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ADELE IN SLOVENIA


MY LIFE AND ADVENTURES IN RADOVLJICA AND THROUGHOUT SLOVENIA


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 * Visit and Taste Radol’ca
 * Visit Tržič

2Dec2023


FESTIVE DECEMBER IN RADOVLJICA

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, Christmas in Slovenia, ifeelsLOVEnia, Radol'ca,
Radovljica, Slovenia blog, Tourism Radol'ca, Visit Radol'ca by adeleinslovenia

There are towns and cities that roll out the same old Christmas lights and
decorations year after year, and then there’s Radovljica, which goes to great
lengths to come up with a new theme and/or decor for the festive season in the
old town every year.

Despite the best attempts by the weather to dampen our spirits, people still
turned out en masse yesterday evening, albeit significantly less so than in
previous years, to see the switching on of the Christmas lights.



The switch on was followed by an amazing concert by the band Help! A Beatles
Tribute. I can’t remember the last time I sung my heart out and bopped non-stop
for two hours like I did last night!





This year, Linhart Square – the heart of the old town – is adorned with
handwoven wreaths, garlands and decorations made of willow. This year’s
highlight are the beautiful hand painted window displays, the work of the local
academic artist Meta Šolar, which have turned the old town centre into an
outdoor gallery.

Photo: Turizem Radol’ca

Photo: Turizem Radol’ca

But, of course, that was just the start to the festive season, there’s plenty
more still to come!

Did you know that in Slovenia there are three ‘good men’ who visit during the
festival season; St. Nicholas, Father Christmas and Grandfather Frost? The first
of the three, St. Nicholas, ‘delivers’ presents to children on 6th December,
while Father Christmas, as we all know, comes down chimneys on Christmas Eve.
For those of you who haven’t heard of Grandfather Frost (I hadn’t either before
moving here!), it is said that the home of this legendary character, whose roots
are in Slavic mythology, is in Russia. He brings gifts for New Year, a custom
that dates back to the times when Christmas wasn’t celebrated publicly, rather
behind closed doors, in the former Yugoslavia.

The first of the three ‘good men’ will arrive in Radovljica on Sunday 3rd
December, when a St. Nicholas Fair will take place from 10am to 7pm, including a
visit by St. Nicholas himself, and at 5pm a puppet show titled ‘A Winter Fairy
Tale’.



A small Christmas market will take place every Saturday and Sunday through the
month of December, and on some dates there are additional activities, such as
workshops and street performances.

On Sunday 17 December, the ARTISH Fair will take place from 11am to 6pm. On the
same day, from 4pm to 6pm, you can see the CHRISTMAS CARAVAN with Radovljica’s
firefighters, all of whom are volunteers and who have been more than heroic this
year dealing with the numerous occasions when very heavy flooding has occurred.



On Friday 22nd December, in addition to the Christmas Market from 3pm to 9pm,
there will be a live concert by FED HORSE, and Taste Radol’ca street food.

On Christmas Day, Monday, 25th December, why not walk off your Christmas dinner
by taking a stroll to watch a street performance by Ana Snezna, and on Tuesday
26th December, you can visit the Christmas market from 3pm to 7pm, including a
street performance at 5pm by ČUPAKABRA.

Photo: Turizem Radol’ca

On Wednesday 27th December, Jan the Magician and Grandpa Frost visit
Radovljica. 



And that brings us to New Year’s Eve, when celebrations will kick off in Linhart
Square from 10pm.

Come and join in the festive fun, and for those of you unable to make it, I wish
you a joyful festive season and a very Merry Christmas!

© Adele in Slovenia

 

Adele in Slovenia, Christmas in Slovenia, Christmas markets in Slovenia,
ifeelsLOVEnia, Linhart Square, Radovljica old town, Visit Radol'ca Leave a
comment
16Nov2023


KLANC CASTLE – THE RUINS OF A SECRET GUTENBERG STRONGHOLD

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, Begunje, Castles in Slovenia, ifeelsLOVEnia,
Radol'ca, Radovljica, Slovenia blog, Tourism Radol'ca, Visit Radol'ca by
adeleinslovenia

“Klanc Castle? What? Where? Never heard of it!”

That’s pretty much the response you will get from most Slovenes if you say you
are going to visit Klanc Castle, which is also known as Glanz Castle and Novi
Gutenberg. In fact, I’d put money on it that the majority, if not all, of those
reading this blog – whether in Slovenia or elsewhere – won’t have heard of it.

So, let me enlighten you! Actually, it’s pretty much down to one man that I came
to hear of it, and it’s thanks to him that the ruins of this hidden castle have
been (re)discovered.



For the past few years, the Municipality of Radovljica has offered local
inhabitants an opportunity to put forward suggestions for new projects, the
so-called ‘Participative Budget’. Inhabitants can then vote for the project they
would like to see become a reality, and the projects that get the most votes in
each area of the municipality then receive funding so they can go ahead, albeit
these things don’t happen overnight.

One such suggestion came from Sašo Gasperin, formerly director of the Šobec
Camp, who now works at the Radovljica Tourist Board. In addition, he is a member
of the local tourist association in Begunje na Gorenjskem and a tourist guide,
who is fluent in both English and German. Thanks to his excellent knowledge of
the Begunje area, Sašo’s suggestion was that the area containing the ruins of
Klanc Castle is made accessible and equipped with information boards, so
visitors can find out about the history of this hidden castle. Fortunately, his
suggestion was adopted and the municipality subsequently bought the land on
which the castle ruins are situated. The project was taken on by the architect
Maj Juvanec, and Sašo helped helped with sources/resources, advice and, believe
it or not, a chain saw!

So, who better than to guide us on a walk to see the castle ruins than the man
himself – thanks Sašo!



The best place to start the walk is at the Begunje Tourist Information Centre in
the centre of the village, which is where you will find the first yellow sign
showing the way to the castle (grad Klanec).





From here continue on the pavement and past the church, where you turn right,
then head in a diagonal direction towards Mt. Dobrča. You reach the village
shrine, dedicated to four patrons to mark the four parish churches.





Continue in the direction of the foothills of Mt. Dobrća, with magnificent views
towards the Draga valley, until you reach the road that runs from Begunje na
Gorenjskem towards Tržič. Cross the road then take the marked path, as shown
below.





I’ve taken this path many, many times, hence I was astonished to discover that
the caste ruins are just metres away and I never even knew! People certainly
knew how to strategically place castles, fortresses, etc. in bygone days.

It really is best to arrange a guided tour by contacting the Radovljica Tourist
Information Centre, as you, like me, might find the ruins hard to spot, and also
because that way you will certainly get the most out of the visit. However,
there are now signs, so if you are up for the challenge and keep your eyes
peeled, you might just find them!



The castle dates from the 14th century and was abandoned in the 17th century.
The name Gutenberg comes from the German name for Mt. Dobrča (good mountain) –
German: guten berg, Slovenian: dobra gora.

The castle complex originally consisted of a rectangular, unfortified tower
court with a few farm buildings. After two major construction phases, it
expanded into a complex, the ruins of which have been partially preserved to
this day.



It also makes a lovely place to sit and contemplate the world, and, on a fine
day, enjoy the view(s)!





I won’t reveal everything, since you can discover it for yourself, hence above
there is just enough to whet your appetite! For more information about Klanc
Castle, nearby Kamen Castle and all the other sights and attractions in the
area, visit https://www.radolca.si/en.

© Adele in Slovenia

Begunje na Gorenjskem, Begunje Tourist Information Centre, dolina Draga, Draga
valley, Grad Kamen, grad Klanc, ifeelsLOVEnia, Kamen Castle, Klanc Castle, Mt.
Dobrča, Radovljica Tourist Information Centre, Sobec camp, Visit Radol'ca Leave
a comment
5Oct2023


CULINARY AUTUMN IN RADOL’CA: THE FARMER’S TABLE

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, gluten-free food in Slovenia, ifeelsLOVEnia,
Radol'ca, Radovljica, Slovenia blog, Taste Radol'ca, Tourism Radol'ca, Visit
Radol'ca by adeleinslovenia

I know I am somewhat biased, since I live in Radovljica, but nonetheless I truly
believe that the team at Visit Radovljica has to be one of the best, if not the
best, in the country. Why? Because instead of resting on their laurels, they are
constantly coming up with new ideas that are attractive to tourists, beneficial
to the local community and adhere to the sustainable goals of Slovenian tourism
as a whole.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Taste Radol’ca, when every November the
chefs at the participating restaurants create set price menus using local
ingredients. This year, the Taste Radol’ca Month of Local Cuisine will extend
over two months rather than the usual one, as throughout October there are
various activities in which locals and visitors alike can take part.



Guided bike trips, available on Saturday 14th, Friday 20th and Saturday 28th
October, are an ideal combination of fresh air, sightseeing and tasting the
produce of local farms.

In addition, open days at local farms provide a great opportunity to discover
the importance of getting food from field to table in the shortest possible way.
The first takes place on 14th October at 10am at the Vegerila Farm, then on 20th
October at 1pm at the Dolenc Farm, and 28th October at 10am the Brinsek Farm.



Another among the latest great ideas is a unique culinary experience named The
Farmer’s Table, which will take place this Saturday 7th October at 12noon and is
the opening event of this year’s Taste Radol’ca. Reservations are required in
advance for the 4-hour culinary programme, which includes a horse and cart ride,
snacks along the way, lunch at an organic farm prepared by Radovljica’s chefs 
(6-course menu from selected traceable ingredients), live music and a practical
gift.



The chefs taking part in The Farmer’s Table are:

 * Uroš Štefelin from Hiša Linhart, restavracija & hotel
 * Aleš Tavčar from Gostišče Draga
 * Simon Koštomaj from Baffi House Of Pizza
 * Gašper Kordež from Restavracija TABOR Podbrezje
 * Aleš Potočnik from Restavracija Šobec
 * Anja Kržišnik from Gostišče Tulipan Lesce






Contact Visit Radol’ca for more information and to book your place at the
Farmer’s Table or to book a cycling tour.



Still on the theme of food, albeit it gluten-free food, I’d like to take this
opportunity to thank all those who visited the festival I recently organised in
Radovjlica – Festival of Gluten Free Tastes and Fun. I’m delighted to say the
day was a great success, which was a huge relief as the weather forecast had
been a bit dodgy to say the least. It’s estimated that up to 3,000 people
visited. Having spent much of the last year organising it, it was lovely to see
so many happy, smiling faces – both visitors and stallholders alike. The
festival also further proved what an excellent venue Radovljica is for outdoor
events.


Below are a few photos of the day, for posterity’s sake, of course!


Photo: Roman Baloh

Photo: Roman Baloh

Photo: Roman Baloh

Photo: Roman Baloh

Photo: Roman Baloh

Photo: Roman Baloh


Of course, it didn’t take long for people to start asking if the festival will
become a regular event. And the answer is … watch this space!

© Adele in Slovenia

 

Adele in Slovenia, Festival brezglutenskih okusov in zabave, Festival of
Gluten-Free Tastes and Fun, gluten-free food in Slovenia, Okusi Radol'ca,
radovljica, Slovenia blog, Taste Radol'ca, The Farmer's Table, Visit Radol'ca 2
Comments
20Sep2023


AN EXTRA SCRUMPTIOUSLY SWEET WEEKEND AHEAD IN RADOVLJICA!

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, coeliac disease, gluten-free food in Slovenia,
ifeelsLOVEnia, Radol'ca, Radovljica, Slovenia blog, Visit Radol'ca by
adeleinslovenia

If you don’t have any plans yet for this weekend, then you’ll definitely want to
head to Radovljica! Why? Well, because there’s not just ONE but TWO great
‘sweet’ festivals!

The first, on Saturday 23rd September, is the Festival of Honey at the
Beekeeping Education Centre of Gorenjska in Lesce.



The festival , which opens at 10am, includes, among other things, a market
selling honey and other beekeeping-related products, tastings, and workshops for
children.



At 12.30pm, adults can learn about and try honey beer, while Jaka the Clown will
visit the festival at 3.30pm to entertain children.



Then, on Sunday 24th September I’d like to invite you (all!) to a festival that
I’ve been working on for over six months and which I’m organising in its
entirety and voluntarily – Festival of Gluten-Free Flavours and Fun!



As regular readers of my blog will know, I have coeliac disease so eating
gluten-free food is a necessity. It is estimated that one in 100 people
worldwide have coeliac disease, but only around 30% have received a diagnosis.
Getting a diagnosis can be difficult because there are so many symptoms that
may, or may not, be a sign of coeliac disease.

The description of coeliac disease according to Coeliac UK is: Coeliac disease
(pronounced see-liac) is a serious illness where the body’s immune system
attacks its own tissues when you eat gluten. This causes damage to the lining of
the gut and means the body can’t properly absorb nutrients from food. Coeliac
disease is not an allergy or food intolerance.

Despite being a small country, Slovenia has a lot of providers of gluten-free
food, but they are spread throughout the country. In addition to coeliacs, there
are also a lot of people who don’t eat gluten for other reasons and who may not
be aware of the great range of food available, hence I decided to arrange a
festival at which the vast majority of the providers of gluten-free food are
present all in one place.



But I didn’t just stop at that, oh no! I decided I wanted it to be a festival
for EVERYONE! So, I’ve put together a packed entertainment programme that
includes something for all the family, including a children’s programme, archery
for children, live music by the Avsenik House Ensemble, Mitja Šinkovec, and
Lombardo, free chocolate tasting at the Radolska čokolada chocolatier, free
guided tours and more.



Hot and cold food will be available all day from 10am to 5pm, including burgers,
kebabs, pizzas, cakes of all shapes and sizes, pies, tarts, biscuits, goulash,
pancakes, waffles, burek, gluten-free beer, coffee and other hot drinks, cold
soft drinks and more.

Take a look at the full programme below. Entrance is free!



The forecast for Sunday is giving me sleepless nights, as it keeps changing. The
festival, however, will take place regardless of the weather. The festival will
take place in Radovljica park or, in the event of rain, in Radovljica Manor and
Linhart Square.

To end, here’s some other food-related news from Radovljica and elsewhere in
Slovenia.

Yesterday, chef Ana Roš’s restaurant Hiša Franko became the first Slovenian
establishment to be awarded three Michelin stars, the highest accolade conferred
by the restaurant guide. Milka in Kranjska Gora was promoted from one to two
stars and seven more restaurants won one star each, including Radovljica’s Hiša
Linhart, which retained both it’s Michelin Star and Green Star, the latter is
awarded to restaurants who are especially committed to sustainable gastronomy.
Congratulations Uroš Štefelin, Marcela Klofutar and the entire team at Hiša
Linhart!



So, come rain or shine, Radovljica will be the place to be this weekend!

© Adele in Slovenia

Anita Šumer, Batasta, Eurospin, Festival brezglutenskih okusov in zabave,
gluten-free food in Slovenia, Hiša Linhart, Hišni ansambel Avsenik, Koticek
dobrot, LaZania, Lombardo, Miran Ipavec, Mitja Šinkovec, Radol'ca, radovljica,
Schar, Visit Radol'ca 5 Comments
7Aug2023


SLOVENIA UNDER WATER: HEROISM, TRAGEDY AND HOPE

Posted in Uncategorized by adeleinslovenia

By now you may have seen, heard or read about the catastrophic flooding that has
devastated parts of Slovenia over the past few days. Though the country isn’t
immune to flooding, that it has happened in what is supposedly ‘summer’ and has
been so widespread throughout the country is unheard of and is now officially
the biggest disaster the country has faced since it’s independence.

So, this blog will be a little different to my usual ones, but I wanted to get
something published as soon as possible for those of you worried about the
situation here, or anyone planning to come but are worried about what is and
isn’t accessible/open, etc. At the end of this post, I’ve also included details
of how you can help, should you want to. In general, the western part of the
country has been less affected, so there’s no need to cancel your holiday plans
to this area, but do check if you plan to visit other areas.

I’ve started with some general information, then further down there is
information that is more specific to the Radovljica area. For further
information contact the Radovljica Tourist Information Office or visit
www.radolca.si

First and foremost, please, please heed the warnings and don’t try to access
paths and trails in affected areas. All the rescue services are working day and
night and the last thing they need is to have to rescue people who have got
themselves into trouble by taking risks and being unprepared. There is also a
high risk of mudslides due to the saturated soil.

Slovenia’s rescue services – firefighters, mountain rescuers – the majority of
whom are voluntary, assisted by the Armed Forces, are doing an absolutely
sterling job.

By far the worst affected area is Koroška (Carinthia), where houses have been
washed away and it took rescue services two days to gain access to areas
completely cut off. At the moment food and water is being helicoptered in and,
of course, it will be a very long time until life is back to ‘normal’ in that
area. In the photo below you can see a member of the Slovenian Mountain Rescue
Team being helicoptered in to rescue the residents of the house in the photo;
just a few hours later that same house was entirely washed away by the flood
waters.

The Slovenian Mountain Rescue Team and The Slovenian Armed Forces carrying out a
rescue



In addition, flood waters rose by as much as 8 metres in Škofja Loka,
demolishing bridges that have stood for hundreds of years in just a matter of
seconds. The area near the Devil’s Bridge, where I held my birthday celebration
back in May this year, basically no longer exists. So sad.



Other heavily affected areas include Kamnik, parts of Žalec, Laško, Solčava,
Luče, Dravograd, and many more. If you have plans to travel to any of the
affected areas, please ensure you check with the local tourist board before
setting off.

Now on to the Radovljica area. Fortunately, this area has come off relatively,
though not completely, unscathed. The lower part of the Šobec Camp had to be
evacuated on Thursday night/Friday morning, as the Sava river had broken its
banks, and at the time of writing remains closed. An appeal was quickly launched
to find free hotel rooms/apartments, etc. for those affected.

The Draga Valley, as seen below, sustained heavy damage and currently the road
through the Draga Valley is closed as is Gostišče Draga.



In Begunje na Gorenjskem the area of Katzenstein Manor, including the Museum of
Hostages, is closed.

In terms of hiking trails, the following paths are in areas where trees have
been uprooted and water has caused extensive damage, so are currently
inaccessible:

 * Lamberg Trail from Krpin to Kamen Castle
 * Shepherds’ Trail through Luknja to the Preval mountain pasture
 * Brezje Path of Peace
 * Hiking Trail to Dobrča
 * Sava River Trail

The following trails, however, are accessible: St. Peter’s Church above Begunje
na Gorenjskem, Lipnica Castle Trail, trail to the Vodiška planina mountain
pasture from the Slovenska peč smelting furnace and trails in the vicinity of
Kamna Gorica.

Cycle routes that run on local roads are accessible by bike, but all the routes
that make up the entire network of mountain bike trails are inaccessible.

The nearby Završnica valley also sustained very heavy damage and is currently
inaccessible.

All river-based activities in the Radovljica area are due to resume as of today.

Vintgar Gorge is closed until at least 15th August.

Of course, as is usually the case with every disaster of this nature, in
addition to tragic tales, there are also heart-warming tales of heroism and
hope.

For example, the firemen who left his own home to the ravages of the flood
waters to help rescue children from a nursery school, only to return home to
find the contents of his house under water.

The family who put out an urgent appeal for a helicopter to rescue their dog,
Bolt, who they had had to leave behind, with no food or water. A dog handler
from the mountain rescue team organised and successfully carried out the rescue.

Photo: The Slovenian Mountain Rescue Association

And, on a more personal note, first thing on Saturday morning, in the Facebook
group I run here for coeliacs, I wrote that if any coeliacs needed help with
access to gluten-free food to get in touch. I was immediately contacted by one
family with two young children who had lost their entire home. Though I couldn’t
help in person, as it isn’t in this area, within just a few hours I managed to
coordinate efforts to collect and deliver them food, which we managed to do the
same day.

And since then I have been in regular contact with the president of the Koroška
branch of the Slovenian Coeliac Association, who is helping to arrange
deliveries of gluten-free food to those cut-off in that area and encouraging
members to transfer money to the branch’s account, so they can continue to help
those affected over the coming days and weeks.

The president of the EU, Ursula von der Leyen is due to visit in the next couple
of days and has pledged to help, and, of course, Slovenia will recover,
eventually. However, it’s still important to support those in need and you can
also do your bit by supporting the economy through your visit as a tourist
and/or contributing to the appeal fund, details below.

Until next time, when I hope to be the bearer of much happier and more positive
news.

Bank transfers should be made to the following account:
IBAN: SI56 0284 3026 3945 425
BIC: LJBASI2X
Reference: SI00 2023
Name of recipient: HD ADRA Slovenija, Njegoševa 15 1000 Ljubljana
Purpose: NEURJE 2023
Code: CHAR

© Adele in Slovenia

 

 

7 Comments
18Jul2023


WILD WEATHER AND SCRUMPTIOUS (GLUTEN-FREE) ŠTRUKLJI!

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, gluten-free food in Slovenia, hiking in Slovenia,
hiking trails, ifeelsLOVEnia, ironworking, Jelovica, Julian Alps, kamna gorica,
Kamnik-Savinja Alps, Karavanke, Kropa, Radol'ca, Radovljica, Slovenia blog,
Slovenian food, Slovenian mountain huts, The Julian Alps, Tourism Radol'ca,
Visit Radol'ca by adeleinslovenia

While much of Europe is basking, or rather sweltering, in record-high
temperatures, this ‘summer’ here in Slovenia has, so far, been marked by some
mega storms, the likes of which have never been seen at this time of year, if
ever.

The extreme hail and gale-force winds have wreaked havoc throughout the country,
and there’s more predicted for later this week too. So, everyone is waiting and
praying that there isn’t a repeat of last week, which brought significant damage
to cars, roofs, crops, houses and more.



On a more positive note, here in the Gorenjska region, i.e. the mountainous
region of Slovenia, temperatures tend not to get as high as at the coast and the
southeast part of the country. And even if they do, you are never far from a
forest to take shelter in, a mountain to climb for some cooler air, or a pool or
lake to jump into to cool off.

Here in Radovljica, we are lucky to have the Karavanke range and the
Kamnik-Savinja Alps to the north, the Jelovica plateau to the south, and the
Julian Alps on the doorstep, the only problem is, with so much choice, it can be
hard to decide where to go!



Last Wednesday, however, the decision was easy, as I had found out that the lady
who runs the mountain hut on the Vodiška planina mountain pasture makes
gluten-free štruklji, a real rarity indeed, in fact, quite possibly the only
mountain hut that offers them.

It’s actually quite difficult to describe what štruklji are, other than to say
they are made using a light dough mixture that is rolled out very thinly then
filled and rolled, like a Swiss roll, before being steamed or boiled. The
fillings can be sweet or savoury, depending on how creative and adventurous you
want to be!

Photo: štruklji at Gostisce Draga in the Draga Valley

I can count on one hand how many times I’ve eaten them since being diagnosed
with coeliac disease, so to find gluten-free ones, and so close to home –
relatively speaking – is a real treat.

Below I’ve described the route I took up to the hut, which begins in Kropa, but
there are also numerous other routes up to the Vodiška planina mountain pasture,
including from the village of Kamna Gorica.

The most direct, albeit steepest, trail begins at St. Leonard’s church – one of
two churches in the village.





The trail leads steeply up through the forest, with not much let up in terms of
steepness until about the halfway point, which is the meeting point of paths
that the lead up from other parts of Kropa.



It takes about half an hour to reach the halfway point, then within another half
an hour or so, you emerge onto the mountain pasture.



The pasture is also a meeting point of numerous trails, so you can easily extend
your hike in numerous directions.





But this time, we were there for the food! Those with coeliac disease, or those
of you who know someone with it, will know that cross-contamination is a big
deal (read: ‘problem’), something that so often places that claim to offer
gluten-free food don’t take into account. However, as soon as I contacted the
lady who runs the hut, her reply was such that I knew immediately that she knew
about coeliac disease, so I had no hesitation in ordering them upon my arrival.

And I certainly wasn’t disappointed! I think my smile says it all!





In addition, because flour isn’t used to thicken any of the soups or stews, we
ordered jota – a traditional Slovenian cabbage and bean stew, which you can
order with or without Carniolan sausage.



Visit Radol’ca recently published a blog on its own website about what food is
available at mountain huts in the surrounding area; in fact, it was whilst
translating the blog that I discovered that gluten-free štruklji were available!
Click here to read more and Dober tek (Enjoy your meal!) as we say here!

© Adele in Slovenia

 

 

 

 

@ifeelsLOVEnia, Adele in Slovenia, brezglutenski štruklji, gluten-free food in
Slovenia, Jelovica, kamna gorica, Kropa, Partizanski dom na Vodiski planini,
Radol'ca, radovljica, Slovenia blog, Slovenian food, struklji, Visit Radol'ca 6
Comments
20Jun2023


A NEW ERA FOR RADOVLIJCA’S OLYMPIC SWIMMING POOL

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, Camp Radovljica, ifeelsLOVEnia, Radol'ca,
Radovljica, Radovljica bazen, Slovenia blog, swimming in Slovenia, Tourism
Radol'ca by adeleinslovenia

Radovljica’s Olympic swimming pool officially reopened last Friday. The
renovation works included the construction of an entrance complex with a
restaurant, an indoor therapy pool and new changing rooms and toilets – both for
the pool and the campsite.



The pool was originally designed by the local architect Ivan Vurnik. It was
built in 1932 and is considered one of his most notable projects. The most
distinguishing feature, which at its time was considered a daring feat of
engineering and architecture, was the high diving platform. The platform was
demolished in 1966 but Radovljica’s Olympic-size swimming pool lives on today in
the same location.



The first phase of the new pool was opened in style last week, when visitors
were given free access to explore all areas, including the new heated therapy
pool, which is a great asset as it will also be used for patient physiotherapy
by the Radovljica Health Centre.



Visitors to the opening event were invited to watch a training session take
place in the new indoor pool.



It was a double celebration last week, as this year Radovljica Swimming Club
marks its 90th anniversary. During this time, the club has produced many
Olympic-winning swimmers, as can be seen below. I, however, am not one of them!



The wind orchestra of the Radovljica music school and the Lesce wind orchestra
helped to keep visitors entertained during the opening event.



The pool was officially reopened by Radovljica’s mayor, Ciril Globocnik, seen
below in the pink shirt, who himself was a former swimmer before going on to
become a swimming coach, a selector for Slovenia’s swimmers on the international
scene, sports director of the Radovljica Swimming Club, and, since 2010, our
mayor.



The mayor also blew the whistle to mark the inaugural lap of the outdoor pool
(which isn’t actually new but it was nonetheless a fitting occassion), which
featured swimmers of all ages, from the very young…



…to the oldest, who is even older than the Radovljica Swimming Club itself, and
who, of course, got the biggest applause!



During a recent visit to Radovljica, the president of the Olympic Committee of
Slovenia, Franjo Bobinac, confirmed his support for the project to reconstruct
the swimming pool. He announced that the committee will strive to ensure that
reconstruction continues and that the municipality will be granted part of a 150
million euro package of funds that will be allocated for this purpose over the
next five years.

In summer the open-air pool is very popular with children and those seeking a
way to keep cool, while in winter the pool is covered, so swimming coaching and
recreational swimming can continue throughout the year.





Camp Radovljica is situated right next to the pool, making it an ideal place to
stay in summer, as guests of the camp have free use of the pool.

Click here to can find out more about the Radovljica swimming pool, as well as
other pools in the surrounding area.

Summer has finally arrived, better late than never, and schools are out for
summer this Friday, so what with the pool(s) and surrounding forests, plateaus
and mountains, there’s no better place to keep cool in the heat than Radovljica!

© Adele in Slovenia

Adele in Slovenia, Camp Radovljica, Ivan Vurnik, Radovlijca, Radovljica bazen,
Radovljica Swimming Pool, Slovenia blog, swimming in Slovenia, Visit Radol'ca
Leave a comment
25May2023


SLOVENIAN BEEKEEPING PLACED ON THE UNESCO REPRESENTATIVE LIST OF INTANGIBLE
CULTURAL HERITAGE

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, Beekeeping in Slovenia, ifeelsLOVEnia, Museum of
Apiculture Radovljica, Radol'ca, Radovljica, Slovenia blog, Slovenian honey,
Visit Radol'ca by adeleinslovenia

First, the bad news… It has been wet and unseasonably cold for pretty much the
whole of May so far, which is bad, or even catastrophic, news for Slovenia’s
bees and beekeepers. The latter are keeping their fingers (and toes) crossed
that conditions improve soon in order to salvage what they can from the grazing
season.

Now, the good news. Slovenia’s application to be placed on the UNESCO
Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage has been accepted, a process
in which the Museum of Apiculture in Radovljica played a large part, together
with the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association and the Slovenian Ethnographic
Museum. To mark World Earth Day, on 22nd April, Radovljica played host to a
special event to mark Slovenia’s entry onto the aforementioned UNESCO List.
Among those in the photo below are the mayor of Radovljica, the president of the
Slovenian Beekeeping Association, the director of Radovljica Municipal Museums,
Slovenia’s Minister for Culture, the president of the Radovljica Beekeeping
Society, and, of course, our many beekeepers!



The following quote by Dr. Asta Vrečko, Slovenia’s Minister of Culture, sums up
the significance of this achievement for Slovenian culture: “The inscription of
beekeeping on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage is of exceptional
significance for Slovenia and the world. At the time of climate change, bees and
beekeeping must receive special attention, and traditional beekeeping, which is
a way of life in harmony with nature, must be nurtured in particular. The
beekeeping heritage has a long history that is intertwined with culture and
amateur art. Today, urban apiaries also present an important segment of
beekeeping.”



Here’s some fascinating Slovenian bee facts and figures I came across while
reading the Sunday paper, which, by the way, is published on a Wednesday!

 * There are over 11,000 beekeepers in Slovenia
 * Slovenian beekeepers have over 200,000 bee families
 * There are 30 registered breeders of queen bees in Slovenia, who breed around
   40,000 queens per year
 * There are 206 beekeeping societies in Slovenia

There are numerous ways you can get acquainted with Slovenia’s bees and
beekeepers in the Radovljica area.

Undoubtedly, Erik Luznar is Radovljica’s star beekeeper, in more ways than one!
Not only is he one of the few beekeepers here who does it for a living, but he
is also now a star in India too, thanks to one of the country’s most popular
vloggers, Dhruv Rathee, who visited Erik and his bees to find out more. Over 2
million people have watched it!



In addition to the aforementioned Museum of Apiculture, which is a ‘must see’
when visiting Radovljica…



… the area is also home to the Beekeeping Education Centre of Gorenjska in
Lesce, where you can get up close to a traditional Slovenian apiary, and sit
back and enjoy watching the bees going about their business while enjoying a hot
or cold drink.



This month, the Radovljica Beekeeping Society celebrated its 140th anniversary
at the Centre.

And finally, don’t miss the family ‘Follow a Bee Through Radovljica‘ adventure,
which is ideal for the entire family.





I hoped I’ve provided you with more than enough reasons, and inspiration, to
make sure you do something bee-related on your visit to Slovenia, after all: No
Bees, No Life!

© Adele in Slovenia

 

 

 

@ifeelsLOVEnia, Adele in Slovenia, Museum of Apiculture Radovljica, radovljica,
Slovenian beekeeping, Slovenian honey, UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural
Heritage of Humanity, Visit Radol'ca Leave a comment
4Apr2023


IT’S CHOCOLATE TIME (AGAIN AND ALWAYS!) IN RADOVLJICA!

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, Festivals in Slovenia, ifeelsLOVEnia, Okusi
Radol'ce, Radol'ca, Radovljica, Radovljica Chocolate Festival, Slovenia blog,
Slovenian chocolate, Taste Radol'ca, Tourism Radol'ca by adeleinslovenia

It’s just 11 days until the 10th Radovljica Chocolate Festival – how time flies!
I remember the first festival, which was just one day and which led to the start
of something much bigger.

Over the years we’ve had three-day festivals, two years with virtual festivals
due to COVID-19, sunny festivals, rainy festivals, mega festivals with
all-things chocolate, and, in the last couple of years, a two-day festival with
a focus on the finest chocolate(s) and an entertainment programme for the entire
family.



Thanks to the Radolška čokolada chocolatier, you can now enjoy excellent
handmade chocolates throughout the year in Radovljica, but, of course, the
Radovljica Chocolate Festival, which this year takes place on Saturday 15th and
Sunday 16th April, is the event of the year for chocoholics far and wide.

Photo: Mankica Kranjec

Over the past few years, a competition has taken place prior to the festival to
find the ‘Best Chocolate‘ among the entries from the chocolatiers taking part in
the festival.  This year, 14 chocolates from seven Slovenian chocolatiers
entered the competition.



The judges of the competition are the owners of the famous Austrian Zotter
chocolate manufacturer.



This year, 1st place went to the Snickers chocolate made by the Hiša čokolade
Molinet chocolatier from Kropa, 2nd place was taken by the Goat’s choice good
choice chocolate, made by the Radolška čokolada chocolatier, and 3rd place was
awarded to the Yuzu and pepper chocolate from the Aska chocolatier.



Visitors to the 10th Radovljica Chocolate Festival, will have a chance to try
all three of the winning chocolates, which will occupy a special place in
Radovljica Manor. An additional competition will take place to find the ‘Best
Chocolate Chosen by Visitors‘ as well as a prize game.

In addition to the chocolate itself, among the highlights of this year’s
entertainment programme are:

 * Lego sculptures
 * Chocolate treasure hunt
 * Face painting
 * Cookery workshops
 * Live music (Maraaya, WildArt, Suho cvetje…)
 * Circus workshops
 * Stilt walkers
 * Impro show and other live shows and entertainment

As in previous years, tasting of chocolates takes place via the purchase of
tasting coupons.



Of course, there will be non-chocolate food and drink available too, courtesy of
Taste Radol’ca restaurants, and, as has also become the tradition, the opening
event of the festival will take place with a special gourmet dinner at the
Michelin-starred restaurant Hiša Linhart.



The 6-course dinner is produced by 3 young chefs and their mentors – Tomaz
Bratovž, Restavracija JB (mentor: Janez Bratovž), Martin Zupan, Hisa Linhart
(mentor: Uroš Štefelin) and Darko Krstev, Restavracija Strelec (mentor: Igor
Jagodic).

The three mentors

Some of the dishes will be subtly flavoured with chocolate, while others will be
unashamedly full of it.

Those that know me and regular readers of my blog will know I’m a huge
chocoholic, and that I have coeliac disease. The good news is that a few of the
stands at the festival will also feature gluten-free chocolate, and, even if you
aren’t as big a chocoholic as me, there’ll be plenty of entertainment to keep
you amused too!



© Adele in Slovenia

 

 

Adele in Slovenia, festival cokolade, Hiša Linhart, Radolska cokolada,
radovljica, Radovljica Chocolate Festival, Slovenia blog, Slovenian chocolate,
Uros Stefelin, Visit Radol'ca 1 Comment
14Mar2023


A NEW OLD WALK IN THE LIPNICA VALLEY

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, Beekeeping in Slovenia, hiking trails,
ifeelsLOVEnia, ironworking, kamna gorica, Kropa, Lipnica Valley, Museum of
Apiculture Radovljica, Radol'ca, Radovljica, Slovenia, Slovenia blog, Tourism
Radol'ca, Visit Radol'ca by adeleinslovenia

Until recently, Peter’s Trail in Kamna Gorica was only known to locals and had
been somewhat retaken by nature. However, this short trail in the Lipnica valley
has been reestablished, together with added footbridges, wooden railings and
information boards (in English only).

The trail is a tribute to Peter Novak (1846-1910), a former Latin language
lecturer at the University of Vienna, who was born in Kamna Gorica. Following
his retirement, Peter returned to his native village, where he built and
repaired many old paths in the vicinity of his birth village.

The trail begins at the Gostilna Mlin restaurant in Kamna Gorica, which at the
time of writing is closed, where there is a small parking area in front of the
sign for the restaurant, as seen below.



The first sign marking the trail is a little further ahead, so initially walk
for around 150 metres across the grass away from the restaurant, ensuring the
small brook is on your right, until you reach the first sign.



From here the path is obvious as it winds its way through the forest alongside
the Lipnica river.





After a short while you reach a wooden hut, as seen below…



…before reentering the forest to rejoin the trail. After a short distance you
once again leave the forest and come to a bridge over the Lipnica river.





Don’t cross the bridge but instead go up to your left where you will see a
beautiful, typical Slovenian apiary.



At the time of my visit in early March, the bees were already really active for
the time of year. Btw, if you’d like to find out more about Slovenian beekeeping
and see an exhibit of some of the oldest known apiary painted frontal boards, be
sure to visit the Museum of Apiculture in Radovljica.



Follow the path that leads up to the right behind the apiary, which then emerges
onto a road. Here you could just follow the road down to the crossroads and
return to Kamna Gorica on the pavement, or see below for a slightly longer walk.



Turn left and walk a few minutes uphill on the road until you reach a clearing
where you can see a small cluster of houses that make up the hamlet of Zgornja
Dobrava.





Facing the above sign you will see a path behind you to the right. Follow this
path, cross the road and then rejoin the trail leading downhill, adjacent to the
road.



The path emerges from the forest into the playground of the Lipnica primary
school, where you should immediately turn right and follow the trail, this time
with the forest on your right.



You pass a house, and, if you’re lucky as we were, a very contented cat!





You will now reach the bridge you saw, but didn’t cross, earlier and can choose
to either return on Peter’s Trail or turn left to reach the pavement, which you
follow back to the village past a large pond.



Take time to explore the village of Kamna Gorica itself, where you can walk up
to St. Trinity’s church for a lovely view over the village, visit the Sextons’
Museum House and admire the waterways that have earnt the village the name ‘Mini
Venice’.

If you’d like a longer walk, it’s easy to extend the route by visiting one, or
more, of the surrounding villages, notably Kropa, with its wealth of iron
forging heritage.

Now is the perfect time for such a walk, as nature is emerging from its winter
slumber and colour is returning to the valley.



Finally, the Radovljica Chocolate Festival is fast approaching, so make a note
of the date for what will be the 10th anniversary of the ever-popular festival
of chocolate and fun.

© Adele in Slovenia

@ifeelsLOVEnia, Adele in Slovenia, kamna gorica, Kropa, Lipnica Valley, Peter's
Trail, Petrova pot, Slovenia blog, Visit Radol'ca Leave a comment


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