Slovenia (Slovenija) has been called the most beautiful place on earth! More than half the country is forest and the alpine region is dotted with lakes and towering limestone peaks. In such a small country, the variety is astounding: snow-capped mountains, open plains, vast caves, beautiful coastline, historic castles, spa resorts, old towns and an interesting capital city. The perfect place for a holiday!
Slovenia is a small country nestled in a corner between Austria and Italy, with Croatia and Hungary to the South and East. It was once part of Yugoslavia but broke away relatively peacefully before the Balkans war started in 1991. It was the wealthiest of the ten countries that joined the EU in 2004 and the first to be allowed to adopt the Euro in 2007. The country is very modern and forward thinking, with excellent transport networks and friendly people.
Slovenia enjoys the sunny
side of the Alps, which means swimming is possible in the lakes right up
to the end of August. The temperature range is generally from
mid-twenties in the summer (but often up to 30°C), to below freezing in winter.
These links provide more detail, history and facts:
Lonely Planet History Summary (and more)
Slovenian Tourist Board (excellent web site!)
Other sites:
Promotional presentation by the Slovenian government
Article about Soča Valley in the Times
There are also some more links on the activities page