Strolling amongst the fields of Slovenian lavender in Starše

I am almost certain that while planning your trip to Slovenia, the thought of strolling amongst the purple fields of domestic lavender never crossed your mind. Near the second largest city in Slovenia, Maribor, which is also the home of the oldest vine in the world, you will get to do exactly that. The Selinšek Farm with the company Štajerska sivka is an absolute hidden gem, located in the village of Starše in Slovenia's northeastern region of Lower Styria, waiting to be discovered and explored.

The idea and its beginnings

The people behind the idea are members of the family Selinšek, who created a company called Štajerska sivka or Styrian lavender. Their fields of domestic lavender are not only a breath-taking sight but also the source of many home-made products - from soaps, shampoos and cosmetics to various cooking accessories. The head of the company, Janko Selinšek, is a graduate of agronomy and economics, who planted the first lavender seedlings on his farm in 2010. Approximately 15.000 seedlings of lavender were planted in the area of approximately one hectare. Three years later, the first Styrian lavender festival was organized in Starše, where besides guided tours of the fields, workshops for creating wreaths and fresh bouquets and demonstrations of lavender tradition were organized, as well as tasting and selling of lavender products. 

Working with their hearts

Janko Selinšek and his family took the growth and work with lavender very seriously from the start. During the harvest, they even imported special machines, which are used in China for the harvesting of big tea fields. Their philosophy is to tell the Styrian lavender story from start to finish. They are included in every aspect of the production - from processing it to designing the final products and marketing them under their own brand name. Another unique sight on the Selinšek Farm in Starše are large animals made out of hay, decorating the areas on different locations in and near the field.  

The lavender fields fascinate many visitors with their beautiful purple colour and fresh smell. As lavender attracts butterflies, bumps and bees, you will see them flying from flower to flower and getting stunned from its essential oil. You can almost imagine yourself somewhere in Provence with a hat on your head and a basket in your hands strolling amongst the charming purple fields on a warm sunny day. However, you do not need to go all the way to France, as all of this can be experienced in Slovenia, at Selinšek Farm in the village of Starše. And don’t forget to bring your camera, as the scenery is very photogenic, and with the help of special photo boards already installed, you can create beautiful photos suitable for postcard material.

Štajerska sivka, Slovenia

Starše 86b, 2205 Starše, Slovenia