History

Koper – The port of Koper is celebrating today its 60th anniversary, as its predecessor, Pristanišče Koper, was established on 23 May 1957. It has since become a major port in the Adriatic and a point of entry for landlocked Central European markets. Following the establishment in May 1957, the port of Koper welcomed its first ocean-going cargo ship a ...

Even though he lived in the 19th century, Janez Bleiweis was a true Renaissance Man. Highly educated, he left a lasting mark as a physician, journalist, and a politician. He founded an influential political newspaper, and helped to bring a sense of Slovenian national consciousness to his readers. Bleiweis was born into a privileged family in 1808. Because of his ...

Only an occasional bridge and several old buildings serve as a reminder of a railroad that once made its way through the Upper Sava Valley. For decades, the rail link brought life to this part of northwestern Slovenia – until a controversial decision led to its abolishment. The railroad once connected Ljubljana with the town of Tarvisio, now a part ...

During the renovation of Jama Hotel, a door was discovered for which no one knew where it led. Since the owners had no keys, they broke in and found a wiretapping nest set up by secret services. Behind the door, the renovators found five rooms that had not been drawn on any of the existing construction plans and officially don’t ...

A story about a goat trail written by the Slovenian author Josip Jurčič in 1867 still serves as a barbed commentary on interpersonal relations and the absurdities of everyday life. The tale is set in the small town of Višnja Gora in Slovenia’s Dolenjska (Lower Carniola) region. It begins when a goat belonging to a peasant boy named Lukež Drnulja ...

The Slovenian Museum and Archives (6407 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland) had an exhibit of the historical masks of Slovenian Mardi Gras. For centuries, masks have been used throughout Slovenia in the celebration of Mardi Gras — the Kurent is the most well known Slovenian mask in Cleveland, but in fact, there are several others which are all highly unique and ...

In the late 1980s, the Slovenian Spring was in full bloom. It was a time of a renewed national consciousness and ever-louder calls for human rights. During this period, one symbol soon took the country by storm: The linden leaf became a proud emblem of Slovenian national aspirations as Yugoslavia and Communism began to crumble. The appearance of the linden ...

Visitors who come to admire the Church of the Holy Trinity in the southwestern Slovenian village of Hrastovlje tend to focus on the magnificent Dance of the Dead fresco, which shows people from all walks of life being led to their deaths by skeletons. Some, however, may notice an inscription in an unusual script. The writing is in the Glagolitic ...

Slovenian history is rich with remarkable individuals, many of whom made lasting contributions in the fields of medicine, music, and politics. One family, however, stands out with its remarkable legacy; its members had a profound impact on the practice of medicine in the Slovenian Lands, composed songs that are still recognized today, and helped to awaken Slovenian national consciousness. The ...

These days, Tolmin is a quiet, almost sleepy town in the foothills of Slovenia’s Julian Alps. In the early 18th century, however, it was the site of a peasant revolt that left an impact far beyond the town itself. The rebellion began when the local authorities introduced new taxes on meat and wine. The local farmers already had trouble making ...