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Slovenia is the first country in the world to be declared\u00a0a green destination<\/strong>\u00a0based on the Green Destinations Criteria. Situated in the heart of Europe, Slovenia is a boutique country between\u00a0the Alps<\/strong>,\u00a0Mediterranean Sea<\/strong>, mysterious\u00a0Karst<\/strong>\u00a0with more than 11,000 karst caves and\u00a0Pannonian Plain<\/strong>, rich with springs of healthy water. Ljubljana the capital of Slovenia was awarded the\u00a0European\u00a0Green Capital\u00a02016<\/strong> title. Welcome to Slovenia, the only country with the word LOVE in its name!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n With its emerald-green lake, picture-postcard church on an islet, a medieval castle clinging to a rocky cliff and some of the highest peaks of the Julian Alps and the Karavanke as backdrops, Bled is Slovenia<\/a>‘s most popular resort, drawing everyone from people just looking for relaxation in a quiet and green environment to backpackers, who come for the hiking, biking, water sports and canyoning possibilities. Bled also offers favourable opportunities for business meetings and congresses.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bled\u2019s glacial-formed lake is 2,120\u00a0m long and 1,380\u00a0m wide, with a maximum depth of 29.5\u00a0m. There is a 6.2 km long footpath encircling the lake. You can walk, bike or take a horse-carriage around the lake.<\/p>\n There are thermal springs in the north-eastern part of the lake, which now supply the swimming pools of Bled\u2019s hotels (Grand Hotel Toplice, Park and Golf hotels.)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The island on Lake Bled may be small, but there are many legends surrounding it. There\u2019s the Church of the Assumption<\/strong> and a small museum<\/strong>, but the real thrill is the ride out by wooden boat – pletna<\/strong><\/em>.<\/strong> These boats are operated by standing rowers known as pletnars. The pletna<\/em> will set you down on the south side at the monumental South Staircase<\/strong> (Ju\u017eno Stopni\u0161\u010de), built in 1655. The staircase comprises 99 steps \u2013 a local tradition is for the husband to carry his new bride up them. The island church is famous for its wishing bell, <\/strong>often rung by newlyweds and ordinary visitors alike. Legend has it that this will make your wishes come true.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Perched atop a steep cliff more than 100m above the lake, Bled Castle<\/strong> is how most people imagine a medieval fortress to be, with towers, ramparts, moats and a terrace offering magnificent views. It is the oldest castle in Slovenia. The castle houses the castle print house, gallery of herbs, castle winery, a museum collection that traces the lake\u2019s history from its earliest times to the development of Bled as a resort in the 19th century, when Bled was mostly visited by hydrotherapy enthusiasts following the methods of the Swiss physician Arnold Rikli.<\/p>\n If you are in good physical condition you can reach the castle on foot via one of three trails sign-posted ‘Grad’.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The unique Vila Bled<\/strong> is in a majestic park right on the shore of Lake Bled. Its setting outside the centre of Bled ensures privacy for the most noteworthy events. The villa was constructed in 1947 on the site of a former royal summer home and subsequently served for decades as one of President Tito\u2019s residences before being turned into a boutique 1950s-style hotel.<\/p>\n More about Bled: https:\/\/www.slovenia.info\/en\/places-to-go\/attractions\/bled<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Departure (by bus): Hotel Golf, Bled at 14.00, Sunday 28th<\/sup> May 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n Price: 65 EUR. The price includes: guided tour <\/em>of Tito\u2019s villa, transfer by pletna-boats to the <\/em>island, entrance ticket to Bled castle, guided tour <\/em>through<\/em> the castle museum with reception drink and a light dinner.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Departure (by bus): Hotel Golf, Bled at 16.00 and at 17.00, Sunday 28th<\/sup>May 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n Price: 45 EUR. The price includes: entrance ticket to the castle, guided tour <\/em>through<\/em> the castle museum with reception drink and a light dinner.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0 Price: 90 EUR. The price includes: guided tour <\/em>through<\/em> the old and new town of Sevnica, Sevnica Castle and <\/em>Lutheran cellar<\/em>, welcome coffee and typical home made apple cakes, lunch, wine tasting and a guided tour of the <\/em>Open-air museum of Hayracks<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Sevnica<\/strong> is a town in the southeast of Slovenia in the\u00a0Posavje region<\/strong> which is one of the main fruit and wine growing\u00a0regions<\/strong> in Slovenia, and has\u00a0numerous beautiful castles and churches and other sights of interest. The new town of Sevnica was developed with the building of\u00a0the railway line and is the main residential, industrial and shopping area.<\/p>\n The town\u2019s star attraction\u00a0is undoubtedly Sevnica Castle (built probably in the 12th<\/sup> century and later rebuilt)<\/strong>, set on top of a small hill above the old town centre<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The tour of the castle contains\u00a0much of interest including the Castle Puppet Theatre<\/strong>, Baroque Salon, School Museum<\/strong>, Fire-fighting Museum, the Exile Museum and several galleries and exhibitions<\/strong>, Wine Cellar, <\/strong>Castle granary and the Castle Caf\u00e9<\/strong>, the terraces of which offer fabulous views.<\/p>\n Sevnica Castle and Lutheran Cellar<\/p>\n The view from the castle to Sevnica town and the Sava river<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Lutheran cellar<\/strong> from the 16th century located near the castle Sevnica is one of the most beautiful Renaissance art monuments in Slovenia, possessing beautiful paintings and exceptional acoustics. The name and history of the building are connected to the times of the Reformation and remind us of the men who established the Slovenian language in the 16th century in its written form for the first time and gave the nation its earliest literary works: the first Slovenian book (Primo\u017e Trubar, 1550), and the first Slovenian grammar (Adam Bohori\u010d, 1584) and the first translation of the Bible in the Slovenian language (Jurij Dalmatin, 1584).\u00a0 It was quite probable that Jurij Dalmatin, a native of Kr\u0161ko (the town near Sevnica) occasionally visited the Lutheran Cellar.<\/p>\n Sevnica is the hometown of Melania Trump (born Melanija Knavs) the First Lady of the United States<\/a>.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nAbout Bled<\/h4>\n

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\n <\/p>\nPreconference visit of Bled<\/h5>\n
\n <\/p>\nPreconference visit of Bled Castle<\/h5>\n
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\n <\/p>\nPost-conference one- day tour to Sevnica and its surroundings<\/h5>\n
\nDeparture (by bus): Hotel Golf, Bled at 8.00, Wednesday 31st<\/sup> May 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n
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