Celje - in the land of hops

It would be nice if it were just that, without added alcohol, and we could only enjoy it in its original form. But most people know it in the form of beer, which, in addition to the aforementioned pleasure, also offers the easiest way to relaxing satisfaction. But let's not make our adventure marked by alcohol, because it would be a real shame to miss the beauty and attractions that the land of hops has to offer, so jump into a new morning and a new day before the sun rises high. Let's drive from the center of Ljubljana to Kamnik, where a morning indulgence awaits us in the Toscana ice cream bar, located on the main road to Duplica - a cup of fragrant coffee. In addition, let's order at least one scoop of their homemade ice cream or one of their sweets from their own production and then, pleasantly chilled, continue our journey towards the Tuhinjska Valley.

Green carpets

Along the road, surrounded by green carpets of mowed meadows, we will endlessly enjoy the tranquility of the Tuhinjska Valley, where the transitions from one village to another will provide added variety and instill in us the desire to try to live in such a peaceful and beautiful environment that we are witnessing it at this moment. We will feel as if we have come back to another world, when our path will be crossed by the ring road for the Styrian highway, but let us continue on the local road to Šempetra. This time, our view will be fed by endless plantations of hop plants, all of which, without fail, wrap their tendrils around the support in a clockwise direction. Nature is truly perfect, so tampering with it should be as little as possible. Out of respect for her, we make sure that the empty bags and the rest of the waste from our midday snack, which will be provided by the snack bar at the Roman Necropolis, land in the trash can. So let's bite into a kebab, flip through the informative leaflets that can be obtained at the Šempeter Tourist Association office just a few meters away and take a look at the most beautifully preserved monuments of the Roman era in Slovenia, where the Roman Necropolis reigns supreme among the remains of the prestigious tombstones of the Celje city elite. The well-kept archaeological park also invites you to sit comfortably on the benches, and it also serves as a place for various cultural events organized by citizens during the summer. The entrance fee is 3 euros for children or 4 euros for adults. In the shade of the trees, let's get ready for our next destination, a visit to one of the most flourishing Roman colonies - Celeia or Celje as we know it today.

Afternoon wandering

The extremely rich archaeological remains prove that ancient Celeia greatly surpassed neighboring cities in terms of the wealth and well-being of its inhabitants. The old writers compared it to the famous Troy, as they gave the name "other Troy" to the city, which experienced glorious ups and downs in its rich history. Today, Celje is a city that can boast of an intertwining of modern and urban environments, with ancient and medieval remains, such as cobbled Roman streets, a rare early Christian baptistery, the mighty Old Castle of Celje and the prince's palace, city churches and restored medieval walls. There are many reasons to park our vehicles in the public parking lot next to the train station and walk into its city center. Even a short walk around the city will unobtrusively reveal architectural gems from other, later periods. The old county, which houses the Provincial Museum, thus represents one of the most beautiful examples of Renaissance architecture in Slovenia. The sign of Mary on the main square and the Prothasi mansion with its beautiful wedding hall are reminiscent of Baroque splendor. Classicist architecture is exemplified by the old town hall in Celje, where the Museum of Modern History has been operating for several decades. Thus, our afternoon can be marked by getting to know the history and architecture of the city, or we can decide to get to know it more popularly and visit interesting colorful shops, turn into one of the cute streets and sit down at a table in one of the many restaurants that are in I aim at almost every step. But if you would like to learn about the Middle Ages from the culinary side as well, we go to Hotel Evropa, where their master chefs prepare a real medieval feast based on old recipes. And finally, let's not forget that we are in the land of hops, so we seal this adventure with a drinker in hand. For drivers without alcohol, of course!