Krajina

In some South Slavic languages, including Serbo-Croatian and Slovene, the word krajina or its cognate still refers primarily to a border, fringe, or borderland of a country (sometimes with an established military defense), and secondarily to a region, area, or landscape.[2][4] Krajina is also a surname, mostly among South Slavic language speakers. The word kraj can today mean an end or extremity, or region or area. Archaically extrapolated, it could mean 'army' or 'war';[4] this meaning developed from the earlier meaning of 'borderland' in a manner analogous to the French word campagne.[2] The term is equivalent to German Mark and French marche.[5] In the Habsburg Empire, a large region in modern Croatia was referred to as the Military Frontier (Militärgrenze; Vojna krajina).

Krajina

The Bela krajina region along the legendary border River Kolpa amazes with images of litter meadows full of silver birches. Črnomelj, Metlika and Semič are towns with quirky folklore, handicrafts, wine and excellent dishes.

Discover the beauty of Bela krajina on a bicycle. The diverse countryside with the surrounding Gorjanci and Kočevski Rog provide conditions for family biking as well as for those who like to test themselves on more demanding trails. There are 15 organised and marked cycling trails inviting you to explore. Along the River Kolpa you can take a ride on a rented electric bicycle along the river all the way from Metlika to Stari trg.

Discover the land by the River Kolpa through a project called Open Doors of Bela krajina. All year round, various providers offer workshops on how to bake pogača flat bread or colour Easter eggs, you can learn about the artistic and historical collections in museums and galleries or you can go tasting local delicacies with wine or honey.

Indulge in the summer casualness and visit the summer festivals of Bela krajina. In June, you can visit various events in the framework of the Summer in Vinica event. In August, the old town centre of Črnomelj becomes the scene of Črnfest, the festival of music, theatre, sport and childlike vivaciousness. Between June and August, you can go to Metlika Castle where you can enjoy the international cultural programme.

Bela krajina is a land of tradition, which is also reflected in various ethnological festivals. In May, Metlika turns into the Slovenian centre of wine because the biggest wine festival called Vinska vigred takes place here. In June, you can dance with Zeleni Jurij (Green George), a mythological hero from Bela krajina, and folklore groups at the traditional Jurjevanje celebration. And in August, you can discover the traditional wedding ceremony at the Semič Wedding.

Taste the wide range of Bela krajina wines. The traditional Belokranjec PTP and Metliška črnina PTP have a protected geographical origin, and the young wine Portugalka which ripens more than a month before other wines do is also something special. And discover other wines, too, from the dry ones to the sweet predicate wines, ice wines and straw-coloured wines. You can even get various sparkling and honey wines.

The cultural heritage of Bela krajina is an interlacing of five ethnic groups and three religions on several thousand years of the tradition of other cultures. Travel 2,000 years back into time to the Antique world of the god Mithras in the temple of Mithras near Otovec. The more interesting sacral structures include the pilgrimage centre Tri fare in Rosalnice with three churches enclosed by one churchyard wall. Here you will also find two Orthodox churches and the only two Greek Catholic churches in Slovenia.

Bela krajina flatbread is a welcome dish served warm. It is a type of bread coated with an egg and sprinkled with caraway and coarse-grain salt. The traditional way of serving it binds and connects all the people present who tear off pieces of it to eat.

Embark on a trip to the surrounding locations. 30km north of Bela krajina, the Dolenjska region with its vineyard hills producing a specific wine cviček and zidanice cottages dreaming among vineyards. Also only 30km away is the Kočevsko region, the kingdom of the brown bear amidst the wide green forests. 37km north, you can visit Novo mesto, where you can see a rich archaeological collection of situlae. If you want some thermal fun, visit Čatež and Posavje, which are only 80km away and where the largest Thermal Riviera with high-end aquatic fun for all generations awaits. After enjoying the thermal pleasures, you can go exploring the castles of Posavje.

As appropriate for someone from Bela krajina (White Carniola), our first series of gins, Green George (Zeleni Jurij) and Lepa Anka, is a homage to Bela krajina. Green George as well as Lepa Anka are well-known characters of Bela krajina folklore, and they remain deeply present in the lives of the people of Bela krajina to this day. 041b061a72