Bela Krajina for two

April is the perfect time to stay longer

If you know Bela krajina mainly as a day trip destination, April is the perfect time to experience it differently. This is not a destination for everyone. And that is precisely why many people love it. There are no large resorts, theme parks, or packed schedules here. But many things are lacking elsewhere: space, time, and contact with the environment.
Spring here is not just a beautiful backdrop, but a time when the landscape truly awakens – and with it, events, customs, and outdoor life. Campsites along the Kolpa River are opening, and the croaking of frogs will be heard again!
This year, April brings three long weekends, which don't happen often in a single month. Even rarer is when they coincide with the period when nature is at its most beautiful, events are at their most authentic, and the destination is not yet crowded. If you are thinking of visiting Bela Krajina "sometime" because you haven't been there yet, April is a good answer to the question of when.

1st weekend: Easter in Bela Krajina means two things: painted eggs and Zaviranje kola

Did you know that Easter eggs were considered "love letters"? In the past, girls would write to their chosen ones on an Easter egg, saying: "This egg is given for love!" Writing Bela Krajina Easter eggs requires patience, precision, and a steady hand. Here, you don't just dip the egg in dye and stick on a sticker of bunnies and chicks. Here, you write on the egg with beeswax. What does it look like? For the first few minutes, you try to imitate the master egg painter, because "it's easy to do," you overheat the wax five times and the egg turns black before it should, but then it works. Little by little. You realize that, for the first time in a long time, you're not in a hurry to get anywhere. You listen to stories told in the strong Bela Krajina dialect and stuff yourself with warm, golden brown flatbread. And tell us, why not create unique Easter eggs for each other this Easter?

Easter Monday was considered a day of rest in the Bela Krajina region. And GAMES.

Easter Monday games occupy a special place: kolo, most, rešetca, robčeci, kurji boj, turn...
Metliško kolo includes all five games. It was danced on Easter Monday. First, couples dressed in white costumes gathered in the courtyard of Metlika Castle, from where they marched to Pungart in front of the church of St. Martin, led by the "vojarinka."
The vojarinka takes the first kolašica by the hand, followed by the others, forming a straight line, while singing:
Play the kolce, don't stop,
play the kolce, don't stop!
I didn't come to play the kolo,
I came to pick a man!

Then the kolaše and kolašice began to dance in winding circles. This is called "kolo zavira" (the kolo slows down).

2nd weekend: Jurjevo

He's here, Green George is here – join us!

Already in April, we can hardly wait to welcome the true herald of spring! The mythical figure of Green George, which originates from Slavic polytheistic beliefs of the pre-Christian era and symbolizes the cyclical nature of life and the year, remains very much alive in Bela Krajina thanks to ancient rituals. It is not something that was created for visitors.
It is part of the identity of the place. Green George will come to us again, and everything will become green and blooming once more!
Every year in spring, Jarilo (Green George) opens the gates of Virej (the underworld) on St. George's Day, releases water onto the earth, escapes from the underworld, and brings life back to our lands. This is where our well-known Jurjevo song comes from:
He left, he left, the colorful Vuzem,
He came, and came, Green George.
He brought, he brought
A foot-long young girl,
A lake-long blade of grass;
From behind the green forest,
From behind the bloody sea
Along the ugly path
Along the thick clod.

Enjoy special experiences that intertwine the lesser-known history and culture of Bela Krajina with the nature that makes it what it is. Can karst be full of water? Can you spot a kingfisher on a branch above the river? How much does a medieval sword weigh? Choose from the experiences below and good luck finding the answers!

3rd weekend: transition to May

If you want a May Day break without traffic jams and crowded destinations, Bela Krajina is the logical choice. It is still close enough that you don't have to drive far, and secluded enough that the pace remains slow. Instead of crowds, you get: bonfires in smaller venues, evenings spent wine tasting, walks where you meet more locals than tourists, and nature at its peak. Come by car and tents or drive up in a motorhome and enjoy the fresh, warm air in our little country on the sunny side of Gorjanci. What could be better than waking up to the gentle singing of birds and the murmur of the Kolpa River (and the croaking of frogs)?