As long ago as 1580, a stud farm was set up in what is now Slovenia to supply horses to the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. The farm eventually bred the famous snow-white Lippizaner horse. Today they are considered the finest riding horses in the world. Despite being ruled for almost a thousand years by German-speaking Austrians, the Slovenes have kept their Slav language and folk culture. Colourful embroidery and distinctive headwear are part of that culture.
Most people live in small towns or in one of the numerous villages scattered across the country.
Only 300,000 people live in the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana, making it the second smallest capital in Europe.