Top 15 Activities to Experience in Celje, Slovenia

Slovenia’s third-largest city is situated in the Lower Savinja Valley, surrounded by towering, forested hills. Dominating one peak to the south is Celje’s Old Castle, the historic stronghold of the Counts of Celje, who governed a significant portion of Slovenian territory during the medieval period. The panoramic view of the city from these ancient walls is impressive, and the castle’s towers narrate tales of familial intrigue and star-crossed romance in the era of the Counts.

As you descend the slope, the historical center of Celje boasts a wealth of mansions and grand civic buildings in the Revivalist architectural style. Additionally, there are two much older palaces that now serve as part of the Celje Regional Museum.

Let’s delve into the prime attractions in Celje:

1. Celje Castle

The Counts of Celje represented the most influential dynasty in Slovenia during the 14th and 15th centuries, with this imposing castle situated just south of the contemporary city, serving as their seat of power.

The hilltop fortress began to take shape in the 1330s and encompassed an entire town within its outer ward, thereby becoming Slovenia’s largest fortification at that time.

Within the complex lies the four-story Friderik Tower, wherein Count Herman II famously imprisoned his son, Friderik II, due to a forbidden romance.

The castle has been restored and now features a visitor information center, a café, and wooden walkways that facilitate exploration.

The views from the castle walls are breathtaking, offering a complete vista of modern Celje and the confluence of the Savinja and Voglajna rivers.

2. The Old Landgraviate Building

Celje’s most notable Renaissance structure, constructed at the turn of the 17th century, is located adjacent to the city’s southern walls beside the Savinja river.

The facade is characterized by an impressive long arcade and first-floor gallery, while the interior features the Celje Ceiling, showcasing artwork from the Renaissance-Baroque transition.

Inside, a branch of the Celje Regional Museum exhibits furniture, woodcuts, coins, and paintings dating from the 1200s to the 1900s.

Additionally, there is a timeline illustrating the evolution of art and architecture in the city, from Gothic to Historicist styles, alongside an overview of regional craftsmanship including weaving, beekeeping, pottery, and basket-making.

The Roman heritage of Celje is also prominently displayed downstairs in the lapidarium, which houses sculpted and inscribed stones dating back 2,000 years.

3. Prince’s Mansion

Another residence of the Counts of Celje, this property has been designated as a national monument.

Following the extinction of their lineage in 1456, this palace served various purposes, including functioning as barracks during the reign of Empress Maria Theresa in the 1700s.

The building is now part of the Celje Regional Museum, with particular interest in the basement area where approximately 1,000 square meters of paved roads and structures from Ancient Celeia have been unearthed and can be observed via footbridges.

4. Museum of Recent History

This museum, dedicated to contemporary Celje life, operates from several locations in the city, including a former Minorite monastery and Josip Pelikan’s photography studio.

The main office is housed in the Neoclassical former town hall on Prešernova Ulica.

This building outlines the evolution of life in Celje over three generations of the 20th century.

A furnished bourgeois apartment has been recreated to illustrate Celje’s burgeoning middle class at the beginning of the 1900s.

Additionally, upstairs features a “Tradesmen’s Street” showcasing Celje’s bygone businesses with authentic tools and materials on display.

5. Josip Pelikan’s Skylight Photo Studio

This establishment on Razlagova Street is recognized as a Slovene cultural monument and is managed by the Museum of Recent History.

Dating back to the early 20th century, it served as the workplace of the beloved photographer Josip Pelikan.

On the upper floor lies one of the few remaining skylight studios in Europe, while the original darkroom and retouching area have been preserved as they were when Pelikan passed away in the 1970s.

A variety of photographic equipment is on display, including glass plates, developing tanks, lamps, and historic cameras, alongside a remarkable exhibition of his portraits that depict the residents of Celje over 67 years.

6. Celje Cathedral

The city’s cathedral is a subtle Gothic edifice from the early 14th century that has undergone multiple renovations over the centuries.

The most recent modifications occurred in 1858 when the church was styled in the current Neo-Gothic fashion.

For history enthusiasts, the ceilings in the nave and choir are adorned with frescoes dating back to the 1300s and 1400s.

More contemporary is the side altar dedicated to St. Francis Xavier, crafted in the ornate Baroque style in 1743.

7. City Walls

The last remnants of Celje’s fortification system remain situated by the water next to the Old Landgraviate Building.

The construction began in 1450 and was completed in 1473. These defensive walls stood robustly for 300 years, but by the late 18th century, they became obsolete and were auctioned off.

The most substantial sections are located on the Savinja waterfront and along Vodnikova Street.

One of the four surviving towers is the Water Tower at the southeast corner of the fortifications.

Notably, a plaque from 1672 is affixed to its wall, indicating the water level recorded during a significant flood that year.

8. Sights around Celje

The center of Celje is compact and pedestrian-friendly, with a number of streets near the City Hall designated for foot traffic.

The city exhibits a late 19th-century Historicist style, featuring grand, stucco-faced townhouses and civic buildings.

Notable monuments include the Neo-Renaissance Narodni Dom from 1896 and the Celjski Dom from 1907, distinguished by its Neo-Gothic tower.

Jože Plečnik, Slovenia’s most prominent 20th-century architect, also designed the impressive People’s Loan Society in 1929, characterized by its three levels of balconies supported by columns.

Significantly older is St. Mary’s Column erected in the Main Square in 1776, marking the historical site of criminal executions.

9. Celje Adventure Park

If you are in search of an energetic and enjoyable experience for children, this attraction, Celjska Koča, opened its doors in 2014. Nestled within a wooded hillside, it features an adventure course equipped with planks, nets, climbing walls, zip-lines, and various rope bridges, all elevated above the forest floor and secured to tree trunks.

The park comprises three courses designated as Blue, Red, and Black, and children as young as five are welcome to participate.

Participants are outfitted with helmets and harnesses under careful supervision.

10. Šmartinsko Jezero

In 1970, the Koprivnica River was dammed approximately five kilometers upstream from Celje, resulting in the formation of a large reservoir that has become a favored scenic destination.

The lake is conveniently accessible for those wishing to explore the idyllic countryside surrounding the city.

Walkers can enjoy woodland trails encircling the water, with sections constructed on elevated footbridges.

During winter, the lake freezes, while in summer, a boathouse offers various vessels for rent.

Visitors can hire kayaks or stand-up paddleboards for short durations, and families often take pedal boats onto the lake to enjoy a refreshing swim.

11. Celje Marketplace

In the northern section of the Old Town, Celje’s market gained international recognition in architectural circles after its redesign in 2009. The firm Arhitektura Krušec led the project, which features a steel pavilion with an irregular roof designed to maximize natural light within the market.

This initiative was shortlisted for the Mies van der Rohe Award the year it was unveiled.

The most opportune time to visit is Saturday when the organic market is at its peak, although the market is also an excellent venue for grocery shopping on other days, featuring fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, meats, and homemade delicacies.

12. Artistic Quarter

Celje boasts a lively contemporary art scene, cultivated by the local government.

In the early 2000s, the city encouraged artists to occupy the old, vacant buildings on Na Okopih and Gosposka Streets, fostering the development of a new art district.

This quaint area surrounding a square is home to numerous studios and workshops, with AQ Gallery serving as the primary venue for showcasing their works.

The gallery, which opened in 2013, hosts exhibitions focusing on photography, sculpture, painting, graphic art, and musical performances.

13. Celje Gallery of Contemporary Art

Continue your artistic exploration by visiting the Gallery of Contemporary Art, located within the Prince’s Mansion complex.

This gallery features specially curated temporary exhibitions covering diverse themes, including post-feminist theory, wartime reminiscences, and the representation of death in contemporary society.

Despite their focused subjects, these exhibitions often present some of the most significant contributions to Slovenian art since the Second World War.

Renowned figures of 20th-century Slovenian art, including Stane Jagodič, Zoran Mušič, and Marijan Tršar, have been showcased here.

14. Celje – Podčetrtek Heritage Train

Celje was the first city in Slovenia to establish a railway line, which was completed in 1846 and connected to Grobelno, approximately 15 kilometers southeast of the city.

By the 20th century, this line was expanded and incorporated into the regional network.

Nonetheless, you can still experience this historic route once a week on Saturdays during the summer when a steam train transports passengers to Podčetrtek on the Croatian border.

Departing from Celje’s elegant 19th-century terminal, the journey lasts just under an hour, winding through picturesque landscapes and past significant historical landmarks.

Upon arrival in Podčetrtek, you might consider a detour to Olimje, renowned for its vibrant Renaissance castle.

15. Traditional Food

During autumn, apples are a point of pride in Celje, as they are cultivated without pesticides or preservatives.

If you happen to visit in the winter, you might encounter the term “koline” on menus in many restaurants, referring to pigs that are traditionally slaughtered during this season, resulting in fresh cuts of pork, krvavice (blood sausage), and an array of both cooked and cured sausages.

A popular festive dish is mlinci, a type of flatbread that is baked, broken into pieces, and mixed with stock or soup to absorb the flavors.

In terms of desserts, potica is a beloved nut roll typically baked around Christmas and Easter, though available in other seasons as well.

Various fillings exist, with the festive favorite during Christmas being a mixture of walnuts, honey, vanilla, and cinnamon.