Ljubljana Botanical gardens thriving, expansion planned
Ljubljana, 11 July - Ljubljana's botanical gardens, which were opened 206 years ago and are considered the oldest in SE Europe, have experienced a major increase in visitor numbers and even better times seem ahead, as an expansion has been announced for this year.
Ljubljana
A purple coneflower, one of the 5,000 plant species grown at the Ljubljana Botanical Gardens.
Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA
The gardens, which received the status of a cultural monument of national importance in 2008, have seen visitor numbers boosted by paths leading to them from the Ljubljanica river, including via boat, and Ljubljana Castle.
The head of the gardens Jože Bavcon explained today that more than 100,000 visitors a year were counted and that especially tourists found them a perfect destination during the summer.
Up to 8,000 guided tours are organised each year to the gardens, which are home to around 5,000 plant species. Access is free of charge with the exception of the tropical glasshouse.
The gardens, which moreover harbour the seeds of a fifth of Slovenia's flora, also organise events like plant and seed markets, conventions, educational and cultural events.
Bavcon meanwhile announced that the Ljubljana Municipality had provided an additional hectare of land to the gardens and that the expansion was already expected to be completed this year.