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a perfect rendezvous
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Wallpaper* City Guide to Ljubljana Presenting a ruthlesslyresearched and discreetly packaged list of the best that city destinations have to offer, Wallpaper* City Guides are an undisputed bible for designconscious travellers. Since this spring, the Wallpaper* City Guide series also includes a guide to
Ljubljana. The 103-page guide presents a design connoisseur’s selection of sights, the finest hotels, the things to do in Ljubljana in 24 hours, the local architecture and lifestyle, and opportunities for sports activities and shopping. The last few pages recommend interesting escape destinations in Slovenia. www.wallpaper.com Wallpaper* City Guide Ljubljana
Ljubljana Receives the Digital Tourism Think Tank Award Earlier this year, Ljubljana Tourism’s project “Visit Ljubljana: Tours and Trips as Experiences” was announced as the winner of the Digital Tourism Think Tank Award in the category of website content, while the Visit Ljubljana mobile website was named as an example of good practice in mobile marketing. The award was handed out by the Digital Tourism Think Tank association, which brings together experts in the field of digital marketing. The project “Visit Ljubljana: Tours and Trips as Experiences”, which shares the award for best online content with Visit Stockholm’s smartphone application “Stockholm Sounds”, impressed the jury with its creative approach to bringing together the offerings from local travel agents. Thanks to the project, it is now extremely easy for visitors to Ljubljana to choose from and book guided tours of Slovenia’s world famous sights of such as Lake Bled, the Postojna Caves, the coastal resort of Portorož, and the Lipizzaner stud farm in Lipica, as well as trips to lesser known destinations of immense natural beauty and cultural interest and the so called “organized experiences”, such as helicopter flights, culinary workshops, guided cycle tours of Ljubljana, and torchlit evening tours of the remains of the Roman city of Emona.
The project has been a notable success. While in 2009, altogether 687 tours and trips to places in Slovenia were sold, the 2013 figure stands at 1,746 and the upward trend seems to be continuing. Now that a wide and diverse choice of tours and trips are readily accessible, visitors to Ljubljana have plenty more reasons to prolong their stay in the city. The “Visit Ljubljana: Tours and Trips as Experiences” project is based on a product-oriented approach and the tourism product referred to as “Ljubljana – City for Slovenia” in particular. Ljubljana, due to its role as the capital of Slovenia and its central position in the country, is an ideal base for exploring the scenic Central Slovenia and the rest of the country. www.visitljubljana.com/tours-andecxursions
Visit Ljubljana on Storify Are you curious to know how travellers experience Ljubljana? Would you like to learn about the city’s different faces – Ljubljana as a romantic city, Ljubljana in Advent season, culinary Ljubljana, and more? Check out the Visit Ljubljana Storify page for blog posts, Instagram photos, comments, and recommendations from those with first-hand experience. http://storify.com/visitljubljana
A New Souvenir Collection Marking the 2000th Anniversary of Emona 2014 marks 2000 years since the Roman city of Emona was founded on the site of the present-day Ljubljana. Part of the comprehensive project devised to celebrate the anniversary is an attractive new souvenir collection. The collection consists of two parts, the first comprising useful and attractively designed everyday objects such as shopping bags made of jute, cotton T-shirts, notebooks, and fridge magnets, which all incorporate elements of the Emona 2000 visual identity. This is applied to all communications presenting this year’s series of themed celebratory events and activities. The second part of the collection consists of useful objects whose designs are inspired by objects and figures associated with the history of
Emona Soldier; Photo: F. Virant
the Roman Empire. These souvenirs include a necklace with a pendant, a metal and leather bracelet, a ring, a letter opener, a spoon, a pencil, a pencil sharpener, and a keychain. All the souvenirs in the Emona 2000 collection come with a tag providing a brief overview of the history of Emona. They are available from Ljubljana’s Tourist Information Centres at affordable prices ranging from €3 to €10. www.visitljubljana.com
Emona Souvenir, T-Shirt; Photo: F. Virant
Visit Ljubljana Mobile Website
A Perfect Rendezvous, Newsletter for Travel & Meeting Professionals
Publisher: Ljubljana Tourism, Krekov trg 10, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Phone: +386 1 306 45 83, Fax +386 1 306 45 94, e-mail: info@visitljubljana.si, www.visitljubljana.com Editorial board: Petra Stušek, Tatjana Radovič, Špela Golčer • Production: Mediamix Komunikacije d.o.o.; Head of advertising: Zdenka Šarlah, Mediamix, Phone: +386 2 235 05 67, e-mail: zdenka.sarlah@mediamix.si • Printed by: Schwarz Print • Spring/Summer 2014 • Committed to caring for the environment, we print on recycled paper.
4 City of Delights
Roman Emona Secrets Revealed This year, the everyday life of Emona is presented through numerous archaeological and art exhibitions in museums, galleries and outdoors. From 30 May 2014 to 31 May 2015, the City Museum of Ljubljana hosts the exhibition Emona: a City of the Empire, while the National Museum of Slovenia in June 2014 launches a new permanent exhibition entitled Roman stories from where worlds meet. From 11 June to 14 September 2014, the exhibition The Urban Development of Ljubljana at the Ljubljana Castle reveals the diverse history of settlements in the Ljubljana Basin. From 21 May to 26 October 2014, Cankarjev dom Cultural and
Congress Centre hosts Aquae Iasae, an exhibition displaying new findings from Varaždinske Toplice in Croatia. The Remains of a City - photographic impressions, are displayed at Jakopič Promenade in Tivoli Park from 1 July to 1 September 2014, while Jakopič Gallery hosts the photograph collection of archaeological monuments entitled Vestiges by world-renowned photographer Josef Koudelka from 20 May to 3 September 2014. www.visitljubljana.com Špela Paternoster
Building Inscription; Photo: T. Lauko
Emonian’s Statue; Photo: T. Lauko
Roman Mosaic-Glass Goblet; Photo: T. Lauko
Back in 14 AD, at the Event “Ave, Emona!”
A Girl Named Emona
From 22 to 24 August 2014, the Kongresni trg square in Ljubljana hosts the unique living history performances put on by historical societies from Slovenia and abroad. They carry us back to the Roman times. Join us at the central celebration marking 2000 years of Emona!
A baby girl born in France last March was named after the Roman town of Emona, which once stood on the site of present-day Ljubljana. During their stay in Ljubljana, the couple got acquainted with its history at the City Museum. Ljubljana with its lovely atmosphere impressed them so much that they decided to name their daughter after its predecessor – Emona. Her twin sister was given an old French name, Augustine. Although Emona sounds sweet in French, it is considered a bit unusual, so her parents often tell the story of their trip to Ljubljana and how this name will always remind them of their time spent there. They would definitely like to return and maybe even find an inspiration for a boy’s name. Let us recall that a little girl from Belgium is named Ljubljana.
Roman Soldiers Demonstrating Military Skills; Photo: M. Franca
Gain a first-hand experience of the everyday life in the Roman Emona and visit the Event “Ave, Emona!”. The Roman camp settled by soldiers, civilians and gladiators is located in front of the former northern wall of Emona. Observe artisans, healers and craftsmen while they present their knowledge and allow mysterious vestal virgins to fascinate you with their dancing. Take a look at the Roman soldiers demonstrating their military skills and parading through the streets of the city center. Apart from the Romans, the Kongresni trg square is pitched by the Celts displaying their crafts. An icing on the cake is the Roman marketplace, where you can refresh yourself with Roman specialties. www.visitljubljana.com Špela Paternoster
Experience Emona on Guided Tours This year, visitors to Ljubljana can attend guided tours through Roman Emona and embark on a historical adventure, which follows in the footsteps of the former Roman city Emona. Travel back in time, to 14 AD, and get to know the life and habits of the inhabitants of Emona. From May to October, guided tours of Roman Emona take place four times a week for individuals and by appointment for groups. Two different tours are on offer: Experiencing the Roman city of Emona, and an evening version Experiencing the Roman city of Emona by torchlight. The tours are
led by a guide in Roman clothing. Accompanied by a Roman legionary and dressed up in plebeian clothes, visitors discover the remnants of Emona in Ljubljana, including three reconstructed archaeological parks, where one can learn about the culture and religion and taste ancient Roman desserts and drinks.
In addition, every Thursday from March to May, the tour entitled Getting a Taste of Roman Emona features numerous remains of the antique town hidden among the streets and squares of the presentday Ljubljana. www.visitljubljana.com Špela Paternoster
Experiencing the Roman City of Emona by Torchlight; Photo: M. Pavček
5 City of Delights
Under the Sign of Wine This summer, Ljubljana will once again be home to a number of popular wine events. The most prestigious two, organized by the GR - Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre, will be held under the umbrella title of Vino Ljubljana. The first of the two events, set to take place at Ljubljana Castle from 27 to 29 June, will be the 56th edition of the Ljubljana
International Wine Competition, which is considered to be the world’s oldest event of its kind. The 50th Ljubljana International Wine Fair will follow from 4 to 6 September. www.vinoljubljana.si Another popular wine event will be held on 14 June, when the historical city centre will host Summer Wine Spoils, the summer version of Ljubljana’s traditional wine tasting and culinary event called Ljubljana Wine Route. www.ljubljanskavinskapot.si
Open Kitchen: A Street Food Market Not to Be Missed City centre vibrancy, nice weather, good company, a fine lunch or just a tasty little snack – that’s what you can expect if you visit the Open Kitchen (Odprta kuhna), Slovenia’s first street food market, where restaurants, tourist farms, and independent chefs offer topquality food from market stalls at affordable prices. The Open Kitchen welcomes everyone who wants to experience good food, either local or international, in a dynamic setting and in a practical and innovative way. This year’s new addition to the Open Kitchen is a play area for the youngest children, who can, after they have been brought to the Open Kitchen by their parents, have fun taking part in various workshops while their parents relax and enjoy themselves tasting all kinds of delicious dishes.
Dance Evenings at Ljubljana Castle Join Ljubljana’s ballroom dance enthusiasts who get together at Ljubljana Castle’s picturesque Estate Hall or Palatium once a month throughout the year except in July and August and enjoy themselves dancing to excellent music in beautiful historical surroundings high above the city. The highlight of the year is the Dance beneath the Stars, held in the castle’s courtyard in June. The dance evenings are often themed and spiced up by performances from visiting dance pairs, but first of all, they are intended for those who just want to have fun dancing and socializing. Tickets are available from Ljubljana Castle’s Info Centre. www.ljubljanskigrad.si
Dance Evenings at Ljubljana Castle; Photo: N. Zgank
Skuhna: Slovenian-Style International Cuisine Skuhna is a socially responsible business developed in collaboration with immigrants living in Slovenia. Its primary goal is to bring people from different cultures together through food preparation and tasting.
Open Kitchen; Photo: J. Birsa
The Open Kitchen culinary gettogethers take place on fine Fridays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Pogačarjev trg square, which is part of the Ljubljana Central Market, one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. www.odprtakuhna.si Miša Novak
Skuhna is more than just an ordinary restaurant. It is a place where you can satisfy your hunger, learn to cook something new, and have great fun doing it. Organized groups can choose from Skuhna’s workshops dedicated to African, Latin American and Asian cuisine, intercultural summer culinary workshops, and intercultural catering. Skuhna has also developed a Slovenian cooking workshop, which is particularly interesting for visitors from abroad. Workshop participants, led by a Slovenian chef,
first visit the market to get fresh, locally produced food. During the workshop, they are familiarized with the ingredients and methods of preparation, and in the end they eat what they have cooked. Skuhna, which operates several days a week, is open to visitors at lunchtime on Wednesdays, on Friday evenings, when guests can enjoy a slow food dinner and a programme of cultural entertainment, and, from May onwards, daily at least during lunchtime. www.skuhna.si Tjaša Janovljak
Burger Revolution
In Ljubljana, a hungry person has never had a problem finding a good burger at any time of the day or night. In recent times, the city seems to have gone through a mini burger revolution resulting in an even larger amount of new or imaginatively improved burger offerings.
The most notable addition to the city’s range of restaurants, bistros, and kiosks dedicated to serving fast, but still really good and nutritious food is Hood Burger, whose name is a word play on the local slang expression “hud”, which is pronounced similarly to “hood” in English and means “really, really good”. Hood Burger relies on its own recipes, including that for delicious “potato bombs” . The first Hood Burger restaurant was built in the Vič area of Ljubljana. Another one has opened its doors in the Šiška area recently. www.facebook.com/
hoodburger.ljubljana If you are interested in tasting a so called “double-decker burger” made with two 100% beef patties, visit the restaurant Brunch, located next to the Crystal Palace in the BTC City shopping centre. www.brunch.si Not far away is the FNX caffe & bistro, whose owners were so thrilled by the TV series Mad Man that they named one of their burgers after it. www.fnx.si In the city centre, in front of the Butchers’ Bridge, you will find the fast food restaurant Fany & Mary, whose truffle burger, an Istrian burger
variety made with an “ombolo” pork loin steak and truffle sauce, is definitely worth your attention. www.facebook.com/Fany-Mary Connoisseurs would underline a must-go place in the Old Town – the Repete Jazz $ Refreshments. Hamburgers are on the menu only during weekends, their speciality being that each guest marks on a piece of paper the extra ingredients they wish to have. Home-baked buns and hand-cut fries topped by jazzy music complete the picture. www.facebook.com/Repete Bar Tjaša Janovljak
Hood Burger; Photo: Hood Burger Archive
Doubledecker Burger by Brunch; Photo: Brunch Archive
6 City of Delights
Time Machine at the Ljubljana Castle Ljubljana Castle has prepared a new concept of guided tours entitled Time Machine – from Emona to a City Symbol, which takes visitors through six historically significant periods that have influenced its development. At each of the “time stations” guests are met by a costumed figure who will present his or her own period. Although the castle has changed through the centuries, as has its role, it has no doubt
remained a symbol of the city. Discover the historical timeline of the Castle Hill and Ljubljana Castle in a good hour on more than just a usual guided tour. www.ljubljanskigrad.si
Time Machine at the Ljubljana Castle; Photo: M. Mally
Tour of Ljubljana from Different Perspectives A new guided walking tour, Ljubljana - from the Surface of Ljubljanica River up to the Stars above the Castle Hill, allows visitors to experience the city from
two completely different angles – the river and the castle. The three-hour tour features the major Old Town attractions, followed by a tourist boat ride and the visit of Ljubljana Castle. By prior arrangement, the tour is also available for groups with more than 30 people. www.visitljubljana.com
Creative Ljubljana
Being creative is a great way of relaxing body and mind. Creativity is a part of human nature, thus Ljubljana devotes a great deal of attention to this. Many locations in Ljubljana, including squares and parks, have become the venue for creative fairs. Every Tuesday, the passage of Maxi Department Store hosts the liveliest Creative Fair in Ljubljana. Visitors have the opportunity to buy handmade unique art products or attend creative workshops. www.ustvarjalnisvet.si Once a month, the central
Ljubljana Marketplace hosts FairArt, an event aiming at drawing Slovenian designers closer to consumers. It is dedicated exclusively to handmade unique products. www.facebook.com/FairArt A great opportunity for experiencing art in the summer shade is also the Park Tabor Art Fair, which includes diverse cultural activities and creative
Newbies in Ljubljana From homemade bread and fried pastries to Ljubljana Cake and Prešeren Coffee. And a wide range of other specialties from around the world, of course. Ljubljana boasts a range of new attractive cafes, shops and restaurants. For a good start of the day, visit Osem Bakery. The ground floor of the old bourgeois house at Gornji trg square will attract you with its minimalistic style and the smell of freshly baked bread made from a variety of grains. www.pekarnaosem.com They say that coffee makes your day. If in a hurry, choose coffee-to-go at the charming NaKavo Coffee Shop, boasting
Flancat; Photo: J. Oven
a diverse coffee selection. It is located at Prešernov trg square, next to the model of the city. The most popular are Prešeren Coffee and Piran Coffee. While the first one contains fig liqueur, the other is seasoned with salt. www.facebook.com/nakavo.si If you have plenty of time, sit down and relax at one of the sunniest embankments in the city. On Petkovškovo nabrežje
workshops. www.facebook.com/ umetniskisejemparktabor Every Tuesday until summer, Španski borci Art Centre organises the so called Sunny Tuesdays – creative workshops for adults and children that are based on the use of environmentally friendly and natural materials and the recycling of used or waste materials. www.spanskiborci.si Tjaša Janovljak
embankment, opposite the market and overlooking the castle, Flancat Bar has recently opened. Enjoy excellent coffee and do not forget to taste flancat, fried rolled pastry, after which the bar is named. www.facebook.com/FlancatLjubljana If you have a sweet tooth, the mandatory stop is at the central market beneath Plečnik Arcades, where you can taste Ljubljana Cake. They use the best local ingredients from different Slovenian regions in their products. www.facebook. com/TortaLjubljana When it comes to dining out, you can choose between several new restaurants. At the corner of the charming Ribji trg square TaBar Restaurant proposes an array of Slovenian delicacies served in tapas style. www.tabar.si The first Brazilian restaurant, simply called Brasil, has recently opened in Ljubljana. A chef from Brazil prepares their authentic dishes on the genuine churrasco charcoal grill. www.brasil.si Furthermore, Ljubljana also boasts a new Asian restaurant called Tokyo Piknik, which has a prime riverside location. www. facebook.com/TokyoPiknik
FairArt; Photo: FairArt Archive
If in search of a quick lunch, visit Fany&Mary, a fast food specialized in burgers and pizza. For a very special experience we recommend the Truffle Burger. www.facebook. com/Fany-Mary Tjaša Janovljak
TaBar; Photo: TaBar Archive
Ramen by Tokyo Piknik; Photo: A. Pogacar
7 City of Delights
More Awards for the Hotel Cubo Since the Hotel Cubo opened its doors in an old city centre townhouse two years ago, it has been winning award after award. This year, this boutique hotel was a triple winner in the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards. Considering that the Hotel Cubo boasts being one of Ljubljana’s
highest rated hotels, it is no wonder that travellers voted it one of the best small hotels and one of the most romantic hotels in Slovenia. What the hotel is particularly proud of is that it has made it to the TripAdvisor’s list of “Best Luxury Hotels in Europe”. In this category, the hotel won eighth place, thus becoming part of a selection including the world’s biggest names in the hotel business. www.hotelcubo.com
Old Town Accommodation A new accommodation facility at a prime location, called Old Town Rooms and Apartments, and a new souvenir shop housed in the same building have recently opened their doors in the heart of Ljubljana, between the Dragon and Butchers’
bridges, just a minute’s walk to the Prešernov trg square and the Ljubljana Central Market. For the moment, the new, fully refurbished facility with a nice inner courtyard offers a double/twin room with an en suite bathroom and an apartment with a fully equipped kitchen, but more accommodation units are planned for the near future. www.old-town.si
Specially for LGBT Travellers: Pink Week.eu and Rainbow Ljubljana The British gay magazine Attitude has put Ljubljana and Otočec Castle on its list of top 25 dream wedding destinations for British gay couples. The attention of the international LGBT community has recently also been attracted to the PinkWeek.eu tour packages, available to LGBT travellers over a week in May. PinkWeek.eu is the brand name for Slovenia’s first luxury tourism project intended for gay and lesbian people and their friends. The project includes a range of tour packages offering discerning travellers an opportunity to spend four or eight days in the week from 4 to 11 May relaxing, socializing, partying, and exploring Ljubljana and other tourist gems of Slovenia, including the Postojna Caves, the coastal towns of Portorož, Piran, and Koper, and the Alpine resorts of Lake Bled and Velika planina.
Representatives of some of the world’s leading LGBT media outlets have been invited to join. www.pinkweek.eu About a month later, between 8 and 15 June, Ljubljana will host the annual Pride Parade, one of the numerous LGBT events, programmes, and organizations listed, complete with contact information, in a brochure entitled Rainbow Ljubljana, which sheds light on a broad spectrum of aspects of LGBT life in Ljubljana. www.ljubljanapride.org
Ljubljana Botanic Garden among the Most Important in Europe
Since its foundation in 1810, the Ljubljana Botanic Garden has been making a significant contribution to the identity of Ljubljana as a green city. In 2013, it won a place in the book Der Garten als Wissensraum (The Garden as Knowledge Space) by Karin Standler. The book presents less than a tenth of Europe’s botanic gardens rigorously selected from a total of over 800. www.botanicni-vrt.si
Odprta Kuhna; Photo: J. Birsa Ljubljana Botanic Garden; Photo: J. Bavcon
Old Town Rooms and Apartments; Photo: Old Town Archive
Ljubljana Wins its Second European Mobility Week Award
Earlier this year, Ljubljana won the European Mobility Week Award for 2013 in competition with 29 other cities in 11 different countries. It is the first European city to have won this prestigious award twice. One of the things that impressed the jury are Ljubljana’s environmentally friendly electric vehicles referred to as “Kavalirs” (Gallant Helpers), which are, for the sixth year running, being used to carry residents and visitors around the pedestrianized city centre area. www.ljubljana.si
Ljubljana to Host Amateur Cycling World’s Cream of the Crop In August, Ljubljana will host the first ever Amateur Road World Championships to be held in Slovenia. The championship, organized under the auspices of the International Cycling Union (UCI), will be a real treat for road cycling lovers.
This year’s Amateur Road World Championships, which is expected to bring together the best of the world’s amateur cyclists, will be held from 28 to 31 August along the 156-kilometre route of the Franja Marathon, one of Slovenia’s largest amateur road cycling events. It was the excellent organization of this internationally recognized annual cycling event that led the International Cycling Union to the decision to entrust the organization of the 2014 Amateur Road World Championships to Slovenia. 28 August will see a time trial race starting and finishing in the BTC City
shopping centre in Ljubljana. A relay race and the official opening ceremony in Ljubljana’s Kongresni trg square will be held on 29 August. The most important part of the championship, the main road race starting and finishing in the BTC City shopping centre, will take place after a day’s break on 31 August. The 2014 Amateur Road World Championships could act as a springboard for Slovenia to become the host of the 2017 UCI Road World Championships at the elite professional level. www.uciworldcyclingtour.com
The first Brazilian restaurant in Ljubljana, Rodizio do Brasil is something new, fresh and pleasant. A place to be, a place to see, dance, drink and eat. Come and try the legendary churrasco grill and always fresh and innovative brasilian cuisine.
9 City of Arts and Culture
New Life for Deserted Shop Windows In every city, you can come across deserted shop windows and buildings waiting all alone for a new owner. In Ljubljana, an innovative project called “Look at Me” has recently been launched in order to breathe new life into these deserted spaces. Decorated with recognizable images and inscriptions speaking to passersby with scenes from the present and the past, they have been turned into a kind of signposts pointing to overlooked city details, stories, attractions, and notable personalities that both the locals and visitors could benefit from being
Museums and Galleries Open Day
Look at me; Photo: D. Goljat
familiar with. The “Look at Me” art actions, artists, and artist groups are organized around the website at www.lookatme.si.
Stories of Ljubljana: Not Your Average Guided Tour
Tracing the Footsteps of Slovenian Egyptologists
The Ane Monro Theatre in collaboration with Ljubljana Tourism has created an innovative street theatre show entitled “Stories of Ljubljana”, which takes you on an amusing city walk offering a comic interpretation of the last five centuries in the history of Ljubljana. Stories of Ljubljana, performed by a group of street theatre actors, take you to the time of Reformation ideas, the Baroque period, the Napoleonic Empire’s Illyrian Provinces, a dance with the Water Man, the period after the earthquake of 1895, the Second World War with Ljubljana surrounded by a barbed wire fence, and the post-Second World War period of “Brotherhood and Unity”, while also pointing to the Pandora’s box of our time. The show is set in a part of Ljubljana which classic city tours rarely focus on despite its rich and interesting history. It takes you across the historical city centre’s Gornji trg and Stari trg squares and along the Ulica na Grad and Rožna ulica streets,
On the International Museum Day, held on 18 May since 1977 – this year on the theme of Museum Collections Make Connections – a large number of museums and galleries in Ljubljana will be giving free admission to anyone wanting to view their exhibitions or attend any of the numerous events, workshops, and guided exhibition tours available that day. A similar opendoors day will be held on 21 June as part of the Museum Summer Night. www.slovenia.icom.museum, www.tms.si
Until 31 December, the National Museum of Slovenia will be hosting an exhibition entitled “The Mummy and the Crocodile: The Slovenians Exploring the Lands along the Nile”. The exhibition takes you on an exciting journey through the times of the first explorations of Central Africa.
Stories of Ljubljana; Photo: L. Drakskobler
while the most attractive part of the show takes you through the city’s largest public air-raid shelter, located under the castle hill. The show is primarily intended for groups of up to 50 people. Join the Ane Monro Theatre and experience Ljubljana as the stage and theme of a unique street theatre show. www.ljubljanskezgodbe.si
After nearly a century, the National Museum has put on display the Egyptian Collection of its predecessor, the Provincial Museum of Carniola. The exhibition reveals the stories of three Slovenian Egyptologists who brought the objects in the collection over to Slovenia. Even though it is not widely known today that a number of successful explorers of Africa were Slovenian, it is a fact that the achievements of Slovenian Egyptologists were on a par with those of their contemporaries exploring the ancient Egyptian civilization. This is evidenced by the objects included in the exhibition, which is larger than any other Egyptian exhibition ever set up at the National Museum. The centrepiece of the exhibition is the mummy of Isahta (A-Keswy-Ta), a priest of Amon, which aroused great public interest at the time it was brought over to Ljubljana along with a stuffed crocodile. The mummy kept at the National Museum is the only human mummy to be held in Slovenia. www.nms.si Nina Vošnjak
Visiting Four Castles with a Single Ticket
Four of Ljubljana’s castles have joined forces to create a compelling joint story, which is all the more attractive due to the introduction of a combined ticket available at an affordable price. The combined ticket, introduced as part of a joint project entitled Stories of Ljubljana’s Castles, gives you admission to Ljubljana Castle, Tivoli Mansion, Fužine Castle, and Cekin Mansion. Housing various cultural institutions and keeping interesting museum collections, the four castles combine their rich historical heritage with modern cultural offerings. Ljubljana Castle, perched on a hill overlooking the city, has been contributing to the skyline of Ljubljana for over five centuries and definitely deserves to be called The Crown of the Town. At
the top of the castle hill, easily accessible by funicular railway from the city centre, you will find a diverse range of cultural content enriching the castle’s attractively renovated halls and rooms. www.ljubljanskigrad.si Tivoli Mansion, situated in the centrally located Tivoli Park at the foot of the Rožnik hill, houses the International Centre of Graphic Arts. From the city centre it can be reached by a short walk along the Jakopč Promenade, a popular venue for open-air exhibitions. www.mglc-lj.si Fužine Castle used to be one of the 16th century’s most
extravagant aristocratic residences in Ljubljana and an important centre of Renaissance culture. Since 1992, it has been housing the Museum of Architecture and Design. www.mao.si Cekin Mansion, situated on the edge of Tivoli Park, originally served as a holiday retreat for the nobility in the mood for fun and entertainment. After the Second World War it became the home of the Museum of National Liberation, later renamed to its present name, the Slovenian Museum of Contemporary History. www.muzej-nz.si Combined tickets to the four
museums, valid for three days and priced at €11.00 for adults and €5.50 for children, are available from the four museums and Ljubljana’s Tourist Information Centres.
Tivoli Mansion; Photo: D. Wedam
10 City of Arts and Culture
Castle, Stars and Great Films
At the Ljubljana Castle, films stars shine in the summer nights. Together with the Municipality of Ljubljana and Ljubljana Castle, Kinodvor again brings on Film Under the Stars, a selection of the
most acclaimed films of the past cinema season. They are put on display 24 consecutive evenings at 9.30 pm, from 24 July to 16 August, at the open-air cinema at the Ljubljana Castle courtyard. Tickets cost between 4 to 5 € and entitle the visitors to reduced return fare for the Ljubljana Castle funicular. www.kinodvor.org
Brain: The Inside Story
A story for all ages about how the brain functions, feels, controls thinking and changes. Visit the highly educative exhibition of the American Museum of Natural History, New York, put on display from till August in Ljubljana. In Europe, the exhibition so far toured only in Granada and Milan. With interactive displays, puzzles, brain images and established models, Brain: The Inside Story shows how one can explore feelings, emotions, thoughts, brain development and even the future. The exhibition, for example, represents a three-dimensional model of the brain, where you can learn about events in the brain at the dance movements. You can try yourself in an interactive game, which gives you an insight on how we learn foreign languages, or in a game that keeps a clear mind. Learn about the differences between short-term and long-term procedural memory and see what kind of brain damage is caused by Alzheimer’s disease. You
can even dismantle a model of the brain, or view art installations on the theme of the brain. This fascinating exhibition suitable for all ages is put on display at the GR – Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre from 15 May to 24 August. www.brains.si Marjana Lavrič
Brain, The Inside Story; Photo: AMNH
Gabrijel Stupica: a Retrospective
Until 15 May, the Museum of Modern Art hosts the retrospective exhibition of painter Gabrijel Stupica, one of the most renowned artists in Slovenia and ex-Yugoslavia.
The exhibition has been put on display to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of his birth and represents the first large-scale survey exhibition of his work to be put on display after 1968. Guided tours every Tuesday at 5 p.m. www.mg-lj.si
Spend Summer Holidays at the 62nd Ljubljana Festival
Since 1953, Ljubljana Festival contributes to a lively summer atmosphere in the city. Each year, this prestigious festival attracts more than 50,000 lovers of culture. This year, four events of the 62nd Ljubljana Festival will take place at Kongresni trg square, right in the heart of the city. Beginning with 1 July, the festival brings Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, performed by around 300 artists under the baton of Maestro Uroš Lajovic. On 3 July, Vlatko Stefanovski, Vasko Atanasovski and the Slovenian Philharmonic String Chamber Orchestra will jointly hold a concert. The world-famous Riccardo Muti conducting Verdi’s Requiem will mark 7 July, while 8 July will feature the opera aria of the highly acclaimed mezzosoprano Elīna Garanča. The festival boasts an array of other performing artists: The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra from Amsterdam under the baton of Maestro Mariss Jansons, La Filarmonica 900 del Teatro Regio di Torino under the baton of Maestro Andres Mustonen and special guest Sofia Asgatovna Gubaidulina, Moscow Soloists with Yuri Bashmet and Lana Trotovšek, Boris Berezovsky, María Pagés, Mikhail I. Glinka Choir, Stefan Milenković and Marko Hatlak, stars of the Russian ballet etc. www.ljubljanafestival.si Hermina Kovačič
Summer of Festivals in Ljubljana
In late May, Ljubljana enters into a period of colourful summer festivals. The city’s streets, squares and other places turn into venues of numerous street festivals, events and top music festivals boasting several notable world music names. Listed as one of the top 25 music festivals in the world by Songlines Magazine, the International Druga godba Festival, a festival of ethno, world music and modern jazz, represents a perfect introduction into a long, hot summer of festivals (30 and 31 May). This year’s 30th jubilee builds on last year’s concept of a 29-hourlong concert marathon for a single ticket of 29 €. Next to the stars from Africa, South America, North America and Europe, the festival hosts Magnifico – one of the most popular Slovenian artists. www.drugagodba.si Also this year, for the sixth time in a row, June in Ljubljana Festival will turn Kongresni trg square into a theatre with puppet performances for the youngest in the morning, lighter dance and music genres in the afternoon and cutting-edge theatre and dance performances in the evenings.
The festival begins on 9 June with Heiner Müller’s Weiberkmödie performed by Ljubljana City Theatre and ends on 21 June with The Summer Night, the only payable concert of the festival. www.ljubljanafestival.si From 19 June to late August, the traditional Summer in Ljubljana Old Town spices up the hustle and bustle of the Old Town with a set of classical music concerts. Admission is mostly free of charge. From 22 to 24 August, this summer-long event concludes with an international music festival Nights in the Old Town. www.imagosloveniae.net Between 2 and 5 July, lovers of street art are welcome to the 17th International Ana Desetnica Street Theatre Festival, www. anamonro.org, while jazz aficionados can enjoy the jubilee 55th Ljubljana Jazz Festival, boasting performances by top jazz artists. This year is marked by the
piano and the Norwegian jazz, with one of the highlights being Gregory Porter. www.ljubljanajazz.si August is marked by the International Trnfest Summer Festival boasting numerous free of charge events of different genres - music, theatre, dance, film, fine art, visual art and photography performances. www.kud.si The summer of festivals concludes with Mladi Levi (Young Lions) International Festival, 23–31 August, when Ljubljana hosts top theatre artists from all over the world. Characterized by a complex artistic profile of contemporary progressive theatre, the festival is famous for its lively and creative atmosphere, curious audience and sociability. www.bunker.si Sit back, order your favorite drink and choose your programme! Miša Novak
June in Ljubljana Festival; Photo: D. Wedam
Ana Desetnica Street Theatre Festival; Photo D. Wedam
11 City for Meetings
The Slovenian Convention Bureau turns Ten This March, the National Convention Bureau and its members celebrated a milestone - its first decade, and discussed
the strategy and actions that will help enhancing Slovenia’s position on the international market in the next ten years. The Meeting Industry is an interdisciplinary and destination story that depends on a number of criteria, both domestic and
international, yet much depends on the cooperation and proactivity of its actors. Since its operation, the Bureau, supported by its partners, has successfully promoted and marketed Slovenia as a meeting and incentive travel destination and helped attract a
number of international events to the country. Ljubljana Tourism / Convention Bureau is among its founding members and its representative has been elected to its Council also in 2014. www.slovenia-convention.com, www.visitljubljana.com/meetings
Small Business Presents with a Local Touch Event organizers often wonder where to find original giveaways or smaller presents, be it for the delegates, industry partners or invited speakers. Restricted budgets do not favour any lavish »goody« bags, yet the aim is to select a souvenir from the city hosting an event which is useful, creative, unisex and light to carry, also in hand luggage. And possibly in the price range of around 10 €, which is sometimes more difficult than if higher sums are available.
Ljubljana with Love Cup; Photo: F. Virant
Several gifts and souvenir lines developed by Ljubljana Tourism in cooperation with renowned Slovenian designers are actually inspired by the city’s symbols, its history and art. The Makalonca
line features practical items made of traditional materials such as wood, linen, leather or enamel. Its design was inspired from illustrations drawn by Ljubljana’s famous architect Jože Plečnik for
a fairytale book titled Makalonca. Several items are an excellent option for business giveaways, i.e. elegant notebooks with gold print, suede bookmarks, stylish key rings, vintage-style enamel mugs for tea or coffee, placemat and coaster sets, travel drawstring bags, etc. If wishing to play on emotions, then the Ljubljana with Love line can be the right idea. It features among other lovely porcelain cups wearing this slogan that only need to be filled up with fragrant coffee joint to a praliné from one Ljubljana’s chocolate ateliers to revive sweet memories. www.visitljubljana.com/Ljubljana Souvenirs There are other good tips for business presents based on tradition, salt to start with. In an area by the Adriatic coast protected as a nature park, the Piran Salt Pans are among those rare in the world where salt is produced using centuries-old processes, involving entirely natural
crystallisation, working by hand and using the traditional tools and procedures of our ancestors. There is an array of attractive products and gift sets to choose from in their boutique in Old Ljubljana, and their “Fleur-de-Sel” can certainly add a refined flavour to any dish around the world! www.soline.si Crystal may sound fragile, however one can find smaller items that can easily be carried even in a handbag. In Eastern Slovenia, the tradition of glassmaking spans over 350 years and is now best known even abroad by the Rogaška brand. This reflects history, craftsmanship, a wide product portfolio and innovative design in glassware and crystal. Even the former US President Bill Clinton spent time to shop in the Rogaška boutique during his last visit to Ljubljana, Regardless of the season, a Christmas tree pendant is always a welcome gift that may bring a touch of Slovenia into someone’s home. www.steklarna-rogaska.si
Four Points by Sheraton Checking in to Ljubljana
Ten years after its opening, the first design property in Ljubljana – Mons Hotel, is fast approaching another important milestone, since June 2014 will mark its re-branding and the entry of Starwood into Slovenia. With this, the Four Points by Sheraton Ljubljana Mons will be the first property in the capital to join a global hotel brand. The project features the conversion of the existing hotel that is to be added to the Four Points by Sheraton portfolio following a renovation and re-branding process, as a part of Starwood’s
strategic mid-term expansion plans in Europe and beyond. The steady increase in international arrivals over the last few years and Slovenia’s favourable location at the crossroads of main European cultural and trade routes were important factors behind the decision. A strengthened competitive position of the Mons
Four Points by Sheraton Ljubljana Mons Show Room; Photo: Hotel Mons Archive
Hotel on the local market and a further impetus of the hotel industry in Slovenia are expected as a result. Starwood’s Four Points by Sheraton brand’s “best for business” approach provides travellers with everything that matters the most – timeless design, uncomplicated comfort and a genuine and friendly approach to hospitality and service. Four Points by Sheraton Ljubljana Mons has a convenient location at 10 minutes from the city centre and 15 minutes from the international airport, with an extensive green area nearby. It will feature 114 guest rooms including three junior suites, a restaurant and a bar, nearly 850 square metres of meeting and event space, including a large
Hotel Mons; Photo: Mons Archive
ballroom, two meeting rooms and three boardrooms, as well as a fitness centre and parking facilities. Reflecting the brand’s promise and insight into the needs of today’s traveller, the hotel will also offer all of the brand’s defining elements, including the signature Four Points by Sheraton Four Comfort bed and complimentary bottled water in the room, complimentary Wi-Fi in all public areas, a rich breakfast and refreshing local beer with Best Brews, all with the aim of helping guests to start and end the day in the right way. www.hotel.mons.si www.fourpointsljubljana.com
Located in the heart of Portorož, the Kempinski Palace Portorož, is a remarkable place for a relaxing getaway on the Adriatic coast. Our 164 rooms and 17 suites evoke the famous history of the Palace Hotel, and offer fabulous views of the Adriatic Sea and Istrian countryside.
Experience fine dining at Restaurant Sophia or have a local specialty, with a Mediterranean touch, at Fleur de Sel Restaurant. The hotel’s Rose Spa offers traditional treatments with the world’s most exclusive brands. Enjoy the indoor and outdoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi.
To book or for all other offers please visit: reservations.portoroz@kempinski.com • +386 5 692 7070 • www.kempinski.com/portoroz
13 City for Slovenia
AdrenalinFuelled Fun on a Nearby Mountain Each summer, Ljubljana’s nearest ski resort, Krvavec, located just a half hour drive from the city, turns into what is known as the Krvavec Summer Park. The park’s diverse offerings include a treetop climbing adventure park, a mountain biking, a downhill karting, a downhill scootering, and
a tubing course, a climbing tower, a trampoline, an archery field, a slackline, and a disc golf course. Tickets to the Krvavec Summer Park entitle visitors to the use of all the park’s facilities, a return journey on the Krvavec aerial cable car, and an unlimited number of rides on the Tiha dolina four-person chairlift. The park is intended for individual recreation enthusiasts, families, and groups.
During the high season, from 25 June to 31 August, the Krvavec aerial cable car runs daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., while in the pre- and post-season periods (from 25 May to 24 June and from 1 September to 5 October) it runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. www.rtc-krvavec.si Luka Vrančič Krvavec Summer Park; Photo: R. Bregar
A Gift of Cheese to Say “I Love You”
In the Central Slovenian town of Kamnik, the unique story behind Trnič, a cheese once made by the local shepherds especially for their sweethearts, is being revived in order to bring this intricately decorated hard cheese made with love to “every table”. Trnič, a hard cheese the size and shape of a pear, has for many centuries been made by shepherds who spent summers herding cattle on Velika planina, a high mountain plateau in the KamnikSavinja Alps, less than a half hour drive from Ljubljana. The plateau, overlooking the medieval town of Kamnik, is the site of a unique and exceptionally well preserved historical shepherds’ village. According to tradition, every autumn, at the end of the grazing season, shepherds would give
Trnič cheese to their sweethearts as a token of love and devotion – or even a promise of marriage. Balls of Trnič cheese were always made in pairs and their shape was reminiscent of female breasts. Each pair of cheese balls was intricately decorated with a unique design using a wooden relief carving tool. One of a pair would be kept by the shepherd who made it and the other given as a gift to his sweetheart, who would keep it as a memento for years as her acceptance of the cheese signified
Traditional Cheese Trnič; Photo: P. Grahek
her willingness to accept the shepherd’s courtship. Trnič cheese is prepared using cottage cheese made from heated sour milk, sour cream, and salt. When the mixture is shaped into balls and dried slightly, it is decorated and smoked over an open fire. With the passing of time, shepherds gradually stopped making this cheese and the
New Nature Trail along the River Iška Ljubljana is a green city and even its centre boasts large green areas. But if you take a boat ride just a short way south of the city centre, to the Ljubljana Moors Nature Park, you can take your experience of green to a whole new level. Since earlier this spring, when a new 13-kilometre nature trail called Okljuk was created along the river Iška, the Ljubljana Moors have been giving you yet another reason to visit and explore the area’s past and present life. The Okljuk nature trail first takes you across a stretch of marshy plains, from where views of hedgerows open out in all directions. Soon, the trail becomes more dynamic as it continues through the scenic gorge of the river Iška, which makes its way in rapids between rocks. Once an important source of power for flour and sawmills and a convenient transport route for timber, today the river Iška is a good source of drinkable water and an amazing outdoor learning space. Information boards erected along the
trail make it possible for those exploring the area on their own to learn what life along the river was like in the past and what it is like today. The boards also provide information about the numerous birds whose song accompanies hikers all along the trail and the area’s marl and peat deposits, which are gradually disappearing, but can still be seen along some sections of the river. If you are interested in learning more about the area, you can choose from a number of field tasks designed to give you an opportunity to research in detail the countryside along the river. The area can be explored on foot or, even better, by bicycle. The nature trail offers a unique experience at any time of the year. www.ljubljanskobarje.si Mateja Kregar Gliha
tradition of Trnič-making would have died out if it was not for a few individuals who continued making Trnič cheese balls as souvenirs. The project “‘Trnič on Every Table”, run by the Kamnik Tourism and Sports Board with support from experts and local catering businesses, is aimed at encouraging the making of Trnič cheese as a local speciality. www.trnic.si, www.okusiKamnika.si Mojca Ocvirk
Unwind With a Book in Your Hand Under Treetops Each year in spring, Ljubljana sees the opening of the season of outdoor lounging in the shade of the trees providing shelter to Libraries under Trees, set up in parks and other green areas on fine days. From May to October, the Libraries under Trees in Ljubljana’s Tivoli and Tabor Parks, at Ljubljana Castle, on several Ljubljanica river embankments, and at the Španski borci and Tobačna 001 cultural centres offer residents and visitors an opportunity to borrow, free of charge, new book titles, classics, and a good choice of foreign newspapers and magazines. One of the Libraries under Trees is located in the picturesque village of Polhov Gradec, just a 20-minute drive from Ljubljana, where a magnificent mansion, now housing a local museum, a museum of post and telecommunications, and a wedding hall, stands as a beautiful monument to life in the Baroque era and the famous Count Richard Blagay, who occupied the mansion in the 19th century. The library, open on fine weekends from June to September, is situated in the mansion’s pleasant park with a century-old linden tree and a Neptune fountain. Your lounging in the Polhov Gradec Library under Trees will be even more pleasant if you combine your reading session with a hike in the scenic hills surrounding the village. www.knjiznicapodkrosnjami.si
14 City for Slovenia
Coffee with a Dash of Literature If you have a taste for literature, visit the small town of Vrhnika, best known as the birthplace of one of the greatest masters of the Slovenian language, Ivan Cankar (1876–1918), whose famous sketch story A Cup of Coffee has inspired an interesting tour specially designed for groups. The tour begins with a cup of coffee served along with Cankar’s prose, which takes you back to the author’s time. The experience continues with a visit to the Ivan Cankar Memorial Room as part of a guided walk of Vrhnika. The coffee served is made from delicious Escobar coffee beans roasted daily in small batches. Both freshly roasted coffee and a choice of Ivan Cankar-themed coffee cups are available for purchase. www.zavod-cankar.si
Unique Souvenirs of Vrhnika Apart from numerous attractions to explore, the small town of Vrhnika also offers you a choice of very special souvenirs. Those themed on the life and work of the Vrhnika-born author Ivan Cankar include a miniature collection of Cankar’s short prose available in several languages, premium coffee, and various objects decorated with Cankarthemed designs. Other interesting souvenirs include a replica of a scarab dating from the period between the 1st and 2nd centuries, which can be worn as jewellery, Vrhnika Easter eggs created by master Franc Grom, who turns egg shells into pieces of art resembling
Escobar Coffee; Photo: Escobar Archive
Guided Walk to the Sources of the Ljubljanica The Ljubljanica has a very special place among Slovenian rivers. Fed by a large number of intermittent karst streams, it is often referred to as “The River of Seven Names”. Those who have been to its scenic sources will also agree that it is a river of many wonders. In the town of Vrhnika, you can take a guided walk to the scenic sources of the Ljubljanica which surge to the surface just outside Vrhnika, on the Karst Edge, and feed the Mala Ljubljanica and Velika Ljubljanica streams on their short way to the river Ljubljanica. Apart from taking you to a couple of impressive sources collectively referred to as Močilnik and another four ones known as Retovje, your walk also gives you an opportunity to hear all kinds of interesting stories written into the history of an area where the water emerging from the ground was a source of life for generations of flour millers and sawmill workers.
On your way to the sources, you will pass through the ancient village of Verd, which has been inhabited since the time of Stone Age hunters and was home to the 19th century Slovenian painter Jožef Petkovšek. You will also be shown the spot where the Greek hero Jason and his fellow Argonauts are believed to have disassembled their ship to be able to carry it to the sea. Back in Vrhnika, you will visit one of the leading Slovenian microbreweries and taste some good local beer while being shown around the brewery. www.zavod-cankar.si Marija Zakrajšek & Vesna Popit
The Springs of Ljubljanica in Retovje; Photo: E. Mihevc
the finest lace, and a model of the 5,200-year-old wheel found in the Stare Gmajne pile-dwelling settlement in the village of Verd near Vrhnika. All the souvenirs are available from the Vrhnika Tourist Information Centre. www.zavod-cankar.si
The Collection of Short Stories; Photo: B. Uršič
Argonauts’ Days in Vrhnika
Each year in June, the town of Vrhnika, whose coat of arms depicts the Argonauts’ ship Argo, celebrates its connection to the famous Greek legend about Jason and the Argonauts with a vibrant festival called Argonauts’ Days. Legend has it that in ancient times the Greek hero Jason and his fellow Argonauts stole the Golden Fleece from the king of Colchis, a kingdom on the Black Sea coast. On board their ship Argo the Argonauts managed to flee from their pursuers, but instead of sailing south, towards the Aegean Sea and their native Greece, they lost their way and sailed into the mouth of the Danube. As there was no way back, they continued sailing up the rivers Danube, Sava, and Ljubljanica. Not far away from the source of the Ljubljanica, in the area of the present-day town of Vrhnika, they had to stop to pass the winter. In spring, they disassembled their ship, carried it on their shoulders to
Argonauts’ Days; Photo: ZIC Archive
the Adriatic Sea, put it together again, and continued their journey by sea. In memory of this legend, the town of Vrhnika, whose site was once occupied by the ancient port town of Nauportus, hosts an annual festival called Argonauts’ Days, which fills the town’s streets with entertainment, cultural, and sporting events held over several days. This year’s Argonauts’ Days, set to take place between 11 and 22 June, will present a diverse programme of music and entertainment, children’s workshops, sporting events, arts and crafts demonstrations, and folklore shows. www.argonavtskidnevi.si Marija Zakrajšek & Vesna Popit
No wonder that the Hotel Ljubljana is known as the prime address for elegant lodging in Ljubljana! Our hotel awaits you with all the amenities you would except from a modern high-end hotel: an inspiring atmosphere, exclusive comfort, state-of-the-art facilities, stunning design, elegant details, professional service, international flair and the most spacious hotel rooms in Ljubljana (measuring from 30 m² minimum to 160 m²)! And let us not forget about the spacious wellness area and our highly professional conference service. A true highlight of our hotel is the perfect location! The main attractions and the Ljubljana city centre can easily be reached by public transport. The Old Town, the Convention Centre, the Faculty of Economics, the BTC shopping centre, the Krvavec skiing resort, several golf courses and Center Stozice are situated in the vicinity of the hotel as well. Austria Trend Hotel Ljubljana, Dunajska cesta 154, 1000 Ljubljana Tel.: +386 (0)1 588 2500 Fax: +386 (0)1 588 2599 www.austria-trend.at/Hotel-Ljubljana e-mail: ljubljana@austria-trend.at
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New Platforms for Young Creative Talents Slovenia’s young creatives have joined forces in order to bring together their knowledge and talents and kickstart all kinds of creative initiatives. Slovenia Coworking is an initiative aimed at promoting and popularizing coworking as an innovative and efficient way of working in Slovenia. This modern-style platform enables self-employed creatives and other professionals to occasionally or regularly share their working environment (coworking space) with other people operating in similar disciplines. www.coworking.si In parallel with the above, the Slovenia Crowdfunding initiative was developed in order to promote the culture of
crowdfunding in our country. The initiative has already contributed to the launch of a large number of extremely successful Slovenian kickstarter campaigns, the most widely supported and effective being those for the Chipolo Bluetooth item finders, the FlyKly Smart Wheel for power-assisted pedalling, the Ondu cameras, the Lumu light metre, and the Musguard bicycle mudguards. www.crowdfunding.si The Slovenian coworking community’s latest acquisition is an 800-square-metre creative centre called Poligon, the first of
Poligon; Photo: D. Lotrič
its kind in the country. For the moment, Poligon houses an office, a lab, and a photographic studio, but within the next few months it is also going to provide space for a small concept shop selling products created with the help of successfully funded crowdfunding campaigns. www.poligon.si Cooperation is also the choice
of the Zoofa Cooperative of Designers and Artists, which brings together young creative talents who operate on the market without middlemen, but could not afford a city centre sales outlet of their own without joining forces with others. www.zofa.si Tjaša Janovljak
For the Love of Vintage
Wherever I travel, my must-see list always includes a flea market or at least a second-hand shop. While on the one hand this is due to my love for objects from the past, on the other it is also because this way I can get an interesting insight into the history of the places I visit.
Reuse Centre; Photo: CPU Archive
I do not consider myself to be a hipster, a member of a subculture that is all about vintage and is significantly present in Ljubljana, but I certainly do love old things just as much as hipsters do. If you share my love of vintage pieces, make sure not to miss Center ponovne uporabe (Reuse Centre), which has recently opened its doors in Ljubljana. The shop’s mission to help protect nature is summarized in
its statement that ‘it prolongs the life of products that are still usable’. The shop sells anything from clothing to household items, electronic equipment, and books – all vintage and sold in a stylishly decorated environment. www. centerponovneuporabe.si Another shop with a similar concept is Stara ROBA, nova RABA (Old Stuff, New Use), an exchange shop established by the Street Kings (Kralji ulice) Homeless People’s Help and Self-
Help Society. www.robaraba.si If you prefer to indulge your passion for old objects in the open air, visit the Breg embankment by the river Ljubljanica on a Sunday, when all kinds of vintage pieces and antiques are moved from dusty shelves to the stalls of the Antique Flea Market, which is a lovely place to take a walk, a delight for the eyes, and a mecca for antique lovers. www. visitljubljana.com Tjaša Janovljak
Looking for a White Rose for the White Ljubljana Slovenians often call their capital “the white Ljubljana”, the adjective “white” referring to the fact that Ljubljana has historically been known as a clean city. Over the last years, however, Ljubljana has been trying to cultivate an image of a green city, mainly through its high environmental standards, sustainability measures, quality of living, and projects for the preservation and development of green spaces. Part of these efforts is the Ljubljana Rose Competition. The aim of the competition is for “the white
Ljubljana” to find a white rose to be named after it. This invited competition, organized by Ljubljana Tourism in collaboration with the Slovenian Rose Society as part of the city’s efforts invested in rose cultivation over the last several years, is expected to bring together a large number of rose growers. 2014 will see the announcement of a call for entries and 2015 the selection of the winner. The winning rose will be named the Ljubljana rose and planted in a large number of the city’s green spaces. Did you know that
Ljubljana has a Rose Garden with over 1,000 rose bushes? The garden, located in Tivoli, the city’s largest park, is a lovely place for residents to get
together and enjoy the vibrant colours of nature in close vicinity to the historical city centre. www.visitljubljana.com
Ljubljana Rose Garden, Tivoli Park; Photo: D. Wedam