Daria's highlights of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia

Famous Slovenians

Primoz Trubar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Year 2008 is a Trubar year in Slovenia - in honor of 500th anniversary of Primoz Trubar's birth. He was the leading figure of Slovenian Protestant movement, supporting the idea that church ceremonies should be performed in the language of the common people (instead of Latin). In 1550 he wrote and published the first two books ever printed in Slovenian language: Catechismus and Abecedarium. Therefore, he is the first Slovenian writer and the father of Slovenian literature.

France Preseren : Introduction

France Preseren is a legend, and legends have to be approached with caution. We do not doubt the literary value and importance of his work, both are indisputable and sometimes even underestimated. We are referring exclusively to the (too) frequent attempts to 'embellish' Preseren's life. It is not difficult to see why this is done. His poetry - clear, independent and undoubtedly eternal - is in marked contrast with his rather sad and, above all, very unhappy life.

Slavko Avsenik: Composer and Musician

Slavko Avsenik (b. 1929) is a Slovenian composer and musician. Slavko Avsenik was born on November 19 1929 in Begunje near Bled, Slovenia. His career accomplishments place him at the worldwide pinnacle of success among ethnic popular musicians. Over forty years, the Avsenik Ensamble's original "Oberkrainer" sound became the primary vehicle of ethnic musical expression for Slovenia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Benelux countries, spawning hundreds of Alpine orchestras in the process.

The Ensamble has performed before millions, including heads of state, on radio and television, and in thousands of concerts. Selling over 30 million records, Avsenik has earned thirty-one Gold, two Diamond, and one Platinum record. The "Johann Strauss of the twentieth century," Avsenik collaborated with his brother, Vilko, to produce nearly 1000 original compositions and an integral part of the Cleveland-Style legacy. The Avsenik saga began in 1953 with a band formed in Slovenia, broadcast on the "Slovenian Hour" from Austria, and dubbed the "Musicians of the Oberkrain" by a Vienna disc jockey. Growing in popularity, they soon began appearing in broadcasts, movies, and concerts in West Germany.

Architect Joze Plecnik

In the eighties the work of the architect Joze Plecnik (a disciple of Otto Wagner) became a true discovery for Europe and the world. Besides the extraordinary high quality of his work Plecnik has also been attributed abroad with a high degree of originality and innovation in the use of historical, regional and even local features, rounding each in new authentic collection containing a multitude of items, from fine details, monuments and architectural motifs to large urban features.

Few cities have had the personal seal of a single artist so strongly impressed as Ljubljana, the birthplace of the architect Joze Plecnik (1872-1957). Over three and half decades, he transformed the former provincial town into the capital of the Slovenian nation. He tried with monumentality and beauty to instill a sense of selfconfidence in the inhabitants.