SOUTHERN SLOVENIA (Notranjska, Dolenjska and Bela Krajina)

Notranjska, Dolenjska and Bela Krajina is a large, mostly forested area of southern Slovenia, dotted with small villages and gently rolling hills. Notranjska, which radiates southwest from Ljubljana, is best known for the Karst area and disappearing rivers, underground caves and castles, including the stunning Predjama Castle. It is said that here the good knight Erasmus defied a besieging army for many months by being re-supplied through an unknown network of natural tunnels. There is also the astonishing Postojna cave system, open to tourists since 1840, and the mysterious disappearing Lake Cerknica, which is fed by underground waters so that it fills in autumn, disappears in spring and is the largest intermittent lake in Europe. Legend also has it that the Bloke plateau in Notranjska was the birthplace of downhill skiing.

Dolenjska is a land of hilltop and riverside castles, monasteries and small farms, which is dominated by the fast-flowing Krka river, whose rapids are a popular location for canoeing and kayaking. This large unspoilt agricultural area is characterised by low hills and woods, which make it ideal for walkers and cyclists. Dolenjska is perhaps best-known for its numerous thermal spas where visitors come to enjoy the beneficial effects of the waters in a peaceful natural environment. Terme Čatež and Dolenjske Toplice are the best known of these. The double hayracks of this region are found nowhere else in Europe. The main cultural event is the Brežice Festival, which features an outstanding series of ancient and Baroque music concerts in the fantastic Brežice Castle.

Bela Krajina is an area of ancient birch forest and a land where ancient customs still hold sway. Jurjevanje, one of the most important celebrations of folklore in Slovenia, is a three-day festival of music, dance and bonfires taking place in mid-June.