Armchair Traveler: The Juliana Trail (Slovenia)

During 2020, one focus among tourism operators worldwide was “slow tourism.” The few people who crossed country borders had to go through long quarantines, so it made sense that they wanted a longer, more immersive travel experience. Slovenia’s Juliana Trail was made for slow tourism. These days, fully vaccinated people entering the country can skip the quarantine period, but the trail is still a major draw. A popular town on the trail is Radovljica, with a history stretching back to the late 13th century. Fuel up with gingerbread hearts at the Gingerbread Museum, then bake your own gingery creations. Slovenia is well known for beekeeping, and you can visit a beekeeping museum in the town’s central Radovljica Manor. The section around Lake Bled is one of the trail’s most picturesque. It’s flat and can be hiked in an afternoon, stopping at its many natural attractions. Bled is most famous for its castle, built on a rock overlooking Lake Bled. Bled Castle is the oldest in the country, dating back more than 1,000 years. It has been converted into a fine museum, but one of the best things about it is the views of the lake. Every tourist will want to take a boat to visit the Church of the Assumption, which stands on an island in the middle of Lake Bled. The church has been restored and hosts wedding ceremonies. It also features some lovely touches, like a glass floor panel and a splendid altar. You can even ring the bell. There’s a lot more to the Juliana Trail, so we’ll definitely have to come back another time. (T) This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.