided groups including up to ten people The special tours will be available only two times per month The route was created by cave explorers in the 19th century who chiselled it with their own hands Part of it consists of a steep and narrow stairs winding up as far as 20 metres above the river The recent works revamped it to make it look like it did originally - there are no lights and no concrete was laid, the Škocjan Caves Park director Stojan Ščuka told ahead of the opening The route is enveloped with a protective metal fence though and wooden panels have been placed at certain parts Equipped with headlamps and special caving equipment visitors will thus be able to experience the genuine underground wilderness Apart from offering breathtaking views of the Reka canyon the route also takes visitors to some of the most extraordinary underground Karst phenomena Even though the special tours have not been officially announced yet they have piqued the interest of numerous adventurers and explorers mostly from abroad - a group of German speleologists was particularly keen to make bookings in advance Did you find the information you were looking for Do you want to receive a response from the responsible institution Clicking on the link will open your default e-mail program and automatically draft a message that you can send to the institution responsible for the content of this website ask for a reply On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention a conference will be held on 9 October 2012 in the Park of the Škocjan Caves "40th Anniversary of the Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage - The Meaning of the Convention Today" will address the participants at the beginning of the conference.  The meeting will be organized along two axes vice president of the Slovenian National Commission for UNESCO will study the Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage itself its objectives and its links to the List in Slovenia presented by Igor Teršar from the Public Fund for Cultural Activities of the Republic of Slovenia will be an overview of the UNESCO and the protection of cultural Heritage and Natural values with a presentation of the formal framework of UNESCO's legal and other instruments the representative of the Department for cultural heritage in the Ministry of Education will conclude on the results and recommendations for the future The conference will be accompanied by an exhibition of several material that demonstrate the most important pillars of UNESCO´s policies to protect Heritage: cooperation with the local communities and education OUTSIDER - a magazine that transcends boundaries has launched an architectural competition that encourages exploration of the significant potential of earth as a building material The technique is one of the oldest known building methods It carries a great potential in becoming a prevailing “novelty” of the future and energy efficiency are reasons enough to explore the topic forward The aim of the Rammed Earth House competition is to design an experimental building made of rammed earth at a specifically selected location in the South-east region of Slovenia The competition's task is to design one residential building for two people on a minimum area built of rammed earth The competition location is in the village of Dobrava near Škocjan It is one of the few farms in the area that has retained the characteristics of an early 20th-century farm Deadline for Registration and Submission is until 30th March 2021 FURTHER INFORMATION: outsider.si/competition-rammed-earth-house This competition was submitted by an ArchDaily user. If you'd like to submit a competition, call for submissions or other architectural 'opportunity' please use our "Submit a Competition" form The views expressed in announcements submitted by ArchDaily users do not necessarily reflect the views of ArchDaily You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email is dedicated to raising public awareness of the wetlands in our surroundings because only in this way can we understand their important role for people and nature For the first time in the 25 years of its international observance the Wetlands Day is being celebrated under the auspices of the United Nations International Days This year's Wetlands Day events are taking place under the slogan "Wetlands Action for People and Nature" the United Nations Organisation wishes to encourage greater investments in wetland conservation and restoration Wetlands are one of the fastest disappearing ecosystems in the world – it is estimated that 90% of wetland areas have been lost in the past 300 years Many of Slovenia's wetlands are part of the European nature protection network Natura 2000 and belong to protected areas that are a magnet for nature lovers and tourism one of the most visited wetlands in the Alpine region of Slovenia the Škocjanski Zatok and the Ormoške Lagune Nature Reserves peatlands on Pokljuka in the Triglav National Park The latter are the only saltwater wetlands in Slovenia wetlands cover less than 5% of the territory listed on the List of Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance: the Sečovlje Saltpans (since 1993) and Lake Cerknica with the Križna Cave and the Rakov Škocjan collapse doline (since 2006) ask for a reply Stay connected with Airtel’s international roaming plans as you explore Slovenia’s 10 best places to visit ensuring seamless communication while discovering the country’s stunning landscapes Slovenia packs a mighty punch for a country roughly the size of New Jersey this Central European nation is filled to the brim with snow-capped peaks fairy-tale castles and charming Venetian coastal towns If you’re wondering about the best places to visit in Slovenia With influences ranging from Slavic to Germanic and Mediterranean Slovenia’s top tourist attractions span everything from Gothic churches to karst cave systems Here’s our pick of the 10 places you absolutely can’t miss: Nestled in the foothills of the Julian Alps Lake Bled looks like it’s been plucked straight from a storybook The star of the show is the teensy island at the lake’s centre home to a 17th-century church and its ‘wishing bell’ Hike up to Bled Castle for panoramic lake views Ride a pletna boat to the island and ring the wishing bell Sample the famous Bled cream cake at Hotel Park Swim in the lake’s crystal-clear waters in summer is a charmer with its pastel-hued buildings café-lined river banks and car-free centre The curving Ljubljanica River splits the city in two with the cobbled Old Town on one bank and the modern commercial hub on the other The famous Dragon Bridge and its four dragon statues a grungy artist commune in former military barracks The karst plateau spanning southwestern Slovenia is pockmarked with over 10,000 caves This 24 kilometre-long cave system is a wonderland of stalactites An electric train ride through the cave’s interior The 5-metre-tall ‘Brilliant’ stalagmite where you can see the cave-dwelling ‘human fish’ a Renaissance castle built into a cliff face nearby Clinging to Slovenia’s teeny 47-kilometre coastline Piran is a taste of Venice without the crowds This red-roofed seaside town was part of the Venetian Empire for over 500 years and the Italian influence shows in its architecture and cuisine Relax on Piran Beach or nearby Portorož Beach Sample fresh seafood at Riva Piran restaurant Visit the 15th-century Venetian House and Maritime Museum Covering a whopping 4% of Slovenia’s land area Triglav is the country’s only national park waterfalls and Slovenia’s highest peak Hike the 1.6-kilometre Vintgar Gorge trail Go white-water rafting on the emerald-green Soča River If Postojna is the queen of Slovenian caves This UNESCO-listed cave system features soaring canyons vast caverns and the thundering Reka River Guided tours take you across vertigo-inducing bridges spanning underground chasms Ptuj (pronounced p-TOO-ee) is a living museum of red-tiled roofs it was once a key crossroads between Vienna and Venice housing a museum of feudal weaponry and musical instruments a 2nd-century Roman tombstone turned into a fountain with their Baroque apothecary and frescoed cloister with costumed revelers clanging cowbells to chase away winter Slovenia’s second-largest city has an unexpectedly trendy edge Maribor’s riverside Lent district pulses with stylish cafés the sunny hills are blanketed with vineyards producing some of Slovenia’s best wines home to the world’s oldest grape vine Wine-tasting in the nearby Štajerska region the Logar Valley is a slice of rural paradise This U-shaped glacial valley is dotted with traditional farmsteads The soundtrack is pure birdsong and the chime of cowbells The 90-metre Rinka Waterfall at the valley’s head Panoramic views from Kamnik Saddle mountain pass The charming Holy Spirit Church in Solčava village Scenic hiking trails crisscrossing the valley The Soča Valley is an adrenaline-junkie’s dream Carved by the stunning turquoise Soča River it offers everything from white-water rafting to skydiving and canyoning History buffs can explore the many WWI sites scattered throughout the valley Kayaking or rafting on the Soča’s rapids The hauntingly beautiful Italian Charnel House memorial With so many Slovenia tourist places and Slovenia famous places packed into one tiny country you’ll never be far from your next adventure Getting Around: Slovenia has an efficient bus and train network connecting all major cities and tourist sites rent a car – the roads are excellent and distances are short Best Time to Visit: Slovenia shines brightest from May to September December brings festive Christmas markets and skiing opportunities Where to Stay: From alpine lodges to seaside resorts Slovenia offers a range of unique accommodations stay in a renovated castle like Otočec or a 19th-century villa like Vila Bled Before you set off to discover the most beautiful places in Slovenia, consider adding an international roaming pack to your Airtel postpaid plan This will ensure you stay connected throughout your travels and share photos of Slovenia’s breathtaking sights with friends and family back home These 10 best places to visit in Slovenia are just the beginning – you’ll find magic around every corner in this real-life fairytale of a country