Discover Žalec: Hop Culture, History and Hotels

Žalec combines hop and beer culture with historic buildings, art and routes through the town. Anyone who wants to get to know different sides of the destination through specific points of interest will find a blend of local history, regional heritage and named routes here.

Culture

The defensive tower of Žalec was built at the beginning of the 16th century. It is the only remaining part of the former fortified enclosure. St Nicholas Church preserves another historical testimony: its bell tower has a portal dating from 1670. The heritage-listed furnishings also include tombstones and a well-known oil painting of Saint Nicholas by Bergant.

Savinova hiša is the birthplace of the general and composer Risto Savin. Savinova hiša houses the Risto Savin Memorial Room, the Gallery of Fine Artists of the Savinja Region and the Jelica Žuža Salon. Thus, a named house brings together the memory of an individual personality, the region’s visual art and a dedicated salon.

Zotlova kovačija is also one of the town’s historic buildings. The building dates from the 16th century and preserves historic architectural elements. The Žalec Firefighting Museum focuses on a different subject and preserves more than 600 pieces of firefighting-related material and exhibition objects.

Routes

The Savinova sprehajalna pot begins at Savinova hiša and leads to twelve stations in Žalec. Its route therefore connects the starting point with several stations within the town. Another option is the Od hmelja do piva tourist route: it is a 5.5-kilometre circular trail and can begin at the Fontana piv Zeleno zlato.

At the Fontana piv Zeleno zlato, visitors can sample six beers of 1 decilitre each with a purchased glass. The Fontana also commemorates the hop-growing heritage of the Lower Savinja Valley and Žalec. Hop growing and beer are therefore represented here both in a regional context and in a specific tasting with a defined number and size of samples.

Surroundings

At the Institute of Hop-Growing and Brewing of Slovenia, the garden of medicinal and aromatic plants offers insights into the cultivation and use of plants. Mount Gozdnik is located in the surroundings of Žalec. Mount Kjumberk, Mount Reška Planina and Mount Mrzlica are also located in the surroundings of Žalec.

Accommodation

When comparing offers in Žalec, you can check the specific terms and conditions on the respective offer pages of hotels or accommodations. Before booking, pay attention to the exact location, the type of accommodation and the possible occupancy. Also check which services are included, what the price consists of and which booking or cancellation conditions apply. This keeps the comparison focused on the specifically stated information and on your travel budget.

For additional destinations, you can also go directly to the town pages for Vransko, Tabor, Petrovče, Braslovče, Polzela, Prekopa and Prebold.

Back to the main travel overview: Žalec.