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The Monastery Island

Košljun is a small island situated close to Punat at the shore of the Croatian island of Krk. In Roman times, there was a villa rustica (country house); later in the Middle Ages, monks from the order of St. Benedictine founded a monastery on the little island. Besides a church and the convent buildings, which still exist and can be visited, it is quite a green and diverse landmass. There are dense forests, meadows, and Mediterranean gardens.

Art Nouveau in Ljubljana

The architectural style of Art Nouveau or Jugendstil had its heyday around 1900 and faded away until WW I. It was the last bloom of the bourgeois styles of Europe in the previous decades before the war. Decorative elements played an important role, and there were a lot of floral and figurative elements in the layout of the facades and the interiors. Later, architecture became much more pragmatic and frugal.

Ljubljana, albeit a relatively small town, became one of the centers of Art Nouveau in Europe, and you will find a lot of exciting examples built by famous Austro-Hungarian architects in the city. The buildings are well cared for and seem made just yesterday.

Lake of Bled

Bled is a somewhat remote lake in the Slovenian Alps. It is well known within the country and in neighboring Austria, yet not so much in other parts of the world. The lake itself is pretty tiny, but the views and the surroundings are spectacular. There is a small island with a church in the middle of the lake, making for a great panorama. Also, there is a castle on a steep hill, making the view even more memorable. The town itself is lovely as well, with a pleasant promenade and many cafes where you can enjoy a famous cream cake from Bled while enjoying the views.

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