Radovljica, Gorenjska's sweet Radol'ca

What to see in Radovljica, Linhart Square

The heart of town is Linhart Square, which the local tourist board ranks among the most beautiful old centres in Slovenia. There are burgher houses, a Baroque manor and, according to the Slovenian Tourist Board, the country’s only surviving defensive moat. In one of those houses Anton Tomaž Linhart was born, historian and the first Slovene playwright, who gives the square its name. Beside it is a small park, all that remains of the old Baroque garden, and along the main road towards the swimming pool stands a row of Art Nouveau villas, among them the town hall, nicknamed Čebelica, the little bee, for the bee decoration over its entrance.

The old centre has several museums and galleries, such as Šivec House and Magušar’s House, devoted to Gorenjska pottery.

Bees, honey and chocolate

Radovljica sees itself as the capital of Slovenian beekeeping. The manor houses the Museum of Apiculture, opened in 1959, with the Carniolan bee and the famous painted beehive panels. Next door, at the Lectar inn, the cellar workshop still makes honeybread hearts to the original recipe. A honeybread and candle workshop started here in 1766, and the tradition was revived in 2006.

Chocolate is the other half of the nickname. Every April, for three days, Radovljica holds a chocolate festival that the tourist board bills as the biggest in Slovenia, and in summer there’s also the Radovljica early music festival.

Around the town

Radovljica municipality, with 19,359 people, has several villages worth a trip. Kropa was the centre of iron forging. Brezje is home to Slovenia’s national shrine, the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians. And Begunje is the cradle of Slavko Avsenik’s popular folk music. The Jelovica plateau, largely a Natura 2000 site, lies to the south. With children, there is also the Adventure Mini Golf Panorama just outside town, 12 grass holes in the forest with views of the Julian Alps, and the little Zlatokop village, where they can try panning for gold.

If you are staying the night, see the best hotel deals in Radovljica for your dates: the well-placed rooms go fast.

Staying in Radovljica and popping over to Bled

Radovljica lies by the Gorenjska motorway and close to Lesce, which has a railway station. In July and August a free shuttle connects the town with Bled, stopping at Lesce station and two campsites. That’s why I think it makes a good alternative base when Bled is full, with a calmer feel and the square for dinner. The Radovljica tourist office also runs a guided walk of the old centre on Tuesday mornings.

So you do not lose the morning at the ticket office, browse tickets and tours in Radovljica on GetYourGuide.

If you are staying the night, see the best hotel deals in Radovljica for your dates: the well-placed rooms go fast.