This paper presents two approaches to studying urban-rural relationships in Slovenia. First of all, the method as devised in the ESPON 1.1.2 Project (2004) is used to define urban-rural typology in Slovenia and the results are presented on the level of municipalities and statistical regions. Then own methodology is devised to establish the degree of linkages between urban and rural areas in Slovenia. The results are presented on municipality level. With the two above mentioned methods the degree of linkages is established by selected indicators. The second method is based on detailed descriptive study of flows between urban and rural areas. The flows are presented in the case study on the city of Ljubljana and its larger hinterland. Firstly, the methodology as devised in ESPON 1.1.2 Project has been used and proved to give reliable results on the local level. Secondly, the results of the analysis according to the degree of linkages between urban and rural areas in Slovenia shows that (a) the highest urban-rural linkages do not decrease linearly around large urban centres but they are intensive only in narrower urban surroundings and (b) there is not a higher degree of urban-rural linkages within functional urban areas and within more densely populated areas. The working hypothesis and two research questions as presented in the introduction can not be fully confirmed. In conclusion, we determined the complexity of urban-rural relationships and the options for studying them. More detailed research of every single concept is proposed in following studies
