Top 5 Things to do in Ilirska Bistrica, Slovenia

Memorial Center Lipa remembers was opened in Lipa on April 2015 on the site of the former Memorial Museum operating from 1968 to 1989. With the restoration of the museum, memory is also being restored. Memory of heavy historical heritage of 30th of April 1944 when Lipa, in just a few hours, lost 269 of its residents, mostly elderly, women and children. The crime was committed by the Nazis and Fascists within the "Braunschweig" offensive- territory cleansing operation against partisan "bandits". Killing civilians was followed by the theft of their property, and burning all of their houses and farmhouses. The end of World War II brings Lipa to its knees as surviving inhabitants have no homes to return to. At this point a long and painstaking restoration began, and the continuation of life marked by a sense of loss. Today Lipa lives and remembers. The permanent exhibition of the Memorial Center Lipa remembers interprets the history of World War II in the microregion of Liburnian Karst that, in addition to Lipa, comprises of Pasjak, Rupa, Šapjane and Brdce. Memorial Heritage of World War II is complemented by the overview of the continuity of life in this region, from prehistoric times to the present, with a special emphasis on the cultural, ethnographic and historical heritage, dating before and after the tragic event. In holistic approach to this regions heritage, the tragic event of 30th of April 1944 can be seen in a broader context, as only one of many identity features belonging to vital and potent community of Lipa.

The Park of Military History Pivka is a museum and experience center providing its visitors with a unique insight into the rich military and historical heritage of this strategically very important part of Slovenia. The Park hosts one of the biggest tank-artillery collection in this part of Europe. Aside from the tanks, field guns and other armored vehicles from the second half of the 20th century, we also put on display a collection of the military aircrafts together with the helicopter Gazelle T0-001 Velenje, which supplement the museum contents. Nevertheless, the most attractive exhibit piece for our visitors is still the sabotage submarine P-913 Zeta, since they can also see its interior and experience the secret world of the submariners. With its exhibition The Road to Independence, the Park of Military History was also the first to chronologically and systematicly display the process of gaining independence in the Republic of Slovenia and the break-up of the former Yugoslavia. This topic is also illustrated with the display of armored and other vehicles that participated in the Slovenian war for independence in 1991.