Slovenia - The Postojna Cave

The Postojna Cave in Slovenia 

This postcard was postmarked in 2019.

 

Slovenia - Ljubljana

Ljubljana, Slovenija

This was postmarked in 2021 from Slovenia. 

 

Slovenia - Kras Multiview with Caves

Slovenija
Kras

Kras Karst Slovenija

Predjamski grad in bogastvo kraskega sveta
The Predjama castle and the marvelous subterranean world of the Karst

Foto: Arne Hodalic, Mirko Bijuklic
2017

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Škocjan Caves, found on the Karst Plateau, is a cave system in Slovenia. The area was entered on UNESCO’s list of natural and cultural world heritage sites in 1986.

Slovenia - Aljaž Tower

Alazev stopl na Triglauvu, najvisje stopece delo cloviskih rok
(iz knjige Toma Jesenicnika: Slovenija v preseznikih)
2009

The sender writes:

This postcard is from the collection published about Slovenian Superlatives ( Biggest, Highest .. etc.)  It shows the top of the Triglav Mountain in Julian Alps.  Triglav is our Highest Mountain (2864 m) and its name meand three-headed ( tri- three, glava-head) due to its three peaks.  On the top of it is the highest man-made object.  In Slovenia - Aljaz Tower.  It was designed and erected by the priest Jakob Aljaz at the end of the 19th century.  We were under the Austro-Hungarian Empire at that time and Jakob purchased the peak in the hope of increasing the interest of foreigners in the Slovenian Mountains.

Slovenia - Bled, Panoramic View

Bled, Slovenia
2009

the sender writes:
Bled is a town in North-West Slovenia, located in the Beautiful Julian Alps (named after Julius Ceasar).  It is famous for its periglacial Lake Bled, which makes it a major tourist attraction.  Impressing millions with its simplicity, Lake Bled Island remains Slovenia's only natural island and one of the most beautiful places in Europe.  It's a very picturesque tree covered island with a small church in the middle - The Church of St. Mary (Sv. Marija).  There are exactly 99 stairs leading to it from the shore.  In the church, which foundations date from the 8th century, you can see a small archeological display about the island.  There's also a wishing bell that visitors are encouraged to toll for good luck and which is one of the most romantic places to get married.  Especially if a swan boat takes you there.  You will also find an excellent restaurant on the island, souvenir shop, ice cream shop and as the local customs say, The groom has to carry the bride up the 99 stairs in order to have a happy marriage.  There is also an old iconic Bled Castle overlooking the lake.  The oldest records date from 1009, which makes it one of the oldest in Slovenia.

Slovenia - Predjamski Grad, Castle

Predjamski Grad
Slovenija

Foto: Arne Hodalic
2014

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Predjama Castle is a Renaissance castle built within a cave mouth in the village of Predjam, Slovenia.

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The legend of Erazem of Predjama

The castle became known as the seat of Knight Erazem Lueger (or Luegger), owner of the castle in the 15th century and a renowned robber baron. He was the son of the Imperial Governor of Trieste, Nikolaj Lueger. According to legend, Erazem came into conflict with the Habsburg establishment, when he killed the commander of the Imperial army Marshall Pappencheim, who had offended the honour of Erazem's deceased friend, Andrej Baumkircher of Vipava. Fleeing from the revenge of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III, Erazem settled in the family fortress of Predjama. He allied himself with the Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus and began to attack Habsburg estates and towns in Carniola. Thus enraged, the Austrian leader commissioned the governor of Trieste, Andrej Ravbar, to capture and kill Erazem. This is when the impregnability of Predjama Castle was tested.

For a year and a day, Erazem was besieged in his fortress. But to the dismay of his adversaries, he continued to survive and taunt the attacking soldiers by pelting them with cherries. They could not understand how he was obtaining supplies. As far as they knew, there was only one way in and out of both the valley and castle; but the Erazem knew better. Unbeknownst to the soldiers, Erazem knew of a secret tunnel leading from the castle, which allowed him to travel to the nearby village of Vipava and collect supplies, including hoards of fresh cherries when in season.

But it seemed that the soldiers were to have the last laugh. With the strategic placement of a small signal flag, a servant of Erazem was bribed to reveal when his master was in attendance at that place where the elusive knight and even the noblest of men needed to go after consuming lots of cherries and wine: the outhouse. Unfortunately for Erazem, the toilet, situated on the top floor and at the very edge of the castle, was the one place that was not impregnable. When the moment came, the flag was placed there by the treacherous servant. A single cannonball was launched, and Erazem was literally caught with his trousers down.

Slovenia - Krsko

Krsko, Slovenia
2010

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Krško is a town and municipality in eastern Slovenia. The town lies on the river Sava.

Slovenia's only nuclear power plant, the Krško Nuclear Power Plant lies to the southeast of the town.

Slovenia - Ljubljana, Capitol City and Castle

Ljubljana, Slovenija

Pogled na Ljublianski grad
A view of the Ljubljana Castle

Foto: Marko Pintaric
2011

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According to archeological surveys, the area of the present castle has been settled continuously since 1200 BC, when the first settlements and later fortifications were built.

The oldest mention of the Ljubljana Castle is inscribed on a parchment sheet Nomina defunctorum (names of the dead), which is kept by the Udine Cathedral Archive. It dates from 1112 till 1125.

In 1335, it became property of the House of Habsburg. In 15th century, it was almost completely demolished and rebuilt with a complete wall and towers at the entrance, where a drawbridge was placed. A chapel was also built at that time. In the 16th and 17th centuries, other objects were gradually built.

Because it was not a home of a ruler or another important noble person and because a fortification in the area was no longer required, the castle started to lose its importance. The maintenance costs were too high so the castle began to crumble. In the 19th century, the castle was redesigned partially as a prison and partially as a military stronghold, making it less popular among the citizens.

In 1905, the castle was bought by the Ljubljana Municipality, on the explicit wish of the mayor Ivan Hribar, who planned to establish a City Museum in it. The plan was however not carried out. Instead, the city decided to settle poor families into it. The residents stayed there until the mid-1960s, when preparations for renovation of the castle began.

At the end of the 1960s, the long and extensive renovation works started. The whole renovation took more than 35 years. In the 1990s, the use of the castle as a place for weddings and cultural events began.

Slovenia - Multiview, Ljubljiana, Bled, Kostanjevica, triglav, Soca, Piran

Slovenija (Slovenia)

Ljubljana - (capital and largest city of Slovenia)
Bled - (town within the Julian Alps and by Lake Bled, a popular tourist destination)
Kostanjevica - (a town completely surrounded by water)
Triglav - (highest mountain in Slovenia and the highest peak of the Julian Alps)
Soca - (a river that starts in the Alps of Slovenia and ends in the Adriatic Sea in Italy)
and
Piran - (one of the major towns of Slovenia with a lot of medieval architecture)
2013

Slovenia - Kamnik

Kamnik, Slovenia

The old part of town

Photo: Bogdan Kladnik
2012

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Kamnik is a town in northern Slovenia.  It encompasses a large part of the Kamnik Alps and the surrounding area. The town of Kamnik has ruins of two castles as well as many examples of historical architecture.

Slovenia - Obcina (Municipality of) Prevalje, Koroska

Prevalje, Leski cerkvi (Sv. Ana in Sv. Volbenk), Stoparjev most, Sentanel
Izdala in Zalozila: Obcina Prevalje
Fotografija: Tomo Jesenicnik

Prevalje, shine church (St. Mary and St.. Volbank), hitchhikers bridge Šentanel
Published by the Municipality Prevalje,
Photo: Tomo Jeseničnik
2011