Slovenia’s hidden gems: Exploring Melania Trump’s roots
Though not a major metropolis, Novo Mesto is one of Slovenia's more intriguingly situated towns. Its centre occupies a small peninsula, making it a place known to Slovenians, Croatians (who live very nearby), and some Americans. This is where Melania Trump hails from.
Novo Mesto lies on the Krka River. The centre—known as the old town—is perched on a small hill, topped by the Gothic St. Nicholas Church and surrounded by medieval walls from the 14th century.
Not far from the town are the Smarjenske Thermal Spas, where thermal waters were discovered 200 years ago.
Melania Trump grew up here
Although the birthplace of Melanija Knavs (later Melania Trump) is charming and sometimes visited by American tourists seeking traces of the former First Lady of the USA in Slovenia, it is not usually their first choice.
More people choose Sevnica as their destination, where she spent her formative years. This town, located in the Alps, not far from Ljubljana, is surrounded by picturesque green hills and vineyards. Sevnica Castle stands atop Castle Hill, overlooking the town's older part. New districts spread along the hills down to the Sava Valley.
Sevnica experienced a real boom in 2017 when Donald Trump—Melania's husband—became the President of the USA. Tourists and journalists worldwide, especially from America, suddenly turned their attention to this charming part of Slovenia. They found stories about young Melania, beautiful views, and numerous attractions. The surroundings include stunning landscapes, medieval monuments, and excellent wine. "Welcome to the homeland of the new First Lady of the United States of America," read one promotional portal for Slovenia's attractions.
Local tourist offices still offer "Melania Trump trail" tours today, allowing visitors to see places where she lived, studied, and worked before moving abroad.
A monument to Melania
A wooden statue stands in the city in tribute to Melania. The original was created in 2019 but was set on fire a year later (July 4, 2020). Two months later, a new wooden monument was erected in the same place. It is a replica, and beside it is an inscription stating, "This monument is dedicated to the eternal memory of Melania's statue that stood in this place."
The original was painted light blue to resemble the coat worn by the First Lady during Donald Trump's inauguration in January 2017.
How to get there?
These regions of Slovenia are certainly familiar to Poles who drive to Croatia—as the cities are on a route passing through the Czech Republic, Austria, and Slovenia.
