20 Interesting Facts about Slovenia

• Location and Borders: Slovenia is located in Central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, and Croatia to the south and southeast. The country has a small coastline along the Adriatic Sea to the southwest.
• Square: The country covers an area of approximately 20,273 square kilometers.
• National Currency: The currency of Slovenia is the Euro (EUR). Slovenia adopted the Euro on January 1, 2007, replacing the Slovenian tolar.

Interesting Facts about Slovenia:

1. Slovenia is home to the world’s longest stone railway bridge, the Solkan Bridge, which spans 219 meters across the Soča River.
2. The unemployment rate in Slovenia is among the highest in Europe, at around seven percent, with less than fifty percent of the population having permanent employment.
3. Nearly half of Slovenia is covered by forests, which are inhabited by brown bears. The country also boasts numerous waterfalls.
4. The Battle of the Soča River in 394 AD led to the division of the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western halves.
5. Slovenia is renowned for its excellent wine. Over two hundred square kilometers are covered by vineyards, with fifty-two different grape varieties cultivated.
6. The Monastic Pharmacy in Olimje is one of the oldest functioning pharmacies in Europe, located in a monastery that was converted in 1663.
7. Slovenia’s extensive railway network makes it very convenient to travel by train throughout the country.
8. Slovenia is a paradise for spelunkers and cave explorers, with over ten thousand caves, many of which are exceptionally beautiful.
9. The capital and largest city of Slovenia is Ljubljana, with a population of 267,920 and an area of 257 square kilometers.
10. For those seeking a unique lodging experience, Ljubljana offers the “Celica Hostel,” where guests can stay in converted prison cells.
11. Compared to other developed countries, Slovenia has some of the highest water quality standards in Europe.
12. Slovenia is the only former communist country in the European Union that is also a member of the Eurozone, Schengen Area, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, European Commission, and NATO.
13. Remarkably, Slovenia has the highest GDP per capita among all Slavic and former communist economies.
14. Slovenia is known as the “country of roosters” due to the rooster-like shape of its territory.
15. National parks and the environment across Slovenia are well-preserved, home to diverse wildlife, including brown bears and lynxes.
16. Over 2,400 species of fungi are recorded in Slovenia, excluding local varieties.
17. Since its independence, Slovenia has not participated in any armed conflicts, and its army consists of no more than ten thousand personnel.
18. Retail stores are typically open until 19:00 on weekdays and until 13:00 on weekends, with stricter hours in major shopping centers.
19. Slovenia boasts over eighty different types of pies, with recipes varying by region and season.
20. Slovenians have a strong affinity for honey, with over ninety thousand beekeepers in a country with a population of just over 2 million people.