To Travel Is To Live: Slovenia 4: Radovljica and Ptuj

Radovljica is a short drive from Lake Bled and we are stopping by on our way to Ptuj in the Eastern part of Slovenia,

In addition to the attractive square/main drag, the tiny Old Town in Radovljica has a number of interesting sights, the most prominent being the beekeeping museum. Slovenes are said to take beekeeping seriously. People in Radovljica seem very accommodating, combining sophistication of a tourist destination and cheerful innocence of a small town. This looks like a nice overnight stay in a leisurely itinerary.

Radovljica: The Square

Radovljica: In front of a second hand shop on the square

Radovljica: A WWII bunker converted to a tiny chapel is dedicated to a Polish Jew converted to a Carmelite nun who died in Auschwitz and was later canonized (St. Teresa Benedict of the Cross).

Radovljica: Late-Gothic houses on the square

Radovljica: A view just outside Old Town

Radovljica: Entering the Beekeeping Museum. The collection inside includes old hand-painted panels for the front the beehives.

Radovljica: A homey restaurant/inn/gingerbread cookie "workshop"

View of Radvljica as we leave

A little bit further south is a small town of Kropa which is a historic blacksmithing town. The Iron Forging Museum is the highlight. As we finish the visit, the custodian turns on a giant music box that is awesomely loud.

Kropa: Iron Forging Museum. Some of the fine works from this town, for example, have supplied stylish Venice.

Kropa: The power from the gushing waters in the canal is harnessed for iron forges.

We now drive toward Ljubljana by highway and then it is mostly on a highway also from there to Ptuj. It cuts down on the driving time but also keeps me from being tempted to visit other small towns.

Ptuj is located in the Eastern part of Slovenia which is not a tourist mecca. But I don't want to miss an opportunity to check out a place which sounds like expectoration when properly pronounced. The small Old Town is attractive and the locals here seem less used to tourists, especially Asians. The castle is non-descript architecturally but its museum has a surprisingly extensive collection, a testament to Ptuj’s rich history. There is even a section displaying masks and costumes worn by locals during the Carnival time when the town is apparently overrun with visitors.