DAY 2: LJUBLJANA > THE SLOVENIAN COAST

Today, it is time to leave lovely Ljubljana behind and set out to explore some more of the country. To begin with, this tour will take you south west, exploring some of the country's most famous subterranean attractions and a few other stops along the way before reaching the sunny Slovenian coast and ending the day in the breathtaking old town of Piran.

• Distance: 145 km

• Starting Point: Ljubljana

• Finishing Point: Piran

• Highlights:

• Postojna Cave

• Križna Jama or Cross Cave (Optional)

• Predjama Castle

• Risnik Sinkhole

• Škocjan Regional Park and Škocjan Caves

• Lipica Stud Farm (Optional)

• Holy Trinity Church

• Koper

• Izola

• Strunjan Nature Reserve

• Sečovlje Salt Pans

• Piran

Follow the E61 road out of Ljubljana to the south west, following signs for Postojna. (Note: portions of this route are toll roads and charges will apply.). After 44 km, take the exit towards Postojna and continue to follow signs to Postojna. At the first roundabout, go straight onto Tržaška cesta, then at the second roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Kosovelova ulica. After 900 m, turn left onto Jamska cesta. The parking area for the Postojna Cave will be on your right after around half a kilometer.

The breathtaking karst cave system of Postojna Cave is one of Slovenia's top tourist attractions and is the second-longest cave system in the country. Here you can explore a series of tunnels, passages, galleries and caverns that were carved out by the Pivka River. A cave train allows visitors to see a large portion of the cave system with its variety of karst features. The cave is home to a range of interesting and specially adapted cave-dwelling creatures, including the olm, a rare and strange creature of 25-30 cm in length that is the only vertebrate in Europe that lives exclusively below the ground.

 Postojna Cave, Jamska cesta 30, 6230 Postojna // GPS: 45.7830, 14.2038 // Paid entry // www.postojnskajama.eu/en/home/

In the Lož Valley, under Cross Mountain you can explore the Križna Jama or Cross Cave, also known as Cold Cave. The cave is named after nearby Holy Cross Church in Podlož. The cave is famous for its chain of over 45 subterranean lakes of emerald green water. You can explore the cave lakes by boat in a guided tour.

 Križna Jama, 1384 Bloška Polica, Slovenia // GPS: 45.7454428,14.4674007 // www.krizna-jama.si

A slight detour from Postojna Cave will take you to Predjama Castle. Rejoin Jamska cesta (also known as the 913) and continue as it becomes Veliki Otok. Follow the 913 to Bukovje then turn left onto the Predjama road. Follow the Bukovje – Predjama road for just over a kilometer to reach the castle.

Predjama Castle is surely one of the most dramatically situated castles in the world. This impregnable fortress castle has been built into the mouth of a large cave in the middle of a towering cliff. The castle as it stands today was built in 1570. The first mention of a castle on this site was in 1274 – that structure was destroyed in a long seige in the 15th century and superceded by a second castle, which was destroyed in an earthquake, after which the current castle was built and has remained virtually unchanged to this day.

 Predjama Castle, 6230 Predjama // GPS: 45.8158, 14.1267 // Paid entry // www.postojnska-jama.eu/en/come-andvisit-us/predjama-castle/

Retrace your route from Predjama to Bukovje and rejoin the 913. After around 1.7 km, turn right. Continue to Landol, then Hrenovice and follow signs to rejoin the E61/ A1. After around 14 km on the toll road take the exit towards Divača. Take the 3rd exit at the roundabout, then after 1 km, turn left. At the next roundabout, take the second exit and continue for around half a kilometer. The Risnik sinkhole is to your left.

Risnik Sinkhole is well known amongst locals but less well known amongst foreign visitors. This large sinkhole is a geographical feature created by the collapse of a former subterranean cavern. It is popular with local climbers and is a beauty spot, perfect for a quiet stroll to stretch your legs before you continue on your journey.

 Risnik Sinkhole, Divaca // GPS: 45.677384, 13.967108

Retrace your route towards the E61/A1. Take the second exit at the first roundabout and then take a right turn after approximately 100 m. At the next roundabout, take the second exit again and then after 1 km, turn left, following signs for Škocjan. After 1.4 km, turn left onto Matavun and follow signs for parking for the Škocjan Regional Park.

From a little known location to a far more famous one - Škocjan Caves are one of Slovenia's best known tourist attractions. This UNESCO listed cave system is one of the largest underground canyons anywhere in the world. It has exceptional natural beauty and is a unique ecosystem of great note to scientists. 6,200 m of caves have been explored of the underground channels carved by the Reka River. This is certainly not one to miss!

 Škocjan Caves, Matavun 12, 6215 Divača // GPS: 45.6658, 13.9900 // Paid entry // www.park-skocjanske-jame.si/en

Should you wish you could now take a detour to reach Lipica, where they breed Lipizzaner horses. These horses are admired around the world and are a source of pride to Slovenians. To take this detour, return to Divaca and take the 205 route in a westerly direction towards the Italian border. After around 7.5 km, turn right into Lipica.

At the Lipica Stud Farm you can take a tour around the grounds to discover the history of the world-renowned white Lipizzaner horses and traditions that date back to 1580. You can also find out everything about Lipica and the Lipizzaner in the interactive Lipikum Museum.

 Lipica Stud Farm, Kobilarna Lipica, Lipica 5, 6210 Sežana // GPS: 45.66741, 13.87993 // Paid entry // http://www.lipica.org

End Optional

Whether or not you have chosen the above detour, return to the A1 and follow that road, then take the exit signed for Hrastovlje. Continue onto Stepani, then Gabrovica pri Črnem Kalu, then Črni Kal, then Kastelec-Rižana/Kortine. After 300 m on that last road, take a slight left onto AverGračišče/Kortine. Turn left after 1.5 km to stay on the same road and then continue to follow AverGračišče for 1.6 km. Turn left onto Bezovica then, after just over one kilometre, continue onto Hrastovlje. Take a left, a right, a slight left and then a left turn to stay on Hrastovlje and reach your next destination.

Disagreement exists over the origins of the interesting Holy Trinity Church Some say that it was a 12th century Romanesque church, others that it is an example of an Istrian variant of Venetian Renaissance architecture that dates from the 15th century. Whichever is correct, the church stands behind fortification walls built in the 16th century to defend the populace from Turkish attack. The interior of the church is decorated with amazing frescos by Johannes de Castua, the most famous of which is the 'Danse Macabre'. The church is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

 Holy Trinity Church, Hrastovlje // GPS: 45.509675, 13.901861 // http://m.slovenia.info/en/churches/hrastovlje-churchof-the-holy-trinity

Head north and return to the A1 by retracing your route. Then take the A1 and H5 to Koper, on the coast.

Koper is a port and seaside town with an interesting medieval core centred on Titov trg, a square surrounded by Venetian architectural gems, including the Praetorian Palace and a Gothic style loggia. There is a replica of the Rialto bridge in Venice and a 12th century Cathedral. Be sure to climb the campanile if you have time, to enjoy the sweeping sea views. Koper is often overlooked by tourists but, as the largest settlement on Slovenia's coast, it is certainly worth a quick visit.

 Titov trg, 6000 Koper // GPS: 45.5482, 13.7296

From Koper, skirt the coastline on the Istrska cesta/ Koper-ruda. At the roundabout, take the first exit to head towards parking areas close to the centre of Izola.

The town of Izola was founded on an island in the 7th century by refugees from Aquileia. It has had a varied history since that time. Izola hit the tourist map in 1820, when a thermal spring was discovered here, though today it is all too often overlooked by foreign tourists. Izola does have a Venetian charm and it is worthwhile taking the time to visit the large marina and explore the narrow, winding streets of the old town.

 Izola, 6310 Izola // GPS: 45.5374, 13.6601

Head west out of Izola and join the 111, following signs for Portorož. After a couple of kilometres, take a slight right, then right turn towards Strunjan and continue to the north to reach the coast at Strunjanski križ, a scenic spot in the Nature Reserve.

The Strunjan Nature Reserve is a natural haven which enjoys protected status. Here you can see dramatic cliffs and enjoy soaring sea views. There is also a public beach but it is worth noting that a fee of admission to the beach is collected during the peak summer months. Information boards throughout the park have maps of its main landmarks and other information.

 Strunjan Nature Reserve, 6320 Portorož - Portorose // GPS: 45.534058, 13.606806

Before we head for the final destination of the day, there is one last detour to take. Rather than heading straight for Piran, return to the 111 and take that road southwards to reach Sečovlje Salt Pans which is in Seča. After 4.5km on the 111, take a slight right onto Seča and follow signs to the parking area next to the ticket office for the salt works.

The Sečovlje Salt Pans are an important wetland area, interesting as much for its ecosystem, especially the bird life, as for its human history. At the visitor centre you can find out more about the history of salt pans in Slovenia as well as learning more about the flora, fauna and natural history of the site. There is a scenic viewpoint platform offering panoramic views and a scale model showing the salt pans. It is also possible to take a guided walk of around 2 km.

 Sečovlje salt pans, 6333 Sečovlje - Sicciole // GPS: 45.4934, 13.6065 // www.portoroz.si/en/experience/naturalattractions/secovlje-salt-pans

Return to the north on route 111 for around 3 km then take the second exit onto Koprska cesta. At the next roundabout, take the first exit onto Belokriška cesta. Continue onto Arze and you will find some parking areas on your right after a few hundred metres. Alternatively, take a left turn from Belokriška cesta onto Cesta rabskih žrtev and then follow Dantejeva ulica to parking on the sea front in Fornače. From this parking area you can easily walk along the sea front to reach the old town of Piran, where you will end the day's journey and rest up before tomorrow's portion of your Slovenian tour.

Piran is often described as the jewel in the crown of the Slovenian coast. While the picturesque old towns of Koper and Izola are undoubtedly attractive, Piran has a special charm. Breathtakingly beautiful, Piran's old town with Venetian style sits on a pensinsula stretching out into the sea. Piran can get crowded in the summer months and is popular with tourists – but it is easy to see why. This is one of the best preserved historic towns on the Adriatic. Begin your explorations at the heart of the old town on Tartinijev Trg and be sure to check out the dramatically situated cathedral and its bell tower sitting on a hill above the historic, red-roofed buildings.

 Tartinijev Trg, 6330 Piran

Pirano // GPS: 45.5285, 13.5684

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