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Celje Slovenia

Celje Slovenia possesses characteristics typical for a central European city.

As Slovenia's third largest city it is located in the center of Lower Styria, 241 meters above sea level. Home to 50,000 inhabitants and it is a city with a jaded and sometimes tragic past. It is also the administrative seat of the urban municipality of Celje.

History

The first settlement in the Celje area was known as Kelea in Celtic times and the Celts coined currency in the region. During the reign of the Roman Emperor Cladius, the town was heavily populated with inhabitants and was protected with towers and walls. The town was bustling and contained palaces made of marble and wide streets.

During the Migration period of the 5th and 6th century the city was demolished by Slavic tribes, but was rebuilt in the early middle ages. Celje was inherited by the Habsburgs of Austria in the mid 1400s and a defensive moat was built around the city during this era.

Celje was a part of the Austrian Empire during the Napoleonic Wars. In 1867 "Cilli" became a part of Austria-Hungary. Celje had a population of 6,700 citizens in 1900 and it was a strong center of German nationalism against Slovenes at that time in history.

Celje Hall holds a symbol of this as the hall was called German Hall at that time. Celje was occupied by Germany in 1941. The war took a toll on the city and Celje lost nearly 600 people during the war.

Symbols

Celje's coat of arms is based on the coat of arms of the Counts of Celje. This coat of arms was selected for the national arms right at the end of World War I in the year 1918. This is when Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia formed the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. The Slovenian national arms integrated a similar coat of arms in 1991.

Tourist Attractions

Tourists come to Celje to enjoy the Slovenian culture, weather and cuisine. A Greyfriars's monastery that was founded in 1241 is a place that holds interest to visitors as is a palace that was left intact from the 16th century.

The Celje area features beautiful rolling hills and outstanding scenery including majestic rivers and hops farms.

The Celje castle is a popular tourist spot. The castle watches over the city on its perch 407 meters above. The castle once contained an entire community within its walls.

Celje Hall is worth visiting as it is built in an eclectic style by a Viennese architect in the early 1900s and today it houses the tourist information center and is a popular venue for cultural events.

Conclusion

Celje Slovenia is as close to the heart of Slovenia as you can get. Celje, located at the confluence of three rivers, in a beautiful part of Slovenia that is trimmed with snow-capped peaks shouldn't be missed if you are travelling nearby.

And for history fans it is even worth a longer visit. Find here some tips for Celje Hotels.


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