Slovenia

• • that the linden or linden leaf is an important symbol of Slovenians? The Najevnik Linden in Koroška is said to be over 780 years old. Each August, for the last 20 years, the country’s leading political figures have gathered at the tree.
  • that Slovenia is one of the countries with the largest number of religious buildings per capita in Europe? There are almost 3,000 churches, chapels and religious monuments around Slovenia.
  • that the battle that was the direct cause of the break-up of the Roman Empire into its eastern and western parts was fought on Slovene soil? This battle between the armies of the Emperor Theodosius and the usurper Eugenius, each numbering a hundred thousand men, took place on 5 and 6 September AD 394 in the Vipava Valley.
  • that the canteen of the coal mine in Velenje, 160 metres below the surface, is the lowest-lying dining room in Europe? It is approximately 15 metres long, and can seat 48 people at 12 tables.
  • that the world’s longest stone-arch railway bridge is the Solkan Bridge on the Bohinj line? The main arch has a span of 85 metres and the total length of the bridge is 219.7 metres.
  • that the tallest industrial chimney in Europe is in Slovenia? This accolade goes to the chimney of the power station in Trbovlje, which is 362 metres high. It was built to this great height in an attempt to prevent pollution of the lower atmosphere.
  • that by far the most successful Slovene musical group of any genre or era is the Avsenik Brothers Ensemble, a popular folk group which has sold over 31 million albums? The Avsenik brothers are also the most-performed European composers.
  • that in Slovenia you can pay to spend the night in a prison cell? The Celica Hostel in Ljubljana is a former military prison with comfortable and imaginatively designed cells for guests.
  • that some scenes from the film Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian were filmed in the Soča Valley?
  • that Ljubljana is the European Green Capital 2016.
  • that in 2019 Ljubljana as a city has won a first place on the list of Global Top 100 Sustainable Destinations organisation Green Destinations gave first

Authors (from left to right): Žiga Okorn, Mirko Bijuklič, Tomo Jeseničnik