Basic HTML Version
TRAVELLER
113
DISCOVERIES VIEWPOINTS FEATURES FASHION BUSINESS
PROPERTY
DESTINATION GUIDES
Far left,
the
agricultural
region has been
described as a
“mini-Tuscany”;
near left,
Bar Na
Kujkli, inMurska
Sobota, is a little
bit of Britain
It’s also seriously pretty. Even within the geographical
context of Slovenia – which contains myriad landscapes,
fromAlpine peaks to Adriatic coastline – western Slovenia
is something special. Lying to the west of theMura, on the
border withHungary, Prekmurje combines surreally flat
plains with the rolling hills of the Gori˘ckoNature Park.
Like a giant, fertile garden, it’s covered with vineyards and
orchards, dotted with traditional cottages and farmhouses,
and home to one of Slovenia’s largest castles at Grad.
An extra incentive is the local diet; its food is as
wholesome and tasty as its agricultural traditions might
suggest. Local specialities include
prekmurska šunka
(dried
ham), gibanica layer cake (with poppy seeds, soft cheese,
walnuts and apples) and goulash-like bogra˘c – a reminder
of the area’s historical Hungarian influences. There’s
also excellent wine from the region’s critically acclaimed
vineyards, andmany thermal spas. “It’s like amini-
Tuscany,” says Samuel of the place that has been her home
now for eight years, and has welcomedmany others since.
Justin Young, of the Ljubljana-based Slovenia Estates
agency (
sloveniaestates.com
), says that between 2004 and
2007, as many as 150 properties were bought in the area by
people from the UK. Since then, he has sold hundreds of
properties across the country to foreign buyers.
While the local market wasn’t spared the effects of the
financial crisis, recently Young has noticed a recovery,
particularly in this region. He says about 20% of his business
is currently in Prekmurje. “In 2009 and 2010, interest
together with neighbouringMaribor and Ptuj – has become
an unlikely hotspot for international property buyers.
As the beer ’n’ darts décor of Bar NaKujkli suggests, the
English led theway, heading here in droves after the country
joined the EU, but it’s not just the Brits queuing up. Austrians
andGermans are also frequent buyers, while even folk
fromHolland, France and as far as Finland andEstonia are
snapping up holiday homes, buy-to-lets or family abodes.
Indeed, since 2004, citizens of 21 countries have invested
in the region, andmany of themcan be found enjoying a
regular Sundaymeet-and-mingle at Bar NaKujkli, “The
Corner Pub”, in the country town ofMurska Sobota. This
pub is sowell-known in the area as an international melting
pot, it has even become a case study for the EU-funded social
research project, DERREG (DevelopingEurope’s Rural
Regions in the Era of Globalization;
derreg.eu
), which is
examining how rural areas are changing in the 21st century.
So what’s attracting all these foreigners? Louise Samuel
is one of those who’ve invested here. In 2004, she was
living in London with her husband and two small children
when she began to think about moving abroad. The
family considered popular destinations like Spain, but her
grandfather had recently visited Slovenia on a choir tour
and said it reminded himof England 30 years ago. The
Samuels drove all over the country, but it was only when
they encountered Prekmurje’s farming community that they
felt at home. “As soon as we crossed theMura River, people
were so friendly and helpful,” says Samuels.
Average highest summer
temperature in the Slovenian capital
Percent of the city’s populationwho
are students
Million tourists have visited
Slovenia over the past 20 years
LJUBLJANA
NEED TO KNOW
TOP FACT
More than half of
Slovenia is covered by forest
easyJet
FLIES TO
LJUBLJANA
fromLondon and Paris. See our insider guide on page 162.
Book online at easyJet.com
41
1
/
8
25
PROPERTY