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Ljubljana, Slovenia: Dragons, Castles, and Underground Trains
See the only living baby dragons while traveling underground on a train and the coming topside for delicious food in Slovenia.
Ljubljana, Slovenia:
Dragons, Castles, and Underground Trains
Slovenia is much larger than the city of Ljubljana but we have to focus in order to enjoy a four-day trip so we will concentrate on the Ljubljana area. This is a land of baby dragons (for real), underground trains, and fairytale castles. This is going to be so much fun!
- Cris
Agenda | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Ljubljana Old Town | Lake Bled | Caves | Lake Cerknica |
Day 1: Ljubljana Old Town
Prešeren Square: Romance
Slovenia is a blend of Old World and New World, of East and West. The combination and contradictions create a sense of timelessness and beauty.
Get oriented with a walking tour of Ljubljana Old Town to admire its vibrant Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture. Rekindle an old romance in Prešeren Square at the Prešeren Monument, a tribute to the Slovenian poet France Prešeren. The monument includes a sculpture of Prešeren, a sculpture of a Muse above him, and a small statue on the building that Prešeren faces. The statue of Julija is made to appear as if she's looking out her bedroom window.
Cross the Dragon Bridge, adorned with famous dragon statues, which appears in the most recognizable images of Ljubljana. If you haven't been photographed next to a Dragon Bridge dragon, you can hardly claim that you have visited Ljubljana. The four dragon statues, which look slightly terrifying and almost real (if, of course, you believe that dragons might be real).
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Day 2: Lake Bled
Mala Osojnica
Drive to Lake Bled and hike roughly 45 minutes to Mala Osojnica for stunning views of the lake and Bled Island. You can borrow bikes from most hotels and bike all the way around the lake itself. Bring a bike chain so you can secure it prior to hiking up Mala Osojnica.
Lake Bled and Bled Castle
Take a boat across the lake to Bled, an Alpine resort town with an emerald-green lake, a fairytale-like island, and an imposing castle on a rocky cliff. Explore the castle and take a “pletna” boat to the charming island.
Bled Castle (Blejski Grad), Slovenia’s oldest, dates back to 1011, when it was first mentioned in a donation deed by Emperor Henry II. Initially a Romanesque fortress, it expanded over centuries into a medieval stronghold with Gothic and Renaissance influences. Strategically perched atop a 130-meter cliff, it was a center of feudal power, housing bishops, knights, and noble families. The castle is fascinating for its breathtaking views of Lake Bled and its role as a guardian of the region’s history.
Today, it hosts a museum showcasing medieval artifacts, a chapel with frescoes, a printing press, and a wine cellar where visitors can bottle their own wine.
What To Eat (reviews and photos)
Fine Dining  | Feed the Family  | Cheap & Safe  |
Day 3: Caves
Škocjan Caves
Underground waterfalls! The UNESCO-listed Škocjan Caves Regional Park contains one of the world's largest known underground river canyons, cut into the limestone bedrock by the Reka River. Along its course, the river suddenly disappears into the karst underground, before passing through a vast and picturesque channel of up to 150 meters in height and more than 120 meters in width, often in the form of dramatically roaring rapids and waterfalls!
Postojna Cave
Want to see something cool? Head to the Postojna Cave and take the underground train. The world's first railway in an underground cave was opened in Postojna Cave in 1872. After World War II, Postojna Cave became part of the Free Territory of Trieste and later Yugoslavia. Over time, the gasoline-powered locomotives became outdated as visitors were becoming annoyed by their noise and exhaust fumes. Finally in 1956, the cave management purchased two battery-powered electric locomotives. They were soon proven to be reliable, so the management kept purchasing new ones until they owned a total of twelve. The last two were purchased in 1988. In 2013, an asynchronous motor was installed into locomotive No. 3 - this type of motor charges batteries during braking as well.
Look for the olm, also called the "human fish," a rare, blind amphibian found only in the karst caves of the Dinaric Alps, including Postojna. This fascinating creature, which resembles a miniature dragon, lives entirely in darkness and can survive without food for years. It’s revered not only because it is cute but because it is tied to clean drinking water. The belief is that if the Olm die, then the water is no longer safe to drink. This baby dragon is such a big deal that when a female olm laid 60 eggs, people flocked from around the world to see them. Imagine baby “baby dragons.” Awwww.
Where To Shop (reviews and photos)
 Fresh local produce, artisanal cheeses, honey, and traditional Slovenian crafts. |  Jewelry, hair accessories, and art. |  Gingerbread hearts, traditional Slovenian honey products, and handcrafted souvenirs. |
Day 4: Lake Cerknica
Can a lake just disappear? And then appear again? If it’s Lake Cerknica, then yes it can and it does. Lake Cerknica periodically disappears and reappears due to the unique way that it moves through underground caves made of limestone. During wet seasons, it transforms into a vast lake perfect for kayaking, birdwatching, and fishing. In dry months, the water drains into underground channels, leaving behind meadows and fields ideal for hiking and exploring sinkholes and caves. During the dry season, people repel down into the sinkholes to look at the underground limestone formations. Please don’t do this after it rains because…it’s a sinkhole…and you risk being buried in mud.
Where To Sleep (reviews and photos)
 Antiq Palace |  City Hotel Ljubljana |
 Hotel Florjančkov Hram |  Includes a kitchen |
As I fall asleep in a palace, dreaming of baby dragons, what could possibly be more exciting? Since you asked…next week we report from Oman! You won’t want to miss it.
See you next Wednesday.
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