NORTHEAST SLOVENIA (Štajerska, Koroška and Prekmurje)

The largest region of Slovenia is Štajerska, which is an area famous for vineyards, historic towns, spas and thermal resorts. Lent, the ancient part of Maribor, the main urban centre, is a charming medieval core with attractive riverside cafés and restaurants. Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia and the home of a university, opera, ballet, theatre and many museums and galleries of visual arts. It is proud to be modern as well as a city of tradition and the location of the world’s oldest vine, which is more than 400 years old. The main cultural festival in Maribor is ‘Lent’, which takes place every summer, and Maribor is the base or starting point for exploring the beautiful Pohorje area which extends northwest to the Alps and offers abundant opportunities for hiking, skiing and other outdoor activities.

The cobbled streets and small market squares of historic Ptuj encapsulate Slovenia at its best. The highlight of the year in Ptuj is Kurentovanje, where people gather from all over Slovenia to join the festival of spring. This colourful and noisy festival involves a costumed parade where the devils of winter are ritually chased away. Celje is another historic town with imposing facades on charming streets. The role of Celje in Slovenian history has been especially important since it was the capital of the Roman province of Noricum and the seat of the Counts of Celje, one of the most powerful feudal dynasties in central Europe.

This part of Slovenia boasts numerous thermal spas and health resorts, as naturally heated water laden with minerals rises to the surface all over the region. The benefits of these waters have been known for centuries, and came to the notice of Napoleon and the various Austrian emperors who travelled to Rogaška Slatina to take advantage of the healing properties.

Remote Koroška is the smallest Slovenian province and the benefit of it being off the beaten track is that its dark forests, highland meadows and unspoilt peaks remain in their natural condition.

The far east of Slovenia is a vast fertile area of arable farms on the Panonnian plain. Prekmurje can somehow seem different and detached from the rest of the country. It may appear more Hungarian than Slovenian and has a large Magyar minority and Gypsy community who lend it an atmosphere all of its own. All of this makes it unchanged and fascinating, with a huge network of lanes and tracks open to walkers and cyclists. This mysterious land is also the home of storks in abundance, as well as being a place to enjoy a leisurely weekend at a thermal spa in a warm and hospitable environment.