Guide To Exploring The Magic Of Bela Krajina Slovenia

A region in Slovenia you’ve probably never heard about, Bela Krajina, stole my heart. Here is what to do in Bela Krajina.

Slovenia is well known for its beautiful lakes sich as Lake Bled, sprawling landscapes, beautiful people, and Ljubljana’s quirky capital. But, a region you’ve probably never heard about, Bela Krajina, stole my heart.

Bela Krajina is located in the far South-East of Slovenia. It is nestled against the Kolpa River, which forms the natural border with Croatia, one of the cleanest and surprisingly warmest rivers in Slovenia.

As the rest of the country is becoming more widely explored by tourists and travelers, Bela Krajina Slovenia lies unassumingly peaceful and charming.

Drink Wine

Renowned for the color white in its unique forests made of white birch and traditional white costumes, Bela Krajina stuns its visitors with its beauty.

This region has a rich history in wine. Drive around the area, and you’ll be greeted with sprawling, beautiful vineyard after sprawling beautiful vineyard. The best-known varietals from this region are the red Metliška Črnina and the white Belokranjsko Belo. Both are served with every meal and often mixed with sparkling water.

It’s an interesting quirk of the region to be handed a bottle of sparkling water when ordering a glass of vino!

If you get the opportunity to visit during harvest time, do not pass it up. Not only is the harvest a celebration in itself, but Slovenians really make it extra special!

If you can, seek out a community vineyard. Often, in a town, there will be a vineyard set up as a “community grape bank” of sorts that everyone in the area contributes to. If one vineyard has a tough season, it can pull from these extra grapes so it doesn’t lose an entire harvest!

The wine flows, and there are actual accordion players usually in the vines. Afterward, there is plenty more wine, music, dancing, and tons of food! The people of the region are known for their friendliness, and you’ll be accepted with open arms!

Bela Krajina’s largest towns are Črnomelj, Metlika, and Semič. Metlika and Semič are where you can find the majority of the vineyards and stunning fields and landscapes. I urge you to take a drive up a large hill to take in the views of the surrounding area. There are small parks nestled on some of these hills with watchtowers that are an absolute dream from which to look at the sunset.

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Check Out Metlika

Metlika is well worth visiting, mainly because it is home to the Bela Krajina Museum and the National Museum of Firefighting. The first volunteer firefighter brigade in Slovenia was formed in 1869!

The Bela Krajina Museum calls Metlika home because it is arguably the most important city in the region. There are actually strong indicators that the city was inhabited in prehistoric times and played a major role in defending the area against the Turks in the 15th and 16th centuries.

The fascinating part of the region is its people. Each shop owner, restaurant owner, and tradesperson has a unique story of how they wound up doing what they do.

Try The Local Produce

Within Bela Krajina, you can visit many honey producers, a truly unique oil maker who makes edible oils from seeds, nuts, berries, and grains that you wouldn’t typically find, bakers, and so much more!

Craft beers are HUGE inSlovenia primarily due to one truly successful brewer that paved the way for the hundreds of breweries popping up throughout the country.

Vizir is the oldest craft brewery in the country and single-handedly opened the locals’ palates up to Pale Ales, Lagers, IPAs, and even Stouts. As you may have guessed, the owners came from winemakers, but they are more than happy brewing mostly beer nowadays.

Berryshka is another genuinely interesting vendor from the region. This liqueur distillery makes some of the most interesting drinks. Try the Black Currant flavor out of one of their homemade edible chocolate shot glasses. Did I mention that they also produce handmade chocolate? Keep on the lookout in the next couple of years, as they are supposedly in the works to start producing whiskeys!

Slovenian Food

Finally, here is the Slovenian food of Bela Krajina! Bread is a staple in this region, specifically Belokranjska Pogača, a type of focaccia-style bread with cumin seeds sprinkled on top. It’s served up alongside practically every meal, especially with breakfast!

One of arguably the best restaurants in the region is Gostišče Veselič. Owned by the vivacious Andrea, lunch is typically a choice between meat, fish, or vegetable main and a soup or salad full of cabbage to start. It’s often simple yet incredibly delicious. Don’t just come for the food, though; go for Andrea and her wild side!

What Else To Eat In Bela Krajina

• Bacon Stew. A hearty dish, perfect for colder days
• Belokranjska Povitica. A traditional Slovenian roll filled with various fillings
• Belokranjska Šara. A vegetable dish made with a mix of bell peppers, eggs, and spices
• Belokranjski Nadev. A type of ham stuffing, savory and rich
• Belokranjski Žlinkrofi. Pasta dough dumplings filled with a delicious cream
• Belokranjsko Cvrtje. Fried pastry, a local delicacy
• Cabbage Stew. A classic dish with a long tradition in Slovenian cuisine
• Leavened Flatbread. Soft, fluffy, and versatile, often paired with savory dishes
• Millet Groats. A grain-based dish, nutritious and wholesome

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Big Berry Camp

If you are looking for a place to stay while exploring the Bela Krajina region, look no further than Big Berry. The camp is nestled in Primostek along the Kolpa River.

The camp consists of individual modular-style homes with a beautiful backdrop. Resort goers can leave their expensive dresses behind and soak in the hot tubs that a local vendor produces, munch on the delicious breakfast treats served up in individual baskets and left on your doorstep each morning, or go on one of the limitless adventures the resort offers!

Each day, we were greeted with a beautiful view and activities to choose from, including kayaking, hiking, visiting local vendors, sampling wines, and, most importantly, eating! The camp is the perfect place to relax and experience the simpler side of life in the Bela Krajina.