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Brdo Estate

Castle, golf course, park, lakes, hotel, congress centre … you name it, Brdo Estate has it … but still not many tourists know or visit this place. We are quite sure this has something to do with the fact Brdo Castle is the most important diplomatic protocol building in Republic of Slovenia. Through its history, it hosted presidents, kings, and diplomats from all over the world. But this does not mean you can see it! Brdo Estate is (most of the time) open to public and is well worth of a visit. We’d recommend you to take at least half of the day to really enjoy the place and discover all of its secrets.

 

Brdo Castle

Our favourite part is of course the park. Small lakes, wooden bridges and animals make this place a photographer’s paradise … especially in the autumn when colours take over. In late spring you can admire baby swans, flowers and amazing mountains in the back. We are quite sure even bad winter will not spoil your experience. Moody woods and foggy lakes are something that looks nice on any photo.

 

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If you are an architecture lover or maybe you’d prefer statues … you will find lots of motives here. The Brdo Castle is renaissance chateau, built in 16th century. It is characterized by four dominant corner towers and it really stands out here. Also the congress centre: A modern building in the middle of pure nature makes everything more interesting.

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To know more about the place we highly recommend you to check official Brdo Estate page. There you’ll find everything there is to know about rich history of the area, maps, information … everything you need to know. We’d only add one thing: Don’t forget to stop at the hotel terrace and try one of their sweets. They are as good as they look. Or even better:) #nowyouknow

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Instameet in Soča Valley

Yes indeed, finally we are meeting in the beautiful Soča Valley! On Saturday, 17th June at 8.00 we meet in Kobarid in front of TIC Kobarid (Trg svobode 16) and leave to explore some more distant parts of the valley at 8.30 with a mini bus Hop ON, Hop OFF (special route for us courtesy of @socavalley).

We will be heading  to Nadiža River first – Podbela and Napoleon Bridge, followed by a visit of Robidišče, an old village on the border with Italy. Next stop will be in Logje on our way to Breginj.

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We will be back in Kobarid sometime in early afternoon, proceeding on our own with exploration of Soča river and probably some waterfalls, depends on the weather and inspiration.

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Number of participants is limited. Apply by email: info@igslovenia.si. Please state your full name and your Instagram user name in application.

See you there!

Ambassadors of #CentralSlovenia

Winner of  the Share Your Postcards from #CentralSlovenia  Challenge will take over a selection to posting features @igslovenia for a week. There is almost 2.000 photos tagged #centralslovenia, a plentiful collection of postcards to share with your friends.

Purpose of the challenge is to raise awareness of the many beautiful spots just around the corner from Ljubljana. We can be successful in fulfilling this task only with the help of you hence we decided to award the most active supporters as Ambassadors who will also receive an exclusive, limited edition T-shirt!

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What qualifies you for an Ambassador of #CentralSlovenia? It is simple:

  • follow @igslovenia and @visitljubljana on Instagram
  • post your photos from Central Slovenia – the more you post, bigger are your chances to win a T-shirt
  • share featured photos or tagged photos with your friends – tag them in comments, invite them somewhere.

First Ambassador we announced a while ago is @mihapongrac (Miha Pongrac) followed by  Uroš Abram @uabram . They have both shared many photos from the area, Uroš has also been featured.

Following their steps are @peterpancur Peter Pančur and @sasacrocy.loves with a great collections of Central Slovenia posts, @lukaesenko (Luka Esenko) and Jan Čermelj @jancermelj both already with a double feature, Ana Pogačar @anapogacar and Iztok Medja   .

We know that some people don’t have photos from Central Slovenia, but they support the campaign by sharing  photos and, above all, sharing the vibe! Manuel Wolf @manuelo_bo and @hairhoppers_010  are just two of them.

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Update

The second set of ambassadors, awarded by exclusive T-shirts as follows:

@dejkovski and @jakaskrlep have shared many different locations and have both been featured already; this is valid also for @dreamypixels whose time lapse of clouds over Velika planina was the very first video we have ever posted on Instagram. Great collections of photos from Central Slovenia which bring them an Ambassador title have also @valentina_plahuta, @denissimcic, @bojanaklemenc.bofit, @ines_loveslife and @silva.abram , Valentina and Bojana also with a feature. Congratulations!

Update 2

In the last part of the challenge the Ambassador title and a T-shirt go to:

@gregorkacin has shown us many different parts of Central Slovenia and he was also featured. Very active contributors who shared their photos were also @mybluedragoness, @lukakotnikphoto, @lukezifoto, @pjsmooth77 and @mancakorelc.

Thank you all for your support!

Sveti Jakob /St Jacob/

Sveti Jakob (St. Jacob) above Medvode suits just perfectly in the definition of Central Slovenia: it is just around the corner of Ljubljana. It is also one of the most beautiful peaks of Polhograjsko Hills. It is simply called by the name of the saint and patron of the church which marks the hill since centuries and gives the landscape a special appeal. Official name of the hill is Brezovica as is the name of the village bellow it.

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The best approach to photographing the church is to keep some distance and find an undisturbed view from bellow or from the opposite slope above the village.

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Views from the church are also great but it would be much easier to photograph the landscape beneath from the short ridge between the village and the beginning of the final ascent to the church.

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Sveti Jakob is beautiful in all seasons but it would be rather difficult to find an undisturbed view during the season and during the weekends in all seasons. Topol nad Medvodami, the village which is the most obvious starting point for those who want to have a short walk, and Sveti Jakob itself are very popular destinations for short trips out of Ljubljana, especially when the fog is tick in the city.  Sveti Jakob, with alltitude of 804 m is high enough to be usually above the temperature inversion.

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Topol is also sometimes called Katarina by the church of Sv. Katarina just above the village. On the way from Sv. Katarina to Sv. Jakob Ljubljana sometimes feels to be just beneath the feet but it takes some time to get from the city to the destination. It is accessible by car through Žerovnik (Ljubljana – Polhov Gradec road) or Medvode. Both will take you about 20 minutes.

St. Anna

St. Anna above Lake Podpeč on Ljubljana Marshes is a perfect getaway from a hustle and bustle of Ljubljana. Only a short drive  from the city (like 15 minutes) plus a short walk (20 or 30 minutes) … there is this amazing small church built on a hill with the same name – St. Anna.

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St. Anna is a church you can see from far away and it offers some amaaaaazing views of Ljubljana Marshes. It stands on a steep slope above the old Podpeč Quarry. As the hill juts out like a huge pier above the Barje, the view from the platform around the church is amazingly beautiful and vast, for it embraces the entire Ljubljansko barje from Škofljica to Vrhnika. In its present form, the Church of St. Anna has stood here since the end of the 16th century, when built on foundations of an old Gothic church. The main pilgrimage gathering is held on Sunday after St. Anna’s Day (26th July).

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We (meaning team Igslovenia – @zokus_gf, me & Tara, our dog:)) prefer leaving our car near Lake Podpeč and then going a little bit uphill to ‘climb’ to the top. It usually takes us just around half of an hour and it gives us the pleasure of being just a little tired while reaching the church at the top. Plus – there is a city bus going from Ljubljana to Jezero (Lake Podpeč) and back every half of an  hour … so … if you don’t mind a short walk uphill St. Ana is reachable even if you don’t drive.

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If you have a car and (or) you are not a fan of walking uphill … go towards village Preserje and leave your car just before the village. The walk will be a little bit shorter and easier.

Beside the church … there is nothing at the top … just views … wherever you look … there are amazing views. So – bring some water … sit down, relax and enjoy. Best time to visit St. Ana is, of course, sunrise or sunset. I prefer – sunsets. Just be careful … if you are going up or down in the dark … bring some lights with you!

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Enjoy and check out other spots around Ljubljana Marshes: Lake Podpeč, Ižica and Snake’s Head Fritillary Meadow!

 

By @sanya_lt.

 

 

 

 

Ljubljana Castle

I’ll be honest: Ljubljana Castle is my favourite photo-spot in Ljubljana. Perched on top of a hill, just above the old town, it offers amazing views on the whole city and surrounding area, all the way to Kamnik-Savinja & Julian Alps. Wherever you look, whatever you do … there is something to see & photograph; the castle itself, architecture details, people (getting married), couples in love, rich cultural program, view on the city, mountains in the distance … It really doesn’t matter what are you looking for … you will find it!

There are many trails leading to the top of the castle and every one of them offers different photo opportunities. Ok, the easiest way to get up there is to take the funicular (located near the central market, on the Krekov trg), but taking photos from the funicular is no fun (due to the ‘dirty’ windows you will never get the photo you are looking for).

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So – walk! My favourite time to visit the castle is spring, when colour green takes over the castle forests. Walking up there between lush green trees opens ‘windows’ in the trees allowing you to take picture perfect photos.

I also love the views from the castle in the winter, when you can see almost all city. I prefer view toward Trnovo district (south-west of the city), where you can take best sunset photos. Don’t forget; You will never be alone at the Castle Hill in the sunset time, so if you are looking for a really nice place and photo – be there before sunset!

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Also – don’t forget to visit the Castle Tower! It offers unobstructed (360) view of the city so – it’s a must! The views of the city from here are the best and you can capture details of the rooftops & Ljubljana’s notable bridges, squares and buildings.

If you get hungry  or thirsty… there are 2 restaurants (that I really, really like), Strelec & Gostilna na Gradu and a Castle Coffe House, so … just sit down and enjoy. If you need more ideas about perfect photo spots don’t forget to check out an amazing SNAPP guide to photographing Ljubljana by dear friend, Luka Esenko.

So … when in Ljubljana … Castle is a must. Also – let me know you are around. I’ll just might join you.

Sanja

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Mommy, mommy, we are on TV!

Jokes aside … it does not happen very often that we end up on television explaining who we are and what we do. Up until now Igslovenia mostly appeared online or in magazines that are specialized in digital marketing.

Since it is always nice to know who is ‘at the other side’ of the computer screen we decided to share a few articles and presentations about us. They are, sorry, all in Slovene. Hopefully, one day … we can do an interview in English:))

The first interview: SKETA.SI > ‘Kokoška’ na Instagramu (Chicken on Instagram:)

About Instagram in Slovenia; Radio Val 202 (10.6. 2015) > Instagrama v Sloveniji še ne jemljemo resno.

Fotkast na mreži podkastov Marsovci (5.1. 2016)> Slovenija na Instagramu

Podcast 091 Metina lista (18.6. 2016) > Metina lista

About Instameet in Koper (24.6. 2016) > Instagramerji bodo obiskali Koper

A short video clip that was shown on TV, so my mum finally knows what we do;) – Svet na Kanalu A (12.7. 2016) >> Igslovenia. Who are we & what do we do?

Holiday entertainment on the online portal of national TV station Praznični koledar MMC RTV (8.12. 2016)

Local news coverage of photographers who made into top 10 2016  (12.1. 2017) Koprski fotograf med top 10,

18.1. 2017 Ajdovski in koprski fotograf med naj instagramerji

Interview in a national daily Dnevnik (3.2. 2017) Ljudje se zaljubijo v fotografijo na Instagramu 

 

Since we are on Instagram almost from it’s beginnings we also have some exoeriences to share – we did a few seminars and workshops and were invited to lecture or participate at roundtables on the topic:

Seminar : Instagram in tourism marketing, 6.10. 2016  with Marketing magazin 

Workshop: Instagram od A do … 22.12. 2016

Workshop: Instagram in Marketing, SEMPL 18, November 2016

Workshop: ABC Instagrama, Njami Food bloggers conference, November 2016

Seminar: Instagram in Marketing, 30.3. 2017 with Marketing Magazin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instagram v trženju

Kako razviti in upravljati uspešen profil? Kako izkoristiti visoko vpletenost uporabnikov Instagrama? Kako zagotoviti dobro vsebino? Kako umestiti Instagram v strategijo komuniciranja? Odgovore na vsa ta in mnoga druga vprašanja o uporabi Instagrama v marketingu boste dobili na seminarju 30.3. 2017, ki ga bova vodila mag. Zoran Leban Trojar in Sanja Leban Trojar, ustanovitelja @igslovenia.

Uporabnikov Instagrama je kar 600 milijonov, vključenost povprečnega uporabnika pa je  sedemkrat večja kot na drugih platformah. Z uvedbo poslovnih profilov in novih funkcij, kot sta Stories in prenos v živo, je postala uporaba Instagrama za blagovne znamke še bolj učinkovita.  Praktično vse vodilne svetovne znamke uporabljajo Instagram, vendar lahko z njim tudi manjša podjetja in znamke dosežejo odlične rezultate.

@Igslovenia deluje na Instagramu že pet let in ima skoraj petdeset tisoč sledilcev iz vsega sveta. Spremljanje dobrih praks in sodelovanje z uspešnimi »instagramerji« je sestavni del vodenja profila na vseh platformah družbenih medijev. Ustanovitelja @igslovenia sva svoje znanje in izkušnje delila že na jesenskem seminarju o uporabi Instagrama v trženju destinacij, na srečanju modnih (www.beautybloggers.si/) in kulinaričnih blogerjev (www.njamzgodbe.si), na konferenci SEMPL 2016, organizirata pa tudi delavnice za posameznike. Slovenska uporaba Instagrama je malce zaostajala za svetovno, zadnji dve leti pa pospešeno raste in k temu je prispevala tudi @igslovenia.

Vse, kar morate vedeti o učinkovitosti Instagrama in kako razviti in voditi uspešen profil, bo le uvod v srečanje.  Pojasnil bova,, kako hkratna uporaba video sporočanja s funkcijo Instagram Stories povečuje obseg in doseg interakcije. Predstavljeni bodo načini za zagotavljanje prave vsebine in pravila dobre fotografije. Spoznali boste različne strategije uporabe Instagrama za doseganje različnih ciljev in ugotovili, kdaj zares potrebujemo vplivneže. Del predavanja bo namenjen tudi oglaševanju na Instagramu. Z vsem navedenim boste seznanjeni prek konkretnih primerov dobrih praks in uporabe različnih strategij v avtomobilski industriji, turizmu, modi, hrani in storitvah.

Prijave: mmoderniseminarji@marketingmagazin.si, tel: 01 43 45 640

Cena seminarja: 125,00 EUR + DDV. Za prijave do 20. marca 25 % popust.

Lokacija: Ljubljana

Datum izobraževanja: 30. marec 2017

Trajanje: 9:00–13:00

Program:
09.00 – 10.30

  • Instagram – uporaba, vpletenost in trženje
  • Instagram kot platforma in kot skupnost
  • Razvoj in vodenje profila
  • (orodja, podatki, značke, hubi, influencerji, dos and don’ts, aplikacije)
  • Vloga video sporočanja (Instagram Stories, video)
  • Zagotavljanje vsebine

11.00 – 13.00

  • Strategije za uspešno delo na Instagramu
  • Oglaševanje v aplikaciji
  • Uporaba in srategije v posameznih industrijah – študije primerov
  • Vprašanja in razprava
  • Predavata mag. Zoran Leban Trojar in Sanja Leban Trojar

Top 10 instagrammers from Slovenia 2016

It has been an amazing year for Igslovenia. We have organized 3 Instameets and some very successful workshops (next one >> 22. 12. 2016!) beside having published almost 450 photos from 285 photographers. At the end of the year, is time for recap – who are the best photographers of 2016 on @igslovenia?

Let us explain the criteria first; We have been looking for best instagrammers from Slovenia. They were the most featured photographers on our page in the past year, so they are (mainly) landscape photographers sharing photos of Slovenia and tagging #igslovenia. Their photos are of supreme quality, they are always searching for new locations and sharing lots of information about specific places. We also highly appreciated their interaction with followers. All of them have been featured on Igslovenia profile at least 5 times in 2016.

So, here they are, top 10 instagramers from Slovenia 2016 (in alphabetical order).

Ana Pogačar >> @anapogacar

Velika Planina Ana2 Ana3

Borut Trdina >> @boruttrdina

boruttrdina borut2 borut3

Aleš Krivec >> @dreamypixels

Dreamypixel dreamy2 dreamy3

Iztok Medja >> @iztok_medja

Iztok_medja iztok2 iztok3

Jaka Ivančič >> @jaka_ivancic

jaka3

Jan Čermelj >> @jancermelj

jancermelj jan2 jan3

Luka Esenko >> @lukaesenko

lukaesenko luka2 luka3

Luka Kotnik >> @lukakotnikphoto

lukakotnik lukak2 lukak3

Peter Zajfrid >> @peterzajfridphoto

peterzajfrid peter2 peter3

Simon Primožič >> @simonprimozic

simonprimozic simon2 simon3

PS: All photos used here were published by top 10 instagrammers – on Instagram.  To see the originals in high quality check their webpages & follow them on Instagram.

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Instameet No5 – Brdo pri Kranju (Brdo Estate)

Park of Brdo Estate is beautiful in all seasons but autumn has a special charm. It was a beautiful sunny day which exposed all the vibrant colours for us. But let’s begin from the beginning – we organised this Instameet with the help of Brdo Estate marketing team which made sure that  more than 20 participants didn’t need to pay the entrance fee and we got more than rich welcome snacks and picnic baskets before the sunset.

Screen Shot 2016-10-30 at 18.21.33Hotel receptions/estate guide explained some of the rich history of the estate which you can read on their site or shorter version in our announcement.

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We passed the modern congress centre just after the entrance and the exploration went under way. Everybody tried to get a nice shot of the red tree.

Screen Shot 2016-10-30 at 18.20.22Colours, swans and reflections were the key words of the day.

Screen Shot 2016-10-30 at 18.31.27We indeed had a lot of fun with the swans…Screen Shot 2016-10-30 at 18.21.01...especially the black model….

Screen Shot 2016-10-30 at 18.20.36…but also with each other! A threesome here…

Screen Shot 2016-10-30 at 18.19.35There is a small herd of Lipizzaners at the estate, available for riding but also working.

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This time we didn’t try to keep the group together, everybody explored the park by themselves but there was an important meeting point.

Screen Shot 2016-10-30 at 18.18.03Picnic baskets provided by the host were full of local specialities and nobody stayed hungry. Just imagine a beautiful summer day under the trees with the picnic basket and some more romantic company…

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Picnic took place at the beginning of a very special tree-lined lane, an ideal photo setting.

Screen Shot 2016-10-30 at 18.17.33Eating we had been waiting for the sunset – it was not spectacular since the weather was so bright and dry but still – worth the wait.

Screen Shot 2016-10-30 at 18.23.47Photo by @zupssss.

More photos of the Instameet are to be found in the album Instameetbrdo on Facebook page and on Instagram under tags #instameetbrdo and #brdoestate. Much more about the Brdo Estate  in Where to in Slovenia in coming days. Stay tuned, also for the next Instameet coming soon.

Zoran Leban Trojar @zokus_gf