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Summer in Slovenia - Xavier Adam, Slovenia
Wednesday August 11, 2010 - Email this article to a friend

It's not the most obvious choice for a summer alpine holiday, but it holds plenty of attractions. From its natual scenery, communist history and central European feel. So, what's it like? PlanetSKI reports.

Slovenia is an EU country of two million inhabitants. Located in central Europe it is made up of two thirds mountains and almost as much forest.

It is stunningly beautiful.

It was once the western province of Yugoslavia and is influenced from Austria, Italy and the eastern countries.

The capital, Ljubljana, is an easy 2 hour flight from the UK.

Ljubljana, like most of Slovenia, has seen significant change since the fall of communism.

The capital is extremely neat and tidy with motor vehicles banned from the centre of the city.

There are some means of getting around though; bikes and a fleet of council-provided electric buggies for anyone to use. They are free too. Rather strangely there is one London taxi - the only fossil fuel vehicle allowed permanently in the centre.

The electric buggies do turn up when ordered by telephone and each one takes up to five passengers.

Mainly car free

A short drive from Ljubljana up into the mountains is Bled, a charming small town that has managed to avoid the atrocities of Soviet-style architecture.

It is the site of one of Tito's summer palaces and the HQ of the local Gestapo in WW II.

Grand hotels surround the town side of the lake and look out on to an island based church and castle high up on a rock opposite the town, both these picture box buildings dominate the skyline.

Tito's Palace

Tito's tea room

Located at around 600m above sea level, Bled has one ski run.

There are two other main ski locations in Slovenia, the highest peak in the country being 2,200m.

Slovenia is quite far south, so the ski season is slightly shorter than some of the more northern resorts.

But still offers a slightly more economical alternative to nearby Austria, Italy and Switzerland.

There are many packages available aimed at beginners and intermediates.

Bled is a year round resort with good access to the mountains and proximity to the Austrian border. The main focal point is the beautiful glacial blue lake.

Pretty as a picture

Free of motor boats, they are banned, the cleanliness of the water is immediately apparent.

The council allows some electric boats, mainly for maintenance purposes, and these stand out in the tranquil setting as they silently glide past. Getting across the water is easy, and the only way to the church on the island.

There are a plethora of stripey shirt boat men who will take you across for around €10.

All descended from the same village, the boatmen are an inter-generational affair. Or, for the more adventurous you can hire your own boat and do it yourself.

Cheaper and much more fun!

Alternativley you can just have a swim in the lake. Many people do.

Who needs the sea for a beach holiday?

The summer highlight in region is Bled Nights, when a weekend festival culminates in a Saturday night of music and fireworks.

Most strikingly thousands of broken egg shells are filled with wax, a wick, lit and floated across the lake. Quite a spectacle as the lake becomes a canvas for thousands of small flames.

As part of the celebrations, locals and tourists are encouraged to indulge in the Bled cream cake, a chunky serving of what is best described as a larger but lighter version of a vanilla slice.

A staggering 10, 000 slices are consumed over the weekend.

Cake time

The food in Slovenia should be good, there is a good environment for agriculture, some fishing and plenty of open space for livestock. But you have to look for it and for my taste there is too much frying and not enough fresh food.

We ate in some good restaurants but did find the food could be a bit hit and miss.

When it was good though, it was very good.

There are plenty of healthy activities for mountain lovers around Bled during the summer months.

Some for the adrenellin lovers.

White water rafting near Bled

The Vintgar Gorge is just a 20 minute drive from Bled and features a beautiful wooded panorama.

The 1.5km walk runs along the side of the gorge and is fully boarded and railed, the boardwalk is two metres above the water with bridges winding at intervals from side to side of the gorge.

The gorge The Vintgar gorge

When we visited the lack of rainfall was telling, the waterfalls and stream were low. It's a different story in Spring as it turns into a raging torrent with the melting snow filling the gorge.

Bled is home to a very old golf course, pre-dating WWII.

The two courses which are side by side are well maintained, and the clubhouse is an old farmhouse which has been restored in recent years.

So does Slovenia take your fancy? It comes recommended by me.

Crystal Lakes offers a week’s half board at the Hotel Golf in Bled on Lake Bled from £655 per person with direct flights from London to Ljubljana with Adria Airways and transfers. Tel: 0871 230 8180, www.crystallakes.co.uk

Departures from other major UK airports also available.