Tag Archives: Slovenian honey

Slovenian Beekeeping Placed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, Beekeeping in Slovenia, ifeelsLOVEnia, Museum of Apiculture Radovljica, Radol'ca, Radovljica, Slovenia blog, Slovenian honey, Visit Radol'ca by

First, the bad news… It has been wet and unseasonably cold for pretty much the whole of May so far, which is bad, or even catastrophic, news for Slovenia’s bees and beekeepers. The latter are keeping their fingers (and toes) crossed that conditions improve soon in order to salvage what they can from the grazing season.

Now, the good news. Slovenia’s application to be placed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage has been accepted, a process in which the Museum of Apiculture in Radovljica played a large part, together with the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association and the Slovenian Ethnographic Museum. To mark World Earth Day, on 22nd April, Radovljica played host to a special event to mark Slovenia’s entry onto the aforementioned UNESCO List. Among those in the photo below are the mayor of Radovljica, the president of the Slovenian Beekeeping Association, the director of Radovljica Municipal Museums, Slovenia’s Minister for Culture, the president of the Radovljica Beekeeping Society, and, of course, our many beekeepers!

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The following quote by Dr. Asta Vrečko, Slovenia’s Minister of Culture, sums up the significance of this achievement for Slovenian culture: “The inscription of beekeeping on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage is of exceptional significance for Slovenia and the world. At the time of climate change, bees and beekeeping must receive special attention, and traditional beekeeping, which is a way of life in harmony with nature, must be nurtured in particular. The beekeeping heritage has a long history that is intertwined with culture and amateur art. Today, urban apiaries also present an important segment of beekeeping.”

Beekeeping in Slovenia on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage | GOV.SI

Here’s some fascinating Slovenian bee facts and figures I came across while reading the Sunday paper, which, by the way, is published on a Wednesday!

  • There are over 11,000 beekeepers in Slovenia
  • Slovenian beekeepers have over 200,000 bee families
  • There are 30 registered breeders of queen bees in Slovenia, who breed around 40,000 queens per year
  • There are 206 beekeeping societies in Slovenia

There are numerous ways you can get acquainted with Slovenia’s bees and beekeepers in the Radovljica area.

Undoubtedly, Erik Luznar is Radovljica’s star beekeeper, in more ways than one! Not only is he one of the few beekeepers here who does it for a living, but he is also now a star in India too, thanks to one of the country’s most popular vloggers, Dhruv Rathee, who visited Erik and his bees to find out more. Over 2 million people have watched it!

In addition to the aforementioned Museum of Apiculture, which is a ‘must see’ when visiting Radovljica…

… the area is also home to the Beekeeping Education Centre of Gorenjska in Lesce, where you can get up close to a traditional Slovenian apiary, and sit back and enjoy watching the bees going about their business while enjoying a hot or cold drink.

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This month, the Radovljica Beekeeping Society celebrated its 140th anniversary at the Centre.

And finally, don’t miss the family ‘Follow a Bee Through Radovljica‘ adventure, which is ideal for the entire family.

I hoped I’ve provided you with more than enough reasons, and inspiration, to make sure you do something bee-related on your visit to Slovenia, after all: No Bees, No Life!

© Adele in Slovenia

 

 

 

The Apitourism Bee House in Bohinj

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, apitherapy, Beekeeping, Beekeeping in Slovenia, Bohinj, Bohinj lake, Slovenia blog, Slovenian food, Slovenian honey, Triglav National Park by

The Apitourism Bee House in Bohinjska Bistrica, near Bohinj lake, is a one-stop destination for apitherapy and wellbeing.

The combination of apitherapy, honey massages, and a spacious, well-equipped apartment, makes this an ideal place to reap the benefits of apitourism and enjoy some pampering, and a great base from where to explore the beautiful surroundings of the Bohinj area and Triglav National Park.

The house and apiary is tucked away in a quiet part of Bohinjska Bistrica, next to the Tomaž Godec Museum and alongside a stream, whilst also being within walking distance of local shops and restaurants.

You can relax in a deckchair in the garden, which is planted with honey plants, and watch the bees going about their business.

You can visit the Bee House as a day guest to enjoy apitherapy sessions in the traditional Slovenian apiary and/or honey massages, or stay in the spacious on-site apartment, from where its just a hop and a skip to the apiary, thus making it the ideal place for total rest and relaxation.

After admiring the painted apiary from the outside and watching the diligent bees go about their business, you can go inside, take a seat, place a mask over your mouth and nose and breathe in the goodness.

Apitherapy is known to help improve a number of conditions, particularly respiratory problems, as well as allergies, stress, depression, etc.

To complement the apitherapy sessions, you can also treat yourself to an on-site honey massage, the benefits of which, in addition to being relaxing, include detoxification, boosting of the immune system and revitalisation.

Brane and Mirjam – the owners of the Bee House – are both certified apitherapists and can prescribe personalised wellbeing programmes. They can also offer advice on how various bee products, including honey, honey vinegar, propolis and their own patented drink made from honey and effective microorganisms, can aid a range of conditions.

The modern Bee House apartment has a fully-equipped open-plan kitchen/living/dining room, and 2 bedrooms that can accommodate 4 people.

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There are wonderful views of the surrounding mountains from the balcony.

Upon prior arrangement workshops and tastings of honey products can also be arranged.

For information and reservations visit the Bee House Facebook page, call +386 31 490 865, or email: crt.boznik@gmail.com or orbita.bb@siol.net.

So, when in Bohinj, or considering a bee-themed trip, be sure to make a beeline for the Bee House!

© Adele in Slovenia

Honey Radol’ca – Celebrating 60 Years of Radovljica’s Museum of Apiculture!

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, Beekeeping, Beekeeping in Slovenia, Kropa, Museums, museums in Slovenia, Radol'ca, Radovljica, Rainy day ideas in Slovenia, Slovenia, Slovenia blog, Slovenian culture, Slovenian honey, Visit Radol'ca, World Bee Day by

Last Saturday was a particularly ‘sweet’ day in Radovljica! The main event to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Museum of Apiculture, housed in the magnificent Radovljica Manor, took place, titled ‘Honey Radol’ca‘

Honey Radol’ca also featured market stalls with honey and honey products from various local beekeepers as well as the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association, the Beekeeping Education Centre of Gorenjska, and the Radovljica Beekeepers’ Association.

Though it opened in 1959, the history of the Museum of Apiculture dates back substantially further. At a meeting in 1925, the then editor of the magazine ‘Slovenski čebelar‘ (Slovenian Beekeeper), August Bukovec, suggested the establishment of the museum and a year later the decision was finalised. The active gathering of beekeeping-related objects for the museum began, especially beehive frontal panels, as well as the search for suitable premises for the museum. The collection of objects gathered for the museum was first housed in two premises in Ljubljana, and later, in 1959, the museum moved to the Radovljica Manor, where it remains today.

Last Saturday, or rather Friday actually, marked the opening of a new exhibition dedicated to 60 years of the Museum of Apiculture. In pictures and words, 60 highlights of the museum are presented in the exhibition, which is on view until September, and in a special publication titled ’60 Highlights of the Museum of Apiculture, Radovljica’.

In addition to this new, temporary exhibition, the museum’s permanent collection includes a wide range of hives and beekeeping tools, as well as unusual figural hives.

The museum’s extensive collection of painted beehive frontal panels, including the oldest known in the world, is a particular highlight. Each one tells its own unique folk tale.

You can get up close to the Carniolan grey bee – Slovenia’s indigenous breed of bee – or rather a lot of them, at the observation hive, which is installed annually in the museum during the warmer months.

You can also take a seat and watch a video about beekeeping in Slovenia – the English version of which is narrated by yours truly!

The Museum of Apiculture is just one of the museums and galleries under the umbrella of Radovljica Municipal Museums, the others are: the Iron Forging Museum in Kropa, the Museum of Hostages in Begunje, the Šivec House Gallery in Radovljica, and the Radovljica Municipal Museum.

But don’t worry, even though ‘Honey Radol’ca’ has been and gone, you can visit the museum throughout the year, and there’s still plenty of honey- and beekeeping-related experiences to be(e!) had in Radovljica and the surroundings, including the new family experience ‘Follow a ‘bee’ through Radovljica‘.

The Museum of Apiculture is open throughout the year, except on Mondays; opening hours varying according to the month. Find more information about all of Radovljica’s museums, opening times and admission fees here and here.

© Adele in Slovenia

 

The Radovljica Beekeeping Adventure: Follow a ‘Bee’ Through Radovljica!

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, Beekeeping, Beekeeping in Slovenia, Begunje, ifeelsLOVEnia, Radol'ca, Radovljica, Radovljica Chocolate Festival, Slovenia, Slovenia blog, Slovenian honey, Tourism Radol'ca, Visit Radol'ca, World Bee Day by

‘Honestly Sweet‘ was chosen as the slogan for the tourist destination of Radol’ca, which encompasses Radovljica itself (where I live!) and the other surrounding towns and villages in the municipality, due to the town’s long connection with all things ‘sweet’ i.e. beekeeping and chocolate.

And while this year’s Chocolate Festival has been and gone, Radovljica now features a brand new ‘sweet’ treat – the Radovljica Beekeeping Adventure.

The Radovljica tourist board came up with the idea for the Radovljica Beekeeping Adventure in order to consolidate the town’s position as the capital of Slovenian beekeeping as well as a desire to offer more activities for families. The idea for a bee-related adventure was an obvious choice and was inspired by the events last year to mark the first-ever World Bee Day.

The Beekeeping Adventure has been designed as a family adventure. It features four interactive points in the old town centre of Radovljica, the first of which is the apiary in the town park. 

The next is in front of St. Peter’s church…

 

…and at the viewpoint at the end of the old town centre.

Despite living here 12 years, I can never tire of the view from Radovljica towards the Julian Alps and the Jelovica plateau, and even on a partly cloudy late May day – in a month where there have only been 2 days without rain so far – the views still blow me away, every time!

The adventure concludes with a visit to the Museum of Apiculture in the Radovljica Manor, where you can watch bees hard at work and find out plenty more about the history of Slovenian beekeeping, see an exhibition of the oldest painted beehive frontal panels, and learn even more about just how amazing bees really are!

The fun, creative and educational tasks have been devised to allow children to hone their manual skills and to learn about beekeeping, whilst seeking out the path with the help of a map helps develop outdoor orientation and spatial recognition skills.

As a reward for completing all the tasks, a ‘sweet’ treat awaits at the end – but I won’t spoil the surprise!

The Beekeeping Adventure costs €8 per family, which includes:

  • One copy of the booklet including a map, tasks and information about the life of bees
  • A family entrance ticket to the Museum of Apiculture (2 adults, up to 3 children)
  • A ‘sweet’ surprise
  • Supplement for additional booklets with tasks: €1 per booklet (up to 3 additional booklets are permitted per family upon purchase of a family package)

The booklet can be purchased at the following locations:

The Beekeeping Adventure is available from 24th May to 31st October 2019. Since the Museum of Apiculture is closed on Mondays, it is recommended that you visit from Tuesday to Sunday. The path itself is very short and flat, but together with solving the tasks and a visit to the museum, you should allow approximately 1.5-2 hours.

The Museum of Apiculture is celebrating it’s 60th anniversary this year, and, to mark the occasion, there will be a new comprehensive exhibition while the main anniversary event will take place on 15th June.

To end, on an entirely different theme, though one that many would also consider to be ‘sweet’, next Saturday a brand new festival is coming to Radovjlica – the Radovjlica Craft Beer Festival. Weather permitting the festival will kick off at 12 noon on Saturday 1st June and will feature a number of Slovenian craft breweries, live music, and food from Taste Radol’ca restaurants. A shuttle bus will also run every half hour from Bled.

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So, now there are even more reasons to come and visit the lovely town that I call ‘home’!

© Adele in Slovenia

A Celebration of Birthdays and Bees in Begunje!

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, Beekeeping, Beekeeping in Slovenia, Begunje, Food, Food Tours in Slovenia, ifeelsLOVEnia, Okusi Radol'ce, Radol'ca, Radovljica, Slovenia, Slovenia blog, Slovenian honey, Taste Radol'ca, Taste Radol'ca Tours, Tourism Radol'ca, Visit Radol'ca by

Sunday 20th May, in addition to being the first World Bee Day, also happened to be my birthday. So plenty of reason for celebration this year, even if it wasn’t a ‘special’ birthday (thank god!).

When deciding where to hold a small gathering for friends that would comprise great food, a beautiful setting, something active, and some beekeeping-related, the choice was obvious, it just had to be the Draga Valley in Begunje na Gorenjskem!

So, I set about making plans and my plans all came together rather well, even if I say so myself!

We began with an introduction to archery on the parkour archery course. Regular readers may recall, however, that I’m not a complete archery novice, as I went to check out the course last year when I spent a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon under the professional guidance of Robert Levstek.

It’s great fun making your way around the course with its 30 life-size animal targets dotted throughout the forest. Those with a competitive nature, and even those without, will enjoy a fun day out surrounded by the wonderful nature of the Draga Valley. Find out more here – https://adeleinslovenia.com/2017/04/10/archery-adventures-and-delicious-draga-delights/

Next came the beekeeping-related part of our afternoon, and for this I contacted the local beekeeper Erik Luznar, who has one of his many hives in the valley.

Since the average age of Slovenia’s 10,000 beekeepers is 57, Erik is certainly bucking the trend in this respect, and his youth, spirit and enthusiasm made listening to him waxing lyrical about his beloved bees both pleasurable and fascinating.

And also in contrast to the majority of Slovenia’s beekeepers, beekeeping is not just Erik’s passion and hobby, it is his livelihood. He offers various types of honey (floral, acacia, forest, linden, chestnut, pine, fir), as well as royal jelly, pollen, propolis and beeswax. He also breeds queen bees, which are then sent throughout the world. So, whilst in the Radovljica area, if you would like to have a tour of his hives – independently or as part of a Taste Radol’ca tour – find out more about Slovenian beekeeping, or buy some of his award-winning honey or other bee products, he’s your man! Contact: cebelarstvo.luznar@gmail.com

Of course, no good celebration is complete without great food, and in the Draga Valley that comes in spades at Gostišče Draga, one of the participating Taste Radol’ca restaurants. If you want to enjoy a drink or three without worrying about getting home, there are rooms available above the restaurant too!

Since the Draga Valley is also an excellent starting point for hikes in the Karavanke mountains, the restaurant is a very popular choice for some post-hiking sustainance, but is equally as popular as somewhere to enjoy great Slovenian cuisine – in summer in the cool of the garden next to the stream, in winter next to the roaring wood burner.

Continuing with the honey theme, we dined well on dishes such as rumpsteak in pepper and honey sauce, štruklji with honey, and other savoury delights, and not forgetting a cake, too!

For an added twist, throughout the evening there was a chance to taste many varieties of honey, with the aim of guessing which was which.

Then, to see how much we had all taken in from Erik’s educational session, I had prepared a quiz about Slovenian beekeeping, too! Of course, this meant a bit of work on my part too. I felt like a school teacher marking tests!

For the perfect end to the evening, I was given some lovely birthday gifts, including vouchers for massages (can’t wait Simona Slegel!) and this hand-embroidered apron that reads ‘Ta prava Radol’canka‘. Radol’canka is the word used for a female from Radovljica, so it reads ‘A real Radol’canka‘!

So, as you can see, the Draga Valley is a one-stop destination for active and tasty outings, and with a bit of added ingenuity and forward planning, a great place for group celebrations and events. Thanks to everyone who contributed to a lovely evening!

® Adele in Slovenia

 

 

Čebelji raj – A Real Bee Paradise!

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, Bee Our Guest, Beekeeping, Beekeeping in Slovenia, ifeelsLOVEnia, Slovenia, Slovenia blog, Slovenian honey, Visit Žirovnica, World Bee Day, Žirovnica by

The newly-opened Bee Paradise (Čebelji raj) in the hamlet of Selo in Žirovnica, is a great acquisition for Slovenian beekeeping, Slovenian tourism, the Municipality of Žirovnica, and last but not least, for Slovenia’s bees!

Bee Paradise is the brainchild of the president of the Slovenian Beekeeping Association, Bostjan Noč, who has been involved with beekeeping from an early age and is an exemplary example of a diligent and devoted ‘father’ to his numerous colonies of bees, as well as working tirelessly to preserve and promote beekeeping in Slovenia.

 

Indeed, it was Bostjan, together with other leading members of the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association, that was the driving force behind Slovenia’s initiative to have 20th May, the birth date of the pioneer of modern apiculture, Anton Janša, declared as World Bee Day. And they succeeded in this not-insignificant achievement, when the United Nations General Assembly unanimously declared the first World Bee Day will be held on 20th May 2018.

Apitherapy has been the buzz word in alternative therapies of late, and at Bee Paradise you can sample its health benefits by taking a seat in one of the comfy loungers, listening to soothing music and the gentle buzzing of the bees and breathing in the intoxicating air. The benefits of bee products – honey, propolis, royal jelly, pollen – are combined in apitheraphy to prevent and/or heal numerous conditions and diseases.

Both inside and outside you can get up-close-and-personal with the Noč family’s bees. Suspended from the ceiling, this ingenious glass sphere allows the bees to come and go as they please, whilst providing a fascinating perspective for visitors.

Tasting sessions and special programmes can be arranged for groups upon prior arrangement, as well as various workshops, professional lectures, presentations etc. Contact details: Tel: 040 431 930 or https://www.cebelarstvo-noc.si/ (website in Slovenian only).

In the garden there is an area planted with special honeybee plants, and from April to October there is a viewing hive where you can watch the bees close-up.

A speciality is the uniquely-designed hive containing jars that the bees fill directly with honey – how ingenious and labour-saving is that!

In front of the family house there is a painted hive and a small shop where you can stock up on goodies and gifts!

And, of course, you can’t visit without tasting the fruits of the bees labour! There are 7 varieties of Slovenian honey to choose from, as well as 2 new products, available exclusively at Bee Paradise; bela medolada – a combination of white chocolate and honey, and temna medolada – cocoa and honey. Paradise indeed for someone with a sweet tooth like me!

The first World Bee Day is fast approaching, and Bee Paradise, as well as Anton Jansa’s memorial apiary, which is just minutes away, will be part of the numerous celebrations taking place throughout Slovenia, and indeed the world!

More information about Slovenian beekeeping and World Bee Day can be found on the Bee Our Guest website, and for more information about what else to see and do in the Žirovnica area, see the Visit Žirovnica website.

© Adele in Slovenia

Slovenian Beekeeping: Bee our Guest!

Posted in Adele in Slovenia, adeleinslovenia, Bee Our Guest, Beekeeping, Beekeeping in Slovenia, Gorje, ifeelsLOVEnia, Kranjska Gora, Lesce, museums in Slovenia, Radol'ca, Radovljica, Radovljica Chocolate Festival, Slovenia, Slovenian honey, World Bee Day, Žirovnica by

This week I’d like to bring you some exciting news about a great new initiative and book – both on the theme of beekeeping – something at which Slovenia excels. Despite not being a beekeeper myself, since living in Slovenia I have become acutely aware of the importance that bees play in the world and, I believe, it’s something that should be of great importance to us all. Read on…!

Photo: S Senica

The Radovljica area has long been known for its ‘sweet’ traditions, primarily beekeeping-related, as well as chocolate in recent years thanks to the very popular Radovljica Chocolate Festival! Radovljica’s old town is home to the Museum of Apiculture, whilst the Beekeeping Education Centre of Gorenjska is situated in nearby Lesce.

Now, a new initiative has been launched to unite and promote Slovenian beekeeping in the Upper Gorenjska region – BEE OUR GUEST!

Photo: S Senica

BEE OUR GUEST is a collaboration between the municipalities of Bohinj, Bled, Gorje, Žirovnica, Radovljica and Kranjska Gora, and its aim is to acquaint visitors with Slovenian beekeeping in the Upper Gorenjska region, as well as offer information, tours and packages that combine beekeeping with the region’s other numerous sights and attractions. Thus, Bee Our Guest offers something for all those who want to see and experience a different side of the area’s natural beauty – whether you are a beekeeping enthusiast or just a lover of nature and all things ‘sweet’!

The Museum of Apiculture is located in the magnificent Radovljica Mansion in the heart of Radovljica’s old town centre, where, amongst other exhibits, you can see a rich collection of hand-painted beehive front panels, including the oldest in the world; each of the panels tells its own story!

You can also observe the bees busy buzzing about their business in the observation hive! More information can be found here – http://www.radolca.si/en/radovljica-apiculture-museum/

You can pay a visit to Lectar Inn, where in the cellar you can visit the workshop and museum where they have been making traditional Lectar honeybreads for centuries. You can buy gifts and souvenirs for your loved ones or for special occasions or, upon prior arrangement, join in a workshop and have a go at making one yourself.

On the website (http://www.beeourguest.eu/) and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BeeOurGuest.Slovenia/) you can also keep up-to-date with all the latest developments regarding World Bee Day, which has now been officially declared as 20th May, the birth date of Anton Janša (1734-1773), considered Slovenia’s greatest beekeeper.

“Every third spoonful of food on Earth depends on bees or, more precisely, on pollination. The more the meadows are polluted and the more frequently they are mown, the smaller the number of bees. Do we even realise what that means for our future and for us?” This comes from the authors of the newly-published book No Bees, No Life, available in English and Slovene, and is something we should all most definitely be aware of.

Written by the President of Slovenia’s Beekeeping Association, Bostjan Noč, the head of the breeding programme for the Carniolan honey bee, at the Slovenian Beekeeping Association, Peter Kozmus, and author of many books in the fields of ethnology and apiculture, Karolina Vrtačnik, as well as 66 contributions from 32 countries, the book has been receiving wide acclaim. You can find out more and/or order a copy here – https://beebooks.si/en/

I’ll be bringing you plenty more on this subject, and exploring it in more depth in the not-too-distant future, but for now, I’m off for for some quiet contemplation – oh and a cup of tea with Slovenian honey!

© Adele in Slovenia

 

World Bee Day: The Anton Janša Honey Route

Posted in Beekeeping, Beekeeping in Slovenia, Radovljica, Slovenia by

Much of the history of beekeeping in Slovenia can be attributed to Anton Janša (1734-1733) and still today barely a word is said about Slovenian beekeeping without his name being mentioned. Perhaps it was fate then that I moved to Slovenia, and particularly to the Gorenjska region, from where more than 150 prominent beekeepers hail, including Anton Janša, with whom I also share a birthday – 20th May – which is now (hopefully) to become World Bee Day! I live in Radovljica, home to the Museum of Apiculture and close to the village of Breznica where Anton Janša, was born.

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Slovenia is the only EU member state that has protected its indigenous bee, the Carniolan bee, which means that no other bee can be bred here. The Carniolan bee is the 2nd most widely used breed of bee in the world and originated in this region of the country.

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The initiative for a World Bee Day was started by the Slovene Beekeeping Association, who, rightly so, believe there should be a World Day in recognition of something that is of such vital importance to the world. I whole-heartedly support this movement, after all, there are World Days for pretty much everything these days, so bees more than deserve to be recognised.

To mark this, I went on my own little ‘bee adventure’, following part of the Anton Janša Honey Route, which takes in Radovljica, Bled, Vrba, and Škofja Loka.

I began by visiting Janša’s beehive in Breznica which is part of the Žirovnica Path of Cultural Heritage that connects the birth places of many notable Slovenes including Dr. France Prešeren, Matija Čop, Franc Saleški Finžgar and Janez Jalen. More information here – http://bit.ly/1T26zxe

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As with the majority of hives in Slovenia, Jansa’s features original painted beehive panels, unique to Slovenia, each of which depicts a humorous or satirical story – this one shows animals taking over the role of humans.

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I also visited the Kralov med hives in the hamlet of Selo, near Bled, where beekeeper Blaž Ambrožič oozed enthusiasm when showing and telling me about the wonders of bees.

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I thought I knew a reasonable amount about beekeeping, however, Blaž told me so many astonishing facts about beekeeping that I can but recommend that you go and find out more for yourself! After all, it seems that barely a day passes when there isn’t more astonishing evidence about the importance of bees and the benefits of honey. It really is one of the best foods of nature as well as being credited with alleviating a range of medical conditions and lately has also become the latest trend in beauty products. You can also read about my recent experience of a bee sting facial here – http://bit.ly/1Spm1o2

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The star of the show at Kralov med is undoubtedly the hive that was painstakingly transplanted from a tree trunk and transported, bees and all, to where it sits today, and where the bees are still working diligently.

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As a measure of the calm characteristics of the Carniolan bee, Blaž encouraged me to put my hand inside the hive and the bees were completely unperturbed by my presence.

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I had a chance to try some of the honey and learn about the various characteristics and properties of the different kinds of honey and propolis.

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At the time of my visit a brand new hive had just been built which will also be available for apitherapy and visitors will even be able to sleep there, all the while inhaling the intoxicating scents of the bees, which is known to have beneficial effects, particularly for those suffering from respiratory diseases.

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Can you find out more about Kralov med here – http://www.kralov-med.si/en/home/

The Anton Janša route also includes:

  •  The Carniolan queen mating station in the Završnica valley
  • The Museum of Apiculture in Radovljica, which features, amongst other exhibits, hundreds of beehive front panels including the world’s oldest – http://www.radolca.si/en/radovljica-apiculture-museum/
  • The hamlets of Combe and Bitnje in Bohinj, where the internationally renowned bee merchant Jan Strgar kept his bees and who, together with Mihael Ambrožič, was responsible for the spread in popularity of the Carniolan bee

You can also visit the Beekeeping Education Centre of Gorenjska in Lesce – http://www.cricg.si/angleski-jezik/ and follow developments regarding the World Bee Day Initiative here – https://www.facebook.com/worldbeeday/?fref=ts

So, come on, let’s unite to support World Bee Day and Save the Bees!

© Adele in Slovenia