Winter insider tip: Slovenia, the "Aspen of Yugoslavia"

Slovenia, a country on the edge of the Alps, has been one of the rising stars in tourism in recent years. The country has seven ski resorts and more than 350 mountains higher than 2,000 meters. The most famous ski resort is located in the west of the republic, near the small town of Kranjska Gora - the place attracted so many winter sports enthusiasts in the 1980s that some locals proudly dubbed it the "Aspen of Yugoslavia".

The region is just a little short of great hotels. But you will find what you are looking for further east, a picturesque hour and a half down into the valley, past Lake Bled and back up the mountains: shortly before the pandemic, the "Vila Planinka" opened there, a mountain retreat that focuses on ecological concepts and spiritual purification.

Detox at the "Vila Planinka"

It is located a few kilometers behind the Carinthian border, in the mountaineering village of Zgornje Jezersko, surrounded by the Karawanken and Steiner Alps. The five-storey building stands invitingly on the arterial road. Wood wherever you look: floors, balconies, façades, plus cozy armchairs, furs and fireplaces. Guests are asked to leave their shoes in the room and to wear their own woolen socks for all walks. There are no electronic devices in the rooms, and the staff only turn on Wi-Fi on request - detoxification also includes everything digital here. Great cinema doesn't come here via the streaming service, but thanks to the mountain landscape outside the panoramic windows.

The associated Jezersko ski area is particularly suitable for beginners or families. The ski lift is just under one kilometer from the town center; the slopes are not as challenging as in other regions, but tobogganing and snowtubing providers invite you to enjoy winter fun. And in the evening, you can sit comfortably in front of the fireplace at "Vila Planinka" with a well-earned glass of orange wine from Slovenia in your hand.