ENGLISH CELJE TOURIST GUIDE Celje — 1 NOT TO BE MISSED ROMAN CELEIA (CELEIA – a town beneath today’s town www.pokmuz-ce.si) CHILDREN’S MUSEUM (Herman’s Den, www.muzej-nz-ce.si) THE GREEN OASIS POWER OF THE COUNTS OF CELJE (Lake Šmartinsko jezero, (Old Castle Celje, www.grad-celje.com) www.smartinsko-jezero.com) ADRENALINE ADVENTURE www.celje.si (Celjska Koča Adventure Park, www.celeia.info www.celjska-koca.si) V Celju smo face HISTORIC CITY CENTRE Celje — 1 Dear visitors of Celje! It gives me great pleasure that Special attention of tourists has you have selected Celje as your been paid to Celje from time im- travel destination or have memorial – our glorious history included it on your list of places and the Counts of Cilli are well- to visit for either one day or to known among foreign visitors as spend a longer break in. I am well. Old Castle Celje is the most positive that you will be en- popular tourist sight in the city thralled by our city as a tourist unique range of tourism services that attracts as many as 70,000 innkeepers, helpful tourist destination that offers many ad- that provide you with pleasant visitors per year. The number information staff and the excel- ventures for various tastes and and unforgettable memories. of visitors to Celeia – The City lent knowledge and individual age groups. During recent years, Tourism as an industry will Below the City that unveils the approach to organised tours of the city has invested a large continue to constitute one of rich history of Roman Celje and our local tourist guides. amount of funds, particularly our main priorities during the provides for an unique experi- into its tourism facilities and following Programming Period ence – has also been experienc- Our organisation operates two also into the revamping of the 2014–2020. ing a steady rise. The growing Tourist Information Centres: historic city centre. We continue Return back to Celje, and I guar- number of visitors and overnight one in the historic city centre to strive to improve the quality antee that our city will never fail stays throughout recent years and the other at Old Castle of living of our inhabitants and to be interesting, new and, most is the result of either revamped Celje, where the tourist informa- to also improve your quality of of all, inviting! or brand new tourism facilities tion staff will be more than stay as our visitor. It is no coin- and collaboration among various happy to provide you with all the cidence that the city of Celje also Wishing you a great day or break organisations in Celje with which information you seek. We are constitutes the regional hub of in our small city we jointly create various events here for you and your wishes. a larger tourist area – the Land – small compared to European in all seasons that are visible Because we love our city and of Celje (which encompasses capitals but large in terms of throughout Slovenia as well. want you to love it as well. 21 municipalities) – and that, heart! jointly with tourism service The modernisation of accommo- Wishing you pleasant providers from the surround- Welcome! dation capacities in the city and experiences in our city! ing municipalities, creates a the growing interest of private Bojan Šrot, tourism investors Milena Čeko Pungartnik, MA, Mayor of the Urban Municipality indicate that Celje is a tour- Head of the Institution for of Celje ist destination. Our city can Cultural Events and Tourism take pride in the professional Celeia Celje hotel staff and other tourism operators, friendly traders and 2 — Celje Celje — 3 CELJE Celje – diverse and rich experiences in a small area. Romantic streets in the historic city centre, small corners for secret conversations at the city park, architecture that unveils the richness and diversity of the past and rich content provided by museums, galleries TABLE OF and theatres. All of that in the city centre and only a few steps CONTENTS away. CELJE THROUGH TIME 8 AROUND THE CITY CENTRE 12 MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES 26 GUIDED TOURS 36 OLD CASTLE CELJE 40 RELAXATION AND LEISURE 47 LAKE ŠMARTINSKO JEZERO 50 CELJSKA KOČA (CELJE HUT) 54 WITH ITS ADVENTURE PARK BIKING AND HIKING 56 FOOD AND DRINKS 60 SHOPPING AND 64 ENTERTAINMENT FAIRS AND EVENTS 66 ACCOMMODATION 70 USEFUL INFORMATION 74 4 — Celje Celje — 5 6 — Celje Celje — 7 for both locals and all visitors to the city. Celje is also the regional hub of the LAND OF CELJE regional destination that encompasses 21 surrounding municipalities and covers an area of 1,598 km2. The intriguing destination in all seasons is predominantly marked by its geographically diverse landscape filled with valleys surrounded by mountains and high hills. The area includes six CELJE THROUGH TIME state-of-the-art thermal spas (Terme Dobrna, Rogaška Slatina Group, Rimske terme, Thermana Laško, Terme Olimia and Terme The appearance of Celje discreetly invasions, the city experienced a and socio-political developments Zreče) that provide its visitors combines Antique and Medieval decline until at least 452, when resulted in a large number of with all the comfort that wellness heritage and a modern urban en- the densely populated Celeia changes in terms of development and professional medical care can vironment. Well-preserved paved was destroyed by the Huns. The of the city. The construction of offer. The area is full of cultural Roman streets, magnificent reign of the Counts of Celje, who the railway that, in 1846, con- and historical sights and numer- castles and the remnants of the actively shaped political devel- nected Celje to Northern and ous natural endowments. Many a Medieval walls in the city centre opments in Europe and were Western Europe undoubtedly castle, manor, convent, preserved bear witness to its rich history involved in the top-level Euro- marked an important milestone. city and market centre as well as that dates back to the Celts and pean political scene, constitutes More recently, the city has been open-air museum bears witness Romans. Because of a favourable an important milestone in the experiencing exceptionally fast to its rich history. Well-marked geographic location and living history of the city in the Middle development with regard to pathways as well as hiking and conditions, the area was settled Ages. The Counts reached their urbanisation, transport infra- cycling trails take you through about 300 B. C. by the Celts, who peak of power during the reign structure and modern industry the intact nature of our nature established a powerful Celtic set- of Herman II. Only one year after and even more recently also with parks and to our ski resorts in tlement Keleia. his death (in 1436), his two suc- regard to education, health care, the winter and breath-taking golf The Celts were followed by the cessors, his son Frederick II and business and culture. courses in the summer. Romans. During the reign of the grandson Ulrich II, were elevated Nowadays, Celje constitutes the Roman Emperor Claudius to the ranks of Princes of the business, economic, cultural, (41–54), Keleia became the Holy Roman Empire in Prague. educational, health care and Municipium Claudium Celeia. During the same period of time, tourism centre of the region The city, which was also called in 1451, Celje was also granted with a regional administrative Troia Secunda (The Second Troy), city rights that also favourably function. became a significant traffic and contributed to its development. trade hub from where transport After the male line of the Counts The revamped city centre has links to other parts of Europe of Celje died out with Ulrich II, provided it with a new and ran. Following a major natu- the city was handed over to the attractive image. Revamped ral disaster that took place at Habsburgs on the basis of an squares and streets, urban facili- the end of the 3rd century and inheritance agreement. ties and the fountain are popular www.dezela-celjska.si subsequent Gothic and Hunnic Subsequent historical events meeting points and promenades 8 — Celje Celje — 9 10 — Celje Celje — 11 MARIBORSKA C. STANETOVA ULICA GLEDALIŠKI TRG VODNIKOVA UL. AŠKERČEVA UL. PREŠERNOVA ULICA LILEKOVA UL. TRG CELJSKIH KNEZOV GUBČEVA UL. GUBČEVA PREŠERNOVA UL. KREKOV TRG MUZEJSKI TRG GOSPOSKA ULICA GLAVNI TRG RAZLAGOVA UL. AROUND THE CITY CENTRE Surrender to the atmosphere Locals are proud of all they of the hustle and bustle on the possess and are renowned for street and, while walking around being appreciative of spending the city centre, look around leisure time in a high -quality you... Don’t worry, you will manner. not get lost. A new experience And do not forget about the city awaits you around each and park located only a few steps every corner. Paved streets that from the city centre, providing run along the Medieval city you with an urban beach walls, impressive façades and during summer, a pleasant welcoming squares – join the and convivial area for all locals and experience the pulse generations. of the city through their eyes. 12 — Celje Celje — 13 14 — Celje Celje — 15 STROLL AROUND ALMA M. KARLIN’S STATUE 4 THE CITY CENTRE The statue is devoted to the globetrotter, authoress, polyglot Take a stroll around and Theosophian Alma M. Kar- the city centre lin. Alma M. Karlin was born in from Krekov trg 1889, travelled around the world (Krek Square). on her own and later returned to Celje. She died in 1950 in a small house in Pečovnik, where you can visit an exhibition dedicated to her life. The Celje Regional Museum has been bestowed with the honour of putting a permanent exhibition dedi- cated to her life and her journey around the world on display.