Autumn School of Slovene Language

9 October, 10:30–12:00

TOUR OF LJUBLJANA

Ljubljana’s size places it among middle to big European cities, it is charming because it is small and has everything that the big capitals have. Traces from all the rich, historical periods have been preserved; remains of the Roman Emona, Renaissance, Baroque and Art Nouveau facades, decorated portals and romantic bridges that embellish the Ljubljanica river, the small but romantic river which bisects the city. The visit to the old town centre will take us to Ljubljana’s main sights.

23 October, 8:30–19:00

EXCURSION TO THE PRIMORSKA REGION

October is one of the most beautiful months to visit the Primorska Region and admire nature as it is dressed in warm autumn colours. During the excursion, we will stop in Hrastovlje, where we will visit the famous Holy Trinity Church, renowned for its medieval frescoes. After the church visit, we will enjoy a delicious lunch featuring local cuisine. The excursion will conclude by the sea, in the beautiful medieval town of Piran.

6 November, 11:45–13:15

ST. MARTIN’S CULINARY WALK

St Martin’s Day is celebrated in Slovenia on 11 November as a feast associated with the end of the grape harvest and the beginning of wine celebrations. On St Martin’s Day, many Slovenians taste the young wine produced by local winemakers during the current year, together with traditional dishes such as roast goose or duck, red cabbage, mlinci and other delicacies. During our walk, we will stop at two locations where we will sample a selection of savoury dishes as well as a dessert and a glass of wine.

20 November, 10:00–12:00

VISIT TO THE LJUBLJANA CASTLE

We will explore the castle with a castle guide, who will introduce us to all the hidden areas of the castle and share fascinating stories from its history. We will also see the outdoor well and other castle attractions, including the remains of the old castle, a descendant of the world’s oldest grapevine, the open-air prison, and the solitary confinement cells, which illustrate the castle’s role in the 19th and early 20th centuries. We will also climb the Viewing Tower, which offers the most beautiful panoramic view of Ljubljana and its surroundings.

4 December, 10:00–11:30

WORKSHOP: GINGERBREAD DECORATION

The Lectar House from Radovljica has been baking and decorating lectar hearts, traditional gingerbread biscuits that are very well known throughout Slovenia, according to a centuries-old recipe for more than 200 years. During the Autumn School, we will visit their workshop in the centre of Ljubljana, where we will also have the opportunity to try our hand at decorating these traditional gingerbread hearts ourselves.

17 December, 11:00–11:45

CLOSING CEREMONY

At the end of the course, we’ll look at the photos from the accompanying programme, hand out certificates, and enjoy one last gathering with all participants of the Autumn School.