Article Visit Slovenia’s nature parks

I am #NaturallyCurious

The best thing about Slovenia is that four major European landscapes meet here, a richness reflected in a great diversity of as well as animal and plant life within relatively short distances. Nature has generously bestowed this country with breathtaking natural scenery that surrounds you at every step.

In Slovenia, taking care of the environment and living sustainably have long been rooted in the everyday lives of our citizens, so it’s no wonder that Slovenia has been declared the world’s first green country. It is also important to highlight that around 13% of Slovenia’s territory today falls within protected areas, while 35.5% of the territory is protected under Natura 2000, which ranks Slovenia third in the world according to the highest percentage of protected land.

Protected areas of Slovenia consist of one national park, three regional and 34 landscape parks, as well as 66 nature reserves and over 1200 natural monuments. In addition, Slovenia has two geo-parks, some botanical gardens and 144 monuments of  “designed nature”.

Why not choose one of these areas for your next summer holiday and spend them getting in touch with nature? Let us  reveal some of Slovenia’s most beautiful nature parks and give you hints and ideas about what and how to visit them!

Triglav National Park

Triglav National Park is Slovenia’s largest protected area and only national park. It takes its name from Slovenia’s highest mountain, Triglav (2.864 m), and encompasses most of the eastern part of the Julian Alps. The park is home to more than 7,000 animal and 1,600 plant species. In addition to its natural attractions, you can feel the human connection with nature, evident in the park’s rich cultural heritage. Here, sustainability is the norm and can be felt at every step. Did you know that Bohinj, a valley that lies in the heart of the Triglav National Park, was the first to receive the Slovenia Green”s platinum label, which is the highest acknowledgment that the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism gives to a destination?

Three regional parks

Slovenia also has three regional parks that protect three completely different natural worlds and reflect the diversity of Slovenia. At the Kozjansko Regional Park, blooming meadows, orchards, vineyards, and streams greet you. At Škocjan Caves Park, also listed among UNESCO Heritage Sites, a maze of underground galleries, halls with wonderful stalactites and stalagmites, and the most astonishing underground canyon in the world put you in touch with the mysteries of the world beneath the surface. If you want to see the magnificent phenomenon of an intermittent lake (one that is dry for part of the year), Notranjska Regional Park is the place to visit, home to the intermittent Cerknica Lake, one of the largest such lakes in Europe.

Don’t forget that in addition to the four listed here, there are 34 more landscape parks waiting for you in Slovenia! So, when you’ve done the “big four”, you will still have plenty to explore.