Žalec: Hops, History and Landscape

Žalec lies in the heart of the Lower Savinja Valley and is considered the region’s centre, as well as the heart of Slovenian hop growing and brewing. The Green Gold Fountain celebrates this tradition and serves beer from Slovenian microbreweries. The participating breweries may change. Hop culture is not just a chapter of the past here: it also shapes the image Žalec presents as a travel destination.

Hop Culture and Plant Knowledge

The Eco-Museum of Hop-Growing and Brewing is housed in a former hop-drying facility. Its four floors of exhibitions are dedicated to growing and processing hops. Visitors interested in the agricultural foundations of the regional brewing industry will find a fitting connection here to the tradition recalled by the Green Gold Fountain.

The traditional Hop Trail hike starts at the Eco-Museum and takes place on the last Saturday in August. Check the specific date for the year of your visit. Plants are also in the spotlight: the Garden of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants offers insights into their cultivation and use. The Herb Park by the Water Tower features familiar plants traditionally used for culinary purposes in Slovenia.

Landscape and Outdoor Activities

Žalec and the Lower Savinja Valley are surrounded by a ring of hills: the Dobrovlje Plateau to the west, the Zasavje Hills to the south, and the Ponikva Plateau to the north. For a different kind of nature experience, visit Vrbje Pond, south of Žalec, near the Savinja River and within a protected area. More than 170 bird species have been recorded there. A three-kilometre eco-trail runs around the pond and can be enjoyed in all four seasons; conditions on site may vary.

Those interested in underground landscapes can follow a well-secured route through Pekel Cave, past numerous stalactite formations and side tunnels. It leads to a four-metre-high underground waterfall on the Peklenščica stream. Kotečnik offers a different focus, with outdoor climbing: the natural climbing area has more than 300 routes, graded from 4b to 8c. It is suitable for beginners as well as highly experienced climbers, and is also visited by hikers. The number of routes and their grades may change. You can walk the Savin’s Trail independently with a brochure or with a local guide.

Roman Heritage and Sacred Art

The Roman Necropolis in Šempeter is one of the most important and best-preserved monuments from the Roman era in Slovenia and Central Europe. Excavations there uncovered more than 100 family tombs. Notable examples include large tombs made of Pohorje marble, with statues of the families buried inside. The burial sites give ancient history a tangible form while revealing different aspects of Roman burial culture.

Sacred sites also preserve remarkable works of art. The Church of St. Cantianus was built during the Roman era and contains a painting by Valentin Metzinger from 1757. It depicts St. Cantianus and his companions, the martyrs. The Basilica of the Holy Mother of God in Petrovče is home to the Plainer Altar, dating from 1605. It is considered the oldest Slovenian wooden Renaissance altar; the basilica is also an important pilgrimage site.

Architecture and Regional Culture

The Water Tower beside St. Nicholas Church was built at the beginning of the 16th century and is the only surviving part of the former defensive wall in this area. The tower houses a wine cellar with a selection of the best wines from the Savinja Valley, as well as a permanent ethnographic exhibition. It showcases tools and equipment used for growing grapes and making wine. A visit may require advance arrangements.

The Savin House is home to the memorial room of composer Risto Savin, the Jelica Žuža Gallery and a gallery featuring artists from the Savinja region. The exhibition programme may change. The Mining Museum in Griže has a permanent exhibition of historical documents and antiques from the Zabukovica–Liboje mining district. Visits can be arranged in advance; confirm the date before travelling.

Zotl’s Forge is a 16th-century building. Its architectural features include vaults from that period, cobblestone paving typical of the era and a Gothic stone portal. Novo Celje Mansion was built between 1756 and 1764 as a planned new centre for the nobility of Celje. Together with the museums, churches and archaeological sites, it shows the variety of cultural experiences a stay in Žalec and the Lower Savinja Valley can offer.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Žalec, Polzela, Vransko, Tabor, Prebold, Petrovče, Braslovče, Prekopa.

Return to the main travel overview: Slovenia.