Slovenia

Ljubljana - Prešernov Trg (Square), between the modern center and Old Town.

Ljubljana - view from Triple Bridge (Tromostovje), linking Prešernov trg to Old Town across the Ljublanica River.

Ljubljana - a quiet street in the Old Town.

Ljubljana - the view from Old Town looking towards Castle Hill.

Ljubljana - a typical outdoor market in the Old Town.

Ljubljana - remains of Roman fortifications (wall), dating from the 1-2C AD.

Ljubljana - view from atop Castle Hill. The castle itself was undergoing restoration, but the views justified the climb up.

Kranj - this is a beautiful small town one hour's drive north of Ljubljana in the foothills of the Julian Alps. The Old Town is perched on an escarpment 250m above the confluence of the Sava and Kokra Rivers.

Kranj - view of a street in the Old Town.

Kranj - another view of the Old Town, looking toward the Sava Rier.

Lake Bled (Bljesko jezero) is set in the Julian Alps, and is Slovenia's premier tourist attraction. The small island in the middle has been the sight of a church since the 9C, although the present structure dates from the 16-17C.

View of Lake Bled from Bled Castle, perched on a hill which towers 110m (340ft) above the lake.

Another view of Lake Bled from atop Castle Hill, looking northwest.

Bled Castle - although most of the current structure dates from the late 16C, a castle has stood here since the 11C. It was formerly the seat of the Bishops of Brixen (a small town now in Italy).

Bled Castle - another view of the interior courtyard. Many musical and other performance here in the summer season.

A view of the Julian Alps near Bled.

Bohinjka Valley near Bled - a typical farmhouse. Note the grapevines for making homemade wine!

Bohinjka Valley - this stunningly beautiful valley stretches roughly 16kms from Bled to Lake Bohinj in the Julian Alps.

Bohinjka Valley - around every corner, unexpected beauty!

Bohinjka Valley - this typical small Baroque country church belies the centuries of Austro-Hungarian rule and Slovenia's Catholic heritage.

Bohinjka Valley - this view is looking northwest, toward the Austrian frontier.

Bohinjka Valley - Pat, this one is for you!

Bohinjka Valley - funny how an old barn can improve upon Mother Nature!

Bohinjka Valley - ready to knock back a cold one after a hard day of sightseeing!

Bohinjka Valley - view of the small village of Stara Fuzina, near Lake Bohinj.

Bohinj Lake - this small lake lies at the head of the Bohinjka Valley at the entrance to Triglav National Park, and is roughly 4.5kms long.

Lake Bohinj - another view.

Mt Triglav National Park - a view from the base of Mt Triglav, highest point in Slovenia (2864m).

Mt Triglav National Park - one of countless waterfalls which feed Lake Bohinj and form the source of the Sava River

Piran - view of the harbor. This is the principal town on Slovenia's small (26km) stretch of Mediterranean coast, just across the border from the Italian city of Trieste.  Following WWII, this area was under Italian administration until 1954, and many older people still speak Italian.

Piran - another harbor view. Piran dates from ancient times, and was known as Piranum in Roman times. Venetian rule lasted from the 13C until the 18C

Piran - a view of Tartinijev Square, honoring the birth in Piran of composer Giuseppe Tartini (1692-1770).

Piran - view of Zidavski Square. This was once a center of Jewish life in Piran, now a rather typical small square in the Old Town

Piran - another view of Zidavski Square.

Piran - view of the town from the plaza in front of the church of St George, atop a small hill adjacent to Tartinijev Square.

Piran - view from the old town walls. Perhaps one of the finest views in Slovenia

Map courtesy of Regonal Environmental Center for Eastern and Central Europe.