Slovenia

Where the name comes from

Slovenia means “land of the Slovenes”; Slovene is related to the wider name Slav, whose origin is uncertain.

First people

Slavic ancestors of Slovenes settled here in the 500s, and Slovene is a South Slavic language.¹

Known for

Slovenia is known for Lake Bled, with its island church, and for Postojna Cave.²

Outside contact

The Habsburgs acquired Carniola in 1335.³

The modern country

The region joined the South Slav kingdom in 1918; Germany, Italy and Hungary divided it in 1941–1945. Slovenia declared independence in June 1991 and joined the European Union in 2004.¹