Slovenia

Beehive panels. One of Slovenia's quintessential folk-art handicrafts, beehive panel paintings stem from the 19th century. Rummage for attractive hand-painted replicas of original beehive panels, decorated with religious themes as well as everyday life and folktale motifs, in Ljubljana's marketplace (located in Mestni trg [Old Town]) and throughout the Gorenjska region.

Woodwork. The Slovene people have long maintained an intimate relationship with the wood of the land, crafting fine suha roba (literally "dry goods") with the Emperor's written permission as early as 1492. The most traditional of goods—wooden spoons, ladles, bowls, clogs, and pocket-size sundials—can be found in villages like Salka vas in the Kocevje region and in markets throughout Slovenia. Also watch for toothpicks hand-carved from hazel wood, dogwood, barberry, and beech wood.

Idrija lace. A tradition several centuries strong, the famous handicraft of bobbin lace still thrives in Idrija (west of Ljubljana), where a lacemaking school was established in 1876. The intricate lace is a popular local gift. Curtains, tablecloths, and bed linens can be found in shops in the Idrija area and Ljubljana, such as at the Ljubljana Castle's Galerija Rustica gift shop, as well as at Idrija's Lace Festival held annually each summer. After decades of declining interest, the handicraft saw a resurgence of popularity in the 1980s.

Ironworks. Drawing from a 700-year blacksmith tradition, the town of Kropa is Slovenia's iron-forging epicenter. In the village of Bilpa, the Verderber blacksmithing workshop—one of Slovenia's last water-powered blacksmiths—continues to operate and offer guided tours (+386 1 893 14 60). Buy artistic ironworks such as candleholders and lighting fixtures, unique jewelry, or well-crafted knives by artisans and blacksmiths.