Invitation to Velenje
A visit to Velenje will be interesting for all generations:
The Lake Dwarfs and Pika Nogavička Festival ensure that children and young people also enjoy Velenje. The Cave Dwarf Bergmandlc will take you on a visit to the miners in the Coal Mining Museum of Slovenia. The largest Tito monument in the world will remind you of times gone by, and festivals and sports fields will fill you with positive energy!
Do sports and have fun in a city where there is always something interesting happening…
The Velenje Lake offers many opportunities for water sports and for enjoying the new city beach.
The city of sports – many opportunities for summer, winter, indoor and adrenaline sports.
All guesto of Youth Hostel Velenje who will sleep there at least for at least two nights can use the volleyball and beach tennis courts and the small football field (on grass) near the hostel free of charge
Velenje is a city of history – a modern city with an interesting, even medieval, history. “Tito’s” city, which the former Yugoslav leader proudly showed off to world-famous leaders. That’s why you should viisit it too!
Velenje, city of young people
A young city with an interesting history
Velenje, the largest city in the Šaleška Valley, is today one of the most economically developed industrial centers in Slovenia. The Velenje Coal Mine, Gorenje/Hisense factory and numerous other economic and non-economic organizations are the main beneficiaries of this development.
Despite the fact that significant development began with coal mining, it is also possible to trace some archaeological remains of the settlement of the Šaleška Valley. The oldest remains testify to the region being inhabited in the Upper Paleolithic. During this period, the remains of a prehistoric human settlement were excavated in the Mornova Zijalka near Šoštanj and in the Špehovka cave near Huda Luknja, and three prehistoric iron objects were excavated in Bevče near Velenje; a Roman tombstone in Velenje, Roman coins of Valerius and Maximus the Thracian in Šoštanj, and the remains of a Roman wall and Roman coins in Šmartno ob Paki.
Based on the aforementioned finds and names, it is assumed that somewhere on the site of today’s Velenje there was a Roman postal station called Upellae, which, together with the Collatio (an old market near Slovenj Gradec), stood on an important road connection between Celea and Virunum (the Gosposvetsko Polje).
In the Middle Ages, the first important written sources about castles began to appear, which later played an important role in the Šaleška Valley.
During this period, over 20 castles and manor houses were built, giving the valley an important mark. The city experienced a new rise in the 16th century, when it became an important center of Protestant life in Štajerska region.
In the 18th century, leatherworking began to develop. Since 1788, the Vošnjak family from Šoštanj had a leading role in leatherworking. The Velenje coal mine and the Šoštanj tannery are responsible for the construction of the railway, which connected Velenje with Celje in 1891.
The development of coal mining after World War II enabled the construction of the Šoštanj thermal power plant, and simultaneously with the development of Gorenje factory, the city began to become more urbanized.
In the 1950s, with the construction of the new Velenje and the rise of the aforementioned economic entities, the need for additional labor arose. Mass immigration to our city began, some also from other Yugoslav republics.
Velenje obtained its city statute on 20 September 1959, officially becoming the youngest city in the former Yugoslavia.
Sights in Velenje and the surrounding area
Velenje Castle
It lies on a steep rocky outcrop above the city itself. Today, the castle is one of the most beautifully preserved castle buildings on Slovenian soil. The exact date of the castle’s creation has not yet been established. However, it was first mentioned in historical sources in 1270.
In addition to occasional exhibits, the museum at Velenje Castle houses several permanent museum and gallery collections. Among these, we would like to highlight the following: Šaleška Valley between the 10th and 17th centuries, the collection of mastodon remains, the collection of African art by Frančišek Foit, the collection of baroque art from the church of St. George in Škale, the gallery of Lojze Perko, the gallery of 20th century Slovenian painting, the reconstruction of the old shop and inn, the Šaleška Valley collection 1941 – 1945, the collection of contemporary Slovenian art Gorenje, the exhibition “When Velenje Became a City” …
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm and by appointment. Groups must register! The guided tour lasts 2 hours.
The Velenje Museum at Velenje Castle can be found at: Ljubljanska cesta 54.
You can find out more at: www.muzej-velenje.si and by phone: 03 898 26 30 or by writing to the following email address: info@muzej-velenje.si.
Museum of Slovenian Coal Mining
The Museum of Slovenian Coal Mining is one of the most visited underground facilities in Slovenia. It is unique after the elevator descent into the underground part of the museum, which is fully equipped with sound and light effects.
Therefore, it will be a special experience when you stop deep underground for a miner’s lunch. You will receive this, in addition to the basic mining protective equipment (helmet, work coat), before entering the underground part of the museum.
Visitors can learn about the history and present of Slovenian coal mining in Slovenian, English, German, Italian and Croatian. The underground part is also accessible to disabled people in wheelchairs, which is a Slovenian and European specialty.
The permanent exhibition in the white cloakroom offers visitors a multimedia story about the living culture of Slovenian miners before 1930 and a classic museum display about the development of Slovenian coal mining on 78 panels and 350 photographs, sketches and diagrams. The museum has won numerous awards, the most important of which is the special award of the European Museum Forum for 2001.
By visiting the Museum of Slovenian Coal Mining, you will learn the meaning of the miners’ greeting, good luck!
The museum can be found at:
Stari jašek – Koroška cesta, 3320 Velenje
More information about museum you can find at: theirs web site …
or at telephone number: 03 5870-997.
Kavčnik’s Homestead
In the valley above Šoštanj, it is a unique example of the southernmost smokehouse in the European Alpine region and is at the top of rural architecture. Here you can see how people cooked, ate, lived, slept in one room 400 years ago…
You can get more information about this facility by calling: 03-589-51-40.
Vila Herberstein
It stands on a hill, between the Velenje and Šaleška castles. It was built around 1890, in the historic style as a noble residence.
It was named after the last noble owners, who owned it until the end of World War II. Today, the villa has been renovated into a representative, business and hospitality facility with accommodations. You can also see a small exhibition about the history of this facility.
Where to spend your free time?
Although we are an industrial city, it is important to emphasize that we, the citizens, take good care of our environment! This is also confirmed by the golden award of the Entente Florale, which we received as the most well-maintained European industrial city in 1999. The above can be a guarantee that you will spend your free time in our city in a pleasant way. If you want to spend it in nature, then go to the surroundings of the Velenje Lakes, or to the area of the Jezero Tourist and Recreational Center (TRC).
TRC Jezero is not only the most attractive center of its kind in the Šaleška Valley area, but is also becoming popular among people from other regions. In this center, you can spend your free time on volleyball, tennis, basketball, football and mini golf courts… you can also choose to go sailing, boating or diving. There is also a white (sports) hall by the lake, with a fitness studio and a tennis court. Next to the White Hall is a campsite with all the associated infrastructure. A newly opened beach is also available, allowing for relaxed enjoyment by the water.
The lakes: Škalsko and Velenje lake, are connected by well-maintained paths for walkers. While the Velenje lake is intended more for water activities, the Škalsko is suitable for fishing. There are horse riding and running trails around the lakes.
More information about events by the lakes can be obtained by calling: 03 5866-600.
If you want to relax even more, you should visit Terme Toplšica: https://www.terme-topolsica.si/en/
Entertainment
The best place to have fun is in the city center, where there are many bars. In the evenings, it is most lively in Venezia, Markiz and Lucifer, as well as the Mozaik bar. Durring summer visit bars near Velenje lake (beach): Wunder Beach Bar, Cuba Velenje or Vista bar, Those who want midnight parties can go to the Max disco, located next to the northern entrance to the Red Hall.
Overnight stay
The most affordable option for overnight stay is in the Velenje hostel near the student dormitory. It is located under the Šalek Castle, which due to its triangular shape is considered a unique specimen in Slovenia.
Info: hostel Velenje, Efenkova 61a, 3320 Velenje, tel: 0592-34-600 and 041 859-692. https://www.mc-velenje.si/en/
Restaurants
The hungry are catered for almost at every turn! Even those with a “shallow” – student pocket will have no problem finding a suitable place. There are several fast food places available (e.g. Mc Donald’s and Mladost), as well as other affordable restaurants. Regarding the latter restaurant, it should be mentioned that of all the places in our city, it is open the most often, both on weekdays and after opening hours. Therefore, if all other places are closed, Mc Donald’s probably won’t be! For those who like to taste culinary specialties, we suggest trying the miner’s bržola, which is best prepared at the Jezero restaurant by the Velenje lake. For information and reservations regarding this restaurant, the following phone number is most suitable: 03 5866-46.
Events and performances throughout the year
We would like to emphasize that we are a city with youthful energy, which provides visitors with interesting and enjoyable events! So, when to visit Velenje?
Numerous events take place every month, many of which have already become traditional.
January: the international open Slovenian table tennis championship is held every year
May: flower fair and youth and culture days; this event presents emerging music groups, young writers, dancers, actors, etc.
July: 7th – jump over the skin, on miners’ day. The event begins with morning vigils, continues with a morning parade through the streets of Velenje and ends with a jump over the skin – an event where young miners are welcomed into the “miners’ quarters”
July: musical entertainment event night by the lake
August: Kunigunda (festival of young cultures) and zither festival, Graška gora sings and plays,
In September, we must not forget the week of children’s joy, the Pikin festival, which is our largest event (in terms of duration and number of visitors)
October: sailing regatta for the transition cup City velenje
December: happy December and New Year’s Eve outdoors
How to get to Velenje?
The cheapest way to get to Velenje is by train. Unfortunately, the train between Celje and Velenje does not run on Sundays. At that time, you have no choice but to cover this distance by slightly more expensive bus transport.
The TIC (tourist information center), where you will find all the necessary information about the city and your stay in it, is located near the Red Hall in Villa Bianca. At your request, the TIC also organizes guided tours of Velenje and its surroundings. It is also possible to rent bicycles for the whole day (free of charge).
Info: Velenje Tourist Information Center, Villa Bianca, Stari Trg 3, 3320 Velenje, tel: 03-8961-860, e-mail: tic@velenje.si
More information about the city and its events can be found on the website: www.velenje.si https://www.visitsaleska.si/en/and www.velenje-tourism.si
See You in Velenje!
Silvija Bašnec and Uroš Ivančič