Tag Archives: radovljica

Babji zob …

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, Camping Šobec, hiking in Slovenia, ifeelsLOVEnia, Jelovica, Julian Alps, Karavanke mountains, Lesce, Radol'ca, Radovljica, Slovenia blog, Tourism Radol'ca, Triglav National Park, Visit Radol'ca by

After a dismal week of rain, cold temperatures and even fresh snow in the higher Alpine valleys, we woke up yesterday to glorious – albeit rather chilly – morning. Naturally, there was only one thing to do: head out into the hills and make the most of it.

As we generally prefer to hike ‘from the door‘ whenever possible, this time we chose a route to Babji zob – a distinctive tooth-shaped rock formation that rises dramatically above the western edge of the Jelovica Plateau.

Our route was mostly circular and came to around 31 km in total, although there are numerous ways to shorten the hike depending on your starting point and whether you have transport available.

Our route:
Lesce – Šobec Camp – Bodešče – alongside the Sava River to Selo pri Bledu – Kupljenik – Babji zob – Tolsti vrh – Talež – Bodešče – Šobec Camp – Lesce.

For those based in Radovljica, it’s also possible to approach via the trail from Talež, which I wrote about in a previous blog post here. The route is marked — albeit very sparsely — with small red-and-white boot symbols painted on trees. You definitely need to keep your wits about you to spot the markers, especially in woodland sections, and if you’re unfamiliar with the terrain I’d strongly recommend using a GPS track.

A considerably shorter option would be to drive to Kupljenik and start from there, although that generally means doing the route as an out-and-back walk rather than a circular one. The first section of our hike was fairly gentle, following woodland paths and tracks past Šobec Camp before continuing  alongside the Sava River. As soon as we started walking up towards Kupljenik the views, as you will see, were stunning.

Once on the main, marked path to Babji zob, the climb begins properly, steadily gaining height through forest towards the ridge. Once you reach the ridge, the reward is immediate. The views suddenly open up across the Radovljica Plains, towards Lake Bled and across the Karavanke Mountains.

And then comes the highlight: Babji zob itself. Perched dramatically above the steep slopes below, this striking rocky outcrop has long been one of the most recognisable viewpoints on Jelovica. The name literally means ‘Old Woman’s Tooth’ — a reference to the jagged shape of the rock formation.

The views from Babji zob are spectacular in a completely different direction: across to Bohinjska Bela, the winding road towards Bohinjska Bistrica, and the magnificent peaks of the Julian Alps and Triglav National Park.

From Babji zob we continued towards Tolsti vrh before descending via Talež. By this point, it felt almost spring-like despite the fresh snow still visible high in the mountains.

If it’s open, I recommend stopping off at Lovska koča na Taležu hut, which is open daily throughout the summer season and at weekends during the rest of the year. It’s a perfect place to get a drink and a bowl of something filling while soaking up the views over the valley below.

All in all, this turned out to be one of those classic Gorenjska hiking days: cold morning air, crystal-clear visibility, quiet forest trails and mountain views that make every kilometre worthwhile.

How lucky I am to live where I do!

© Adele in Slovenia

Life in Lesce

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, Camping in Slovenia, Camping Šobec, Festival čokolade Radovjlica, golf in Slovenia, ifeelsLOVEnia, Julian Alps, Karavanke mountains, Radovljica, Radovljica Chocolate Festival, Slovenia blog, Tourism Radol'ca, Visit Radol'ca by

As regular readers of my blog will know, I moved to Radovljica back in 2007, and have called it home ever since – well, almost. Last November, we made the (not exactly dramatic) move from Radovljica to Lesce. The towns are essentially neighbours – practically one and the same place if you ask me (although I’m fairly sure some locals would strongly disagree!) – and both fall under of the Municipality of Radovljica.

So, why the move? Quite simply, we needed a little more space. My previous flat had served us well, but it was starting to feel like it was bursting at the seams. I must admit that I was initially adamant about wanting to remain in Radovljica. But after a long, complicated – and at times rather stressful –  house hunt, with a few hiccups along the way, reality set in. There just wasn’t much on the market and what there was came with eye-watering price tags. In the end, we widened our search ever so slightly, and, fortunately, didn’t have to go far to find what we were looking for.

Lesce sits conveniently between Radovljica and Bled, and is very well served by public transport. The Lesce/Bled railway and bus stations are centrally located, with each access to the Gorenjska motorway. It’s also an ideal base for lovers of the great outdoors – whether gentle strolls, longer walks, cycling, running and heading a little further afield for hikes in the Karavanke mountains and the Julian Alps.

Lesce

That said, I do miss Radovljica’s picturesque old town. Thankfully, it’s only a stone’s throw away – and since I still work there, I can easily get my regular ‘fix’.

Lately, one of my favourite afternoon walks has been along the edge of the Royal Bled Golf Course. The trail starts within a few minutes from the Lesce/Bled railway station, which makes it ideal for those reliant on public transport. Within minutes, you leave the town behind and find yourself surrounded by greenery with magnificent views of the surrounding mountains. Straight ahead rises Mt. Golica, to the left stretches the Jelovica Plateau, and to the right stands Mt. Stol – the highest peak in the Karavanke range.

If you’re after a shorter walk, you can simply follow the trail as far as the golf course fence, then turn left to create a pleasant circular route.

For something longer, or if you fancy turning it into more of a day out, you can continue along the path as it climbs gently before levelling out again.

At the next junction, you have the option to head towards Vrba. A quick note here: the signpost is misleading (it points across the railway line), but the correct route continues straight on, parallel to the tracks, with no need to risk your life crossing the railway line.

At this point, an alternative would be to turn left and follow the road through the golf course, sticking strictly to the road so as not to veer off onto the golf course itself. However, this option means either returning the same way or a rather long walk down a road, which, although not busy, joins the busy main Lesce–Bled road, from where you follow the cycle path back to Lesce.

Vrba may be small, but it’s culturally significant as the birthplace of France Prešeren, Slovenia’s greatest poet. His birth house has been preserved as a museum and is well worth a visit.

For a short stretch, the path runs alongside the motorway – which does mean a bit of noise – but it soon veers away again as you approach Vrba.

By this point, you will have covered a fair distance, so rather than turning back, you could continue to Žirovnica, which has numerous cultural and natural attractions. From there, it’s easy to catch a train or bus back to Lesce/Bled.

Another popular walk in the area is around the award-winning Camp Šobec, which I wrote about previously here https://adeleinslovenia.com/category/sobec-camp/: 

Before I end, I can’t but mention the forthcoming Radovljica Chocolate Festival, which will take place this year for the 12th time. It is by far the biggest chocolate festival of its kind in Slovenia and attracts visitors in their tens of thousands every year. More about this year’s festival coming soon!

© Adele in Slovenia

Let the Festive Season Begin!

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, Christmas in Slovenia, coeliac disease, EXPO, gluten free food in Slovenia, Gluten-Free Expo Slovenia, Gluten-Free Expo Slovenija, gluten-free food in Slovenia, ifeelsLOVEnia, Okusi Radol'ce, Radol'ca, Radovljica, Slovenia, Slovenia blog, Taste Radol'ca, Tourism Radol'ca, Visit Radol'ca by

During my morning runs through Linhart Square over the past couple of weeks since returning to the Radovljica area, I was able to see the Christmas tree steadily taking shape as well as the gradual adorning of the square with various natural decorations and festive lights.

A festively-decorated window at Hiša Linhart restaurant with rooms in Linhart Square, Radovljica

All of which was the build-up to the switching on of the festive lights, which took place last weekend. As ever, locals, as well as visitors from further afield, came out in their thousands to marvel at the decorations, soak up the festive atmosphere, enjoy some mulled wine and some tasty local food cooked by some of the Taste Radol’ca restaurants.

Festive decorations in Linhart Square, Radovljica

Switching on of the festive lights in Linhart Square, Radovljica

Of course, it’s not just Radovljica that has adorned its festive appearance, but also many other cities, towns and villages throughout Slovenia. Some of the most notable are Ljubljana, as well as Celje, Koper, Kranjska Gora and Maribor. And since Slovenia is small, everywhere is within a few hours’ drive, so you can easily visit numerous towns and cities to soak up the festive atmosphere, visit Christmas markets, etc.

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Christmas lights in the square by the Triple Bridge in Ljubljana

After the big switch on, comes the visit of the first of the ‘Three Good Men’ – St. Nicholas (the other two being Father Christmas and Grandfather Frost). St. Nicholas (Dedek mraz in Slovene) is a legendary figure similar to Father Christmas, whose roots are in Slavic mythology. He, like Father Christmas, arrives in towns and villages, and, together with his helpers, brings presents to children who have been good.

St. Nicholas (dedek mraz)

One of St. Nicholas’s helpers in Linhart Square

St. Nicholas is celebrated on 6th December, which this year falls on a Saturday – an ideal day to visit the monthly Radol’ca farmers and craft market in Linhart Square (open from 10 a.m. to 12 noon), then later you can watch the arrival of Saint Nicholas (at 5 p.m.), followed by a street show by the Cizamo Theatre, titled Snežko smeško (The Funny Snowman).

On Saturday 20th December, a special Festive Family Day will take place in Linhart Square, featuring creative workshops, fairy tale horses, a Čupakabra circus show and live music, along with a full-day ARTish fair and Taste Radol’ca street food.

A series of Street Shows will take place throughout December, including on Christmas Day and Boxing Day (26th December). It has become quite a tradition when my family visit from the UK to go for a stroll to the old town centre and watch one, or more, of the shows.

Of course, there’s plenty more going on too, so click here for the full calendar of events this December in Radol’ca.

With this being my last post of this year, it’s time for a bit of reflection. It’s certainly been a busy year, what with moving (twice!), starting a new job (twice!), getting married (just once!), organising Gluten-Free Expo Slovenia, setting up Gluten-Free Hub EU, and plenty more in between.

So, here’s to 2026. Happy Christmas and Happy New Year to all readers from near and far. I hope you continue to follow me on my ‘journey’ next year too!

© Adele in Slovenia

Open Day at the Dolenc Farm

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, gluten-free food in Slovenia, ifeelsLOVEnia, Okusi Radol'ce, Radol'ca, Radovljica, Slovenia blog, Taste Radol'ca, Visit Radol'ca by

As we are well into autumn now, it’s time for Culinary Autumn in Radol’ca. This year’s timetable of tasty events is more jam-packed than ever. From lunch at a farm, various open days and guided bike trips to an opening dinner, the Month of Local Cuisine and a closing event.

As I am somewhat limited as to what events I can join in, due to being a coeliac, when browsing the list of events I decided I would start by going to the open day at the Dolenc Farm (Kmetija Dolenc). Located in Vrbnje, in close proximity to Radovljica, I must have run past the farm at least several hundred, if not thousand, times since living in Radovljica, but have never taken the time to stop and see how it operates and what it offers.

To reach the farm from Radovljica, simply pass under the motorway (near Spar), turn immediately right then the farm is on your left – you can’t miss it!

I must say, the visit to the open-day was a real eye-opener. I knew farming was hard graft, what I wasn’t aware of is how much automation and technology is changing the farming industry too. Despite this, at the Dolenc Farm, the owners know every cow by name and are clearly passionate about what they do. It is one of the largest and most modern farms in the area.

Below are just a few of the interesting facts I learnt during my visit.

Each cow has a collar that transmits information, such as how much it has eaten and drunk, how long it has grazed, chewed the cud, etc. This information is relayed direct to the farmer, who, in the event that something isn’t as it should be, can react almost immediately to rectify the situation.

A robot pushes the fodder from the store to the feed area, and also clears the excrement.

Cows prefer the cold to the heat, hence the farm has fans to keep them cool, even when the temperature outdoors is below zero.

A lot of hay is used!

Calves are kept in special nursery pens, and at first sometime need a bit of help and encouragement to start suckling.

The quality of the milk at the Dolenc Farm is five times better than the average best; most of it goes to Italy for sale. A sad sign of the times and reflection of the state of farming and price cutting policies among governments, major shopping chains, etc.

Fresh milk is available from a vending machine.

Work at the farm is a real family affair, with father and son looking after the livestock, and mother and daughter-in-law taking care of the retail side of things as well as providing tastings for visitors.

Fortunately for me, or rather us, gluten isn’t used anywhere throughout the farm, except in one kind of yoghurt that contains chocolate cereal, hence we were both able to try all the other delicious yoghurts and cheeses.

And, of course, we couldn’t leave without buying some of the tasty yoghurts and cheese to take home. The farm previously had a small shop, however, nowadays visitors can purchase products 24/7 from the vending machine.

As I mentioned at the start, this is just one of many events taking place from now until the start of December in the Radol’ca are. Among the others are:

Wishing you a delicious culinary autumn, wherever you are and whatever tickles your taste buds! Until next time…

© Adele in Slovenia

A Gluten-Free, Jam-Packed Weekend Ahead!

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, Begunje na Gorenjskem, EXPO, gluten free food in Slovenia, Gluten-Free Expo Slovenia, Gluten-Free Expo Slovenija, gluten-free food in Slovenia, hiking trails, ifeelsLOVEnia, Radol'ca, Radovljica, Slovensko društvo za celiakijo, Theme paths, Tourism Radol'ca, Visit Radol'ca by

For the last three years, September has been by far the busiest month of the year, and this year is no exception. Why you may ask? Well because, for all my sins, I’m the initiator and organiser of Gluten-Free Expo Slovenia – the biggest gluten-free event in the country, and possibly currently also in the region.

It began in 2023 as a festival, then was last year upgraded to an Expo, which, of course, means even more work for me. I suppose some might say I’ve only got myself to blame, but, as a coeliac myself, I somehow found myself wanting to help by providing an event for fellow coeliacs, as well as those with an intolerance to gluten and foodies in general. Why the latter? Because these days, gluten-free food has come a long way and, with the exception of a few ready packaged products, you often wouldn’t even know its gluten free, and that is certainly the case with all the delicious, fresh food on offer at Gluten-Free Expo Slovenia!

Of course, the fact its held in Radovljica, my favourite town in Slovenia, is an added bonus!

This year’s Expo begins on Saturday 27th September with an Algerian cookery workshop, followed by a special Farmer’s Feast lunch at Lincer in Lesce.

Then, in the evening, treat yourself to a really unique Two Chefs’ Dinner at Hiša Linhart, cooked by Michelin-starred chef Uroš Štefelin and Janez Repolusk, himself a coeliac, from Gostilna Repolusk in Slovenia’s Koroška (Carinthia) region.

No photo description available.

In between, there will be enough time to visit Kamen Castle in Begunje na Gorenjskem, where, as part of the Pranger Festival of Poetry, Criticism, Translation and Reading, you can enjoy the ambience of poetry reading (albeit in Maltese, but it’s about expression rather than understanding) and accordion music, amid the scenic backdrop of the castle ruins. Or if that doesn’t appeal, work up an appetite by making the short hike on the St. Peter’s Trail up to St. Peter’s Church above the village or take one of the theme trails in the area.

Also as part of the Pranger Festival, an art market will take place in Linhart Square in Radovljica from 10 a.m. on Saturday 27th September.

More about the Pranger Festival here (in Slovene): https://www.radolca.si/sl/koledar-prireditev/festival-pranger and in English: https://pranger.si/en/

Sunday 28th September is the main day of Gluten-Free Expo Slovenia, when there will be over 25 stalls in Linhart Square – the heart of Radovljica’s old town – where you can try and buy a whole range of food, gluten-free of course, though you won’t know it!

In addition, there will be a series of cookery demonstrations and talks (English translation will be available for the latter), a magician, live music and more.

For more information and to make bookings for any of the workshops, talks or lunches/dinners, get in touch by sending an email to glutenfreeexposlo@gmail.com

Here’s a glimpse into last year’s Expo.

Please do come along to say ‘Hi’ and to support me/us in our endeavours to put Slovenia on the gluten-free map of the world!

© Adele in Slovenia

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Renovated Shepherds’ Trail

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, Begunje na Gorenjskem, Hiking, hiking in Slovenia, hiking trails, ifeelsLOVEnia, Jelovica, Karavanke mountains, Radol'ca, Radovljica, Slovenia blog, Slovenian mountain huts, Tourism Radol'ca, Triglav National Park, Visit Radol'ca by

The Begunje Shepherds’ Trail (Pastirska pot) is one of my favourite of all the hiking trails in the Radol’ca area. The variety of the terrain, the stunning views, and the fact that it is entirely circular all add up to one great hike!

Unfortunately, during the major floods that affected large parts of Slovenia in August 2023, the trail sustained significant damage and was closed for around a year. It reopened in 2024, though the lower part of the trail in particular was almost unrecognisable. Since then, significant work has taken place and I’m pleased to be able to say that the trail is now better than ever.

The trail begins at the head of the Draga Valley in Begunje na Gorenjskem, where you can park and set off on foot on the 10.2km trail. You will soon see a red sign to Preval, where you cross the stream and from then on follow the usual red and white circular trail markers. You soon reach one of the new bridges.

The trail then begins to lead up through the forest, passing a cascade of the stream.

Now comes the hardest part of the trail, though following the floods it is actually better equipped than previously, with steel rope and rungs, so isn’t that difficult providing you have good footwear and are reasonably agile.

I wouldn’t recommend doing this hike after heavy rain, as the next part involves crossing the stream in several places, which is perfectly doable when water levels are low.

After cross the streaming one last time, you reach a rest area with a bench.

Next you reach a giant fir tree, so giant, in fact, there was no way or being able to photograph it from within the confines of the trail, so you’ll just have to visit and see it for yourself! The statistics on the signpost below give the facts and figures: circumference 347 cm, diameter 110 cm, quantity of wood 12.5 m3, height 35 metres.

After about an hour and 15 minutes of hiking, you emerge onto a mountain pasture, home to the Koča na Prevalu mountain hut, where you can quench your thirst and/or enjoy a hearty pasture-style meal. This is one of first of four mountain huts that you pass on this trail – note: the huts are open daily during summer, but out of season some are closed whilst others open at weekends only. You can find out here what’s available to eat on Radovljica’s mountain pastures.

Now follow the forest road to the left for about 10 minutes, then take the path branches off to the right and begins to climb up again on the path marked as ‘čez Roža’. You are soon rewarded with wonderful views of the Radovljica Plains, the Jelovica plateau, Lake Bled, and the Julian Alps with Triglav National Park.

The scenic path is level in places, with a few ups and downs and a few gullies to cross. Shortly before the end of the čez Roža trail, you reach an abandoned manganese mine shaft with an information board, which, at the time of writing (July 2025), was looking at bit worse for wear.

Just a few minutes after passing the mine shaft, the trail joins the main trail that leads from the valley up to the Roblekov dom mountain hut and on to Mt. Begunščica or you could follow the trail back down to the valley, thus completing the circular route.

I’d like to end this blog by saying a big ‘Thank you’ to all those of you who read my last blog and sent such lovely messages of congratulations.

Until next time…

© Adele in Slovenia

 

Our Romantic Radovljica Wedding!

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, Begunje na Gorenjskem, gluten free food in Slovenia, ifeelsLOVEnia, Okusi Radol'ce, Radol'ca, Radovljica, Slovenia blog, Taste Radol'ca, Tourism Radol'ca, Weddings in Slovenia by

Yes, you did read the title correctly! After 18 years in Slovenia, last year I finally found ‘Mr Right’, or rather we found each other. One thing led to another and we tied the knot last Saturday, 21st June, where else but in Radovljica.

Following the proposal, there was no doubt in my mind that we would get married in Radovljica – the town that I have called ‘home’ for the past 18 years since moving from the UK to Slovenia in 2007.

My dad, about to give me away!

So, we set about the planning, which, fortunately was relatively easy. Well, as relatively easy as planning a wedding can be, involving guests from 4 different countries!

Of course, in addition to the usual wedding arrangements, with both of us having coeliac disease, as well as several of the guests, the next question that arose during the planning stage was where to hold the reception; it had to be somewhere where I knew I could trust and rely on the staff to ensure the food served was 100% gluten-free with no risk of contamination. The fall out (literally!) of many guests, including the bride and groom, being contaminated with gluten doesn’t even bear thinking about.

Fortunately, I already knew where I wanted to hold the reception and following a quick phone call, it was settled. The venue would be Gostišče Draga in the Draga Valley in Begunje na Gorenjskem.

As there were guests from various countries, our aim – apart from having a wonderful day ourselves – was for it to be as relaxed and informal as possible, and for people to mingle. Therefore, we arranged a pre-wedding event, with drinks and nibbles, at Gostilna Avguštin in the heart of Radovljica’s old town centre – Linhart Square.

After a quick change to clothing for me, we then went a few doors along for the ceremony, which was held in Šivec House, which houses a gallery on the ground floor and a small wedding hall upstairs.

Waiting for the bride to arrive!

Anton looking very happy and excited! To my left is my brother.

Throwing confetti is not allowed in Linhart Square, but thankfully one of the guests had taken care of that and brought rose petals from her garden.

On the way to the restaurant in the Draga Valley, we stopped at Kamen Castle for a few photos.

We were all pretty hungry by the time we reached the restaurant, so were glad of the delicious homemade mushroom soup, and vegetable soup, that awaited us upon arrival.

All the food was so delicious that had we not let on, I’m sure none of the guests would have known it was gluten-free. Gostišče Draga is a member of the Taste Radol’ca collaboration. The photos don’t really do it justice, but, trust me, it was delicious, and we even had gluten-free štruklji and Wiener schnitzel, which was a real treat for us coeliacs among the wedding guests! We’d like to extend a huge thank you to owner and chef Ales Tavčar and his team at Gostščce Draga.

We didn’t opt for a tradition wedding cake but instead a selection of desserts, ordered from Italy via Kotiček dobrot in Kranj; all gluten-free of course, and equally delicious.

To continue the theme of mingling, we had come up with a couple of games for wedding guests, which went down a treat and meant everyone – regardless of their nationality – was able to join in. And finally, as the evening was coming to a close, the obligatory group photo!

So, as you can see from the above, and speaking from experience, Radovljica really is the perfect place for a wedding! For a larger and grander wedding, Radovljica Manor is the perfect choice. More information about weddings in Radovljica click here.

© Adele in Slovenia

The 12th Radovljica Chocolate Festival + Easter in Slovenia

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, Festivals in Slovenia, ifeelsLOVEnia, Radol'ca, Radovljica, Radovljica Chocolate Festival, Slovenia blog, Slovenian chocolate, Slovenian railways, Tourism Radol'ca, Visit Radol'ca by

It’s amazing how time flies. It only seems like it was a few years ago that the first Radovljica Chocolate Festival took place, yet next weekend – 12th and 13th April 2025 – it’ll be the 12th festival already.

Although, of course, the main theme of the festival is chocolate, the packed entertainment programme means there’s something for all the family, even those (strange people :-)) who don’t like chocolate!

I went to the festival press conference last week to find out all about what’s new at this year’s festival, including:

  • A total of 22 chocolatiers, of which two are from Austria, one from Hungary and one from Croatia and the remainder from Slovenia.
  • Visitors are encouraged to travel to the festival by public transport, and an agreement has been reached with Slovenian Railways that over the 2-day festival, international trains will also stop at Radovljica.
  • This year, for the first time, the Slovenian Beekeeping Association has become a partner, through the ‘It’s from Europe‘ programme and will set up a special ‘theme park’ in Linhart Square in front of St. Peter’s church.

  • This year, for the first time, the Slovenian Beekeeping Association has become a partner of the Radovjlica Chocolate Festival, through the ‘It’s from Europe‘ programme. The partnership has resulted in a new culinary souvenir named ‘Eat the chocolate and plant the wrapper‘. The chocolate bar is filled with certified Slovenian honey, while the wrapper is made from biodegradable paper that contains the seeds of honey plants; after eating the chocolate, the wrapper can be planted. The chocolate bar will be available to purchase at the Tourism Radol’ca stand at the festival. Other honey products will be available at the Slovenian Beekeeping Association stand.

Other highlights, of which there are far too many to list them all, include a chocolate roulette…

…workshops with the Dunking Devils…

…and a chocolate-themed fashion show; this year’s theme is dark chocolate.

Every year, prior to the festival, a competition takes place to find the Best Chocolate Praline.

This year’s winning chocolates are:

First place: Berry blaze (Molinet chocolatier)

Second place: Pistachio and lemon (Lucifer chocolatier)

Third place: Gold tequila and orange (Dobnik chocolatier)

Visitors to the festival also have the chance to taste the three winning chocolates and vote for their favourite.

This year, in addition to the festival goings-on in Radovljica Park, Linhart Square and Radovljica Manor, interesting medieval-themed events will take place in the square in front of St. Peter’s Church.

Click here to open the festival website and see the full programme for both days.

The Radovljica Tourist Information Centre is housed in the building you can see below and is the place to go during the festival if you require any additional information.

Take a look at (some of) the highlights of last year’s festival below.

The weekend following the Chocolate Festival is Easter, which is particularly late this year. If you are thinking about, or planning to, visit Slovenia for Easter, then you can read my previous blog about Easter Traditions in Slovenia.

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter!

© Adele in Slovenia

Restaurant Week is Here!

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, Begunje na Gorenjskem, Camping in Slovenia, EXPO, gluten free food in Slovenia, ifeelsLOVEnia, Kamp Sobec, Okusi Radol'ce, Radol'ca, Radovljica, Radovljica Chocolate Festival, Slovenia blog, Slovenian chocolate, Sobec camp, Taste Radol'ca, Visit Radol'ca by

Considering its relatively small size, Radovljica and its surroundings – collectively known as Radol’ca – are certainly well endowed in culinary terms.

So, it’s no surprise that the year’s Spring Restaurant Week, which began on 21st March 2025 and ends on 30th March 2025, features an impressive five restaurants from Radol’ca among the more than 100 participating restaurants: Gostišče Draga, Hiša Linhart, Restavracija Šobec, Vila Podvin, Restavracija Tabor.

The ethos of Restaurant Week, which takes place twice per year – in spring and autumn – is to bring together some of Slovenia’s finest restaurants to highlight the country’s excellent cuisine and bring gourmet food closer to the general public by offering special menus at affordable prices.

To help you choose which one, or ones, to visit, here’s a little more information about each one, from my layperson’s point of view!

Gostišče Draga, located in the lush Draga Valley, is headed up by chef and owner Ales Tavčar. In the past the restaurant was particularly popular in summer, as the valley remains pleasantly cool even on the hottest of days, but nowadays it has become well-known throughout the country and beyond and is popular year-round.

Gostišče Draga

Photo: https://vivi.si/en/restavracija/gostisce-draga/

A lot of the ingredients used come from the family farm – Kmetija Lizokar – thus truly adopting the ‘farm to fork’ approach.

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In addition to food cooked in the restaurant, you can also take the taste of Gostišče Draga home with you, by buying some of it’s ready meals sold in jars, such as beef goulash, Bolognese sauce, various stews and pickled vegetables.

No photo description available.

Hiša Linhart is a Michelin-starred restaurant in the heart of Linhart Square in Radovljica’s old town centre. Masterchef Uroš Štefelin and his team focus on transforming traditional Slovenian ingredients into nouvelle cuisine.

I’ve been fortunate enough to eat there on a few occasions, the last of which was as part of Gluten-Free Expo Slovenia, which took place in Radovljica in September 2024 and which I organise(d). The entire menu, part of which you can see below, was gluten-free.

 

Restavracija Šobec is located at the highly popular and award-winning Šobec Camp. The restaurant is far from the average campsite restaurant. It is now open year-round, even when the camp is closed, and out of the main season, has also become popular among locals for Sunday lunches, dinners, various celebrations, weddings, etc.

Restavracija Šobec

Photo: https://vivi.si/en/restavracija/sobec-restaurant/

Although the menu offers pizzas and other traditional Slovenian dishes, Restaurant Week is the time when the chefs can showcase their best culinary skills.

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Out of season, the camp is also a pleasant place for a stroll.

Vila Podvin is located in Mošnje, just a few kilometres from Radovljica. In the past the building was a stables, but now offers gourmet food and luxury accommodation.

Dean Dubokovič

Photo: https://vivi.si/en/restavracija/vila-podvin-2/

It was formerly run by the team who are now at Hiša Linhart, and I must confess that I haven’t been there since it came under new ownership, so can’t comment first-hand. However, it received a good write up from the food critics Uroš and Violeta Mencinger, who are the organisers of Restaurant Week.

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Restavracija Tabor is a seafood restaurant, which is located in Podbrezje, very close to but not actually within the municipality of Radovljica, but due to its excellent food and ethos, it has earned its place among Taste Radol’ca restaurants.

UME

Although the menu is largely seafood-based, there are also some meat dishes available.

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Room are also available, and the restaurant’s garden is the ideal place to soak up the views of the surrounding countryside and hills.

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Of course, there are also plenty of restaurants in other areas, and with 7 days still to go, get browsing, choose and book! You can read more about all the participating restaurants here.

Finally, just a heads up, it’s not long now until the ‘sweetest’ event of the year in Radovljica – The Radovljica Chocolate Festival. This year’s festival takes place on 12th and 13th April. The programme is packed with entertainment for all the family. Click here for more information.

© Adele in Slovenia

 

 

 

 

 

A One-Stop Buzzing(!) Centre in Lesce

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, Beekeeping Education Centre of Gorenjska, Beekeeping in Slovenia, ifeelsLOVEnia, Museum of Apiculture Radovljica, Radol'ca, Radovljica, Slovenia blog, Visit Radol'ca, Čebelarski center Lesce by

I don’t know about you but I find February a rather depressing month.

One the one hand, the days are getting longer and spring flowers have already begun to spring, but on the other, it’s still winter, and I tend to find myself asking where my mojo has gone and how to find it again.

So, this February I decided it was about time I did something positive in terms of seeking my mojo and thus devised a three-pronged strategy:

  1. I needed a massage.
  2. I needed some ‘me time’.
  3. I needed to do the above with as little effort as possible!

So, when pondering where to go and what to do, I remembered that on a recent visit to the Gorenjska Beekeeping Education Centre in Lesce, I noticed that, in addition to all the beekeeping-related activities there, massages are also available.

So, an idea sprang to mind for a few hours of ‘me’ time, which would only involve a ten-minute walk from home, i.e. little, or no, effort on my part.

The plan was to starting with a massage, then have a relaxing drink in the onsite BeeJoy caffee (sic), followed by a bit of retail therapy(!) in the Babka beekeeping shop. That should do the trick!

The Centre is a ‘hive’ of activity, for both beekeepers and other visitors.

I headed straight downstairs for a massage, which I had been soooo looking forward to, and wasn’t disappointed. Denis adopts a holistic approach, whereby he doesn’t just try to solve the problem of various aches and pains (of which I have many!), but also find their source.

After a massage, I headed upstairs towards the cafe. On the stairwell there is a wood carving of St. Ambrose, the patron saint of bees, beekeepers and candlemakers. The carving was done by Radovljica’s mayor, Ciril Globočnik.

In summer, customers can sit outside and watch the busy bees coming and going from the traditional Slovenian apiary in the garden of the Beekeeping Centre.

Obviously, with it being winter, I didn’t sit outside and preferred instead to admire the view from afar!

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Relaxed and quenched, I ended my visit to the Centre with a visit to the Babka beekeeping shop, where beekeepers and the public alike can find everything they could possibly need, from a myriad of types and flavours of honey, which you can try before you buy…

… to beekeeping equipment, clothing, books and more.

From May to September, guided tours of the Centre are available, which include honey tasting.

For more information, and to discover all the other ‘buzzing’ activities in Radovljica, including the Museum of Apiculture, and the ‘Follow a Bee Through Radovljica’ family beekeeping adventure, contact the Radovljica Tourist Information Centre.

Here’s hoping that by next month, when I write my next blog, spring will be well and truly here. Until then…

© Adele in Slovenia