Melania Trump tourism: First lady’s hometown Sevnica lures visitors

John Malathronas, CNN
6 minute read
Updated 6:48 AM EDT, Wed May 9, 2018
<strong>Melania Trump's hometown:</strong> The small industrial town of Sevnica in southeastern Slovenia is where US first lady Melania Trump spent her formative years. It's now welcoming visitors with guided tours.
Melania Trump's hometown: The small industrial town of Sevnica in southeastern Slovenia is where US first lady Melania Trump spent her formative years. It's now welcoming visitors with guided tours.
John Malathronas
<strong>Savo Kladnik Elementary School:</strong> Named after an activist who was killed during World War II, this ordinary-looking school once counted Melania Trump among its pupils.
Savo Kladnik Elementary School: Named after an activist who was killed during World War II, this ordinary-looking school once counted Melania Trump among its pupils.
Jack Taylor/Getty Images
<strong>Former home:</strong> A far cry from the Trumps' Manhattan penthouse, an apartment on the left of the third floor of this modest block was once home to a young Melania Trump and her family.
Former home: A far cry from the Trumps' Manhattan penthouse, an apartment on the left of the third floor of this modest block was once home to a young Melania Trump and her family.
Jack Taylor/Getty Images
<strong>Family home:</strong> Among residential properties in Sevnica's Ribnik district is a black and white modern villa with a US-style mailbox. It's owned by the Knavs family and Melania Trump's mother stays here when she's in town.
Family home: Among residential properties in Sevnica's Ribnik district is a black and white modern villa with a US-style mailbox. It's owned by the Knavs family and Melania Trump's mother stays here when she's in town.
John Malathronas
<strong>First lady cakes: </strong>The Kruhek bakery and coffee shop in Sevnica sells the Prva Dama (translated as "first lady" in Slovenian) -- an apple pie, complete with an embossed "M" and a tiny American flag, for $2 apiece.
First lady cakes: The Kruhek bakery and coffee shop in Sevnica sells the Prva Dama (translated as "first lady" in Slovenian) -- an apple pie, complete with an embossed "M" and a tiny American flag, for $2 apiece.
John Malathronas
<strong>Melanija cake: </strong>Cafe Julija on the main street of Sevnica offers a delicious "Melanija" cake made with an apple and almond filling in a housing of white chocolate.
Melanija cake: Cafe Julija on the main street of Sevnica offers a delicious "Melanija" cake made with an apple and almond filling in a housing of white chocolate.
Jure Makovec/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Sevnica Castle: </strong>This imposing building stands on a hill overlooking Sevnica. Inside visitors can buy "first lady" branded products.
Sevnica Castle: This imposing building stands on a hill overlooking Sevnica. Inside visitors can buy "first lady" branded products.
Jack Taylor/Getty Images
<strong>Early days: </strong>A young Melanija Knavs (second from right) is seen here in 1977 attending a fashion review of Jutranjka, the textile company where her mother used to work.
Early days: A young Melanija Knavs (second from right) is seen here in 1977 attending a fashion review of Jutranjka, the textile company where her mother used to work.
STR/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>First lady products: </strong>Inside Sevnica Castle, visitors can buy various "first lady" branded products including beauty creams, bottles of red wine, tea, pralines with raspberry filling and two local specialties -- cured salami sausage and apple slices dipped in chocolate.
First lady products: Inside Sevnica Castle, visitors can buy various "first lady" branded products including beauty creams, bottles of red wine, tea, pralines with raspberry filling and two local specialties -- cured salami sausage and apple slices dipped in chocolate.
First Lady Products
<strong>Kostanjevica: </strong>Nearby Kostanjevica na Krki is also known as Slovenia's Venice.
Kostanjevica: Nearby Kostanjevica na Krki is also known as Slovenia's Venice.
Matej Jordan
<strong>River town:</strong> Kostanjevica is a medieval town built on an island on the river Krka with three highly Instagram-worthy bridges.
River town: Kostanjevica is a medieval town built on an island on the river Krka with three highly Instagram-worthy bridges.
John Malathronas
<strong>Art showcase: </strong>Kostanjevica's Cistercian monaster is now an art gallery. Its large garden, the Forma Viva, is an open-air museum full of weathered oak sculptures.
Art showcase: Kostanjevica's Cistercian monaster is now an art gallery. Its large garden, the Forma Viva, is an open-air museum full of weathered oak sculptures.
John Malathronas
<strong>Unusual wine:</strong> Kostanjevica monastery is also the birthplace of arguably the most famous of Slovenia's wines, Cvicek, a ruby red, fruity blend of red and, unusually, white grapes.
Unusual wine: Kostanjevica monastery is also the birthplace of arguably the most famous of Slovenia's wines, Cvicek, a ruby red, fruity blend of red and, unusually, white grapes.
John Malathronas
<strong>Posavje food:</strong> Typical food from the region includes simple cured meats, served with onion and Cvicek wine
Posavje food: Typical food from the region includes simple cured meats, served with onion and Cvicek wine
Courtesy Krsko
<strong>Raska Cbula onions: </strong>Melania Trump's grandfather was a farmer who cultivated an endemic type of red onion, the Raska C'bula, known locally as "the bacon of the poor," because people eat it raw with bread.<strong> </strong>
Raska Cbula onions: Melania Trump's grandfather was a farmer who cultivated an endemic type of red onion, the Raska C'bula, known locally as "the bacon of the poor," because people eat it raw with bread.
John Malathronas
<strong>Kozjansko Regional Park: </strong>The Posavje countryside, where Melania Trump grew up, is a beautiful hill-strewn region, crisscrossed by rivers. Among the most beautiful areas is <a href="http://kozjanski-park.si/?lang=en" target="_blank" target="_blank">Kozjansko Regional Park</a>, east of Sevnica.
Kozjansko Regional Park: The Posavje countryside, where Melania Trump grew up, is a beautiful hill-strewn region, crisscrossed by rivers. Among the most beautiful areas is Kozjansko Regional Park, east of Sevnica.
Courtesy Krsko