The Slovene lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the latter’s dissolution at the end of World War I. In 1918, the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new multinational state, which was named Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II, Slovenia became a republic of the renewed Yugoslavia, which though communist, distanced itself from Moscow’s rule. Dissatisfied with the exercise of power by the majority Serbs, the Slovenes succeeded in establishing their independence in 1991 after a short 10-day war. Historical ties to Western Europe, a strong economy, and a stable democracy have assisted in Slovenia’s transformation to a modern state. Slovenia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004; it joined the euro zone and the Schengen zone in 2007.

Bled Bled Castle Lake Bled Vintgar Gorge Bophinjsko Jezero Vogel Ski Center Celji Divaca Škocjan Caves Julian Alps  Kobarid Kobarid Muaeum Kojak Waterfalls Koper Kranjska Gora Lake Jasna Vrsic Ljuljana Castle Old Town Preseren Square Logarska Dolina Maribor Piran Tartini Square Town Walls Postojna Postojna Cave Predjama Castle Ptuj Soča Tomlin Tomlin Gorge Triglav National Park