8 Aug /16

Random Slovenian Facts

Slovenia and slovenian facts
Random Slovenian Facts – EVS Translations

Slovenian Facts

With half the size of Switzerland and home to 2 million people (0.27% of the EU’s population), Slovenia is a small country, yet those small numbers hold a lot.

Situated at the crossroads of Europe, and being the place where the Alps, Mediterranean, Karst, and Pannonian Plain all meet, Slovenia is still delightfully wild. More than half of the country is forested and boasts a significant population of brown bears (more than 400), but, if you are in the mood to go further “in-depth,” the country has a network of over 10,000 caves.

There is something majestic and regal about a coat-of-arms- they showcase history, define lineage, and hearken back to a time of knights and damsels. This is especially true in Slovenia, where the oldest coat-of-arms, the Black Panther of Karantanija, goes back as far as 1160 and pre-dates most other European examples.

Whether you think Napoleon Bonaparte was a revolutionary genius or a megalomaniac dictator, one universal truth was that he was not often welcomed to the countries he “visited.” Ljubljana proved to be the exception, happily welcoming the French as locals hoped that it would mean greater autonomy from the Austrians. Though it did not end well for Napoleon and the Austrians were soon back in Slovenia, the monument, designed by Jože Plečnik, still stands.

Slovenians have always liked their wine….a lot. From a 400 year old vine in Maribor that still produces 25 litres of Žametna črnina wine annually to the fact that there is a winery or vineyard for every 70 people.

When it comes to rituals for a long and happy marriage, there is a well-known spot in Slovenia, the Assumption of Mary church on Lake Bled, where the groom must carry the bride up the 99 steps leading to the church while the bride remains silent- both of which seem like hard work.

For equine enthusiasts, Slovenia also offers the Lipica Stud Farm. With a history going back to 1580, the farm is where, with the support of the Habsburg nobility, the Lipizzaner horse breed originated.

If you are interested in learning other facts about Slovenia or the Slovenian language (there are 32 different regional dialects), our in-house native speaker Slovenian translators and Slovenian interpreters are here to walk you in.