Šentjur: Hotels, Culture and Cycling Routes

Šentjur has an old market square, Zgornji trg, whose history dates back to a first mention around 1340. The square developed as a settlement around the Church of Saint George. The first mention of the town of Šentjur is also connected with this church in a document from 1340.

Culture and History

The Ipavec House has stood in Zgornji trg since 1760. It is the birthplace of the Ipavec dynasty and houses a permanent exhibition about the Ipavec family. Opposite the parish Church of Saint George, it also houses the Šentjur Tourist Information Centre together with the Zakladi Rifnika museum collection. Zgornji trg also includes a chestnut park with a playground equipped with sensory play elements.

The present-day Church of Saint George was built between 1708 and 1721 on the site of an Early Gothic church. The Baroque building has a nave, side chapels and an attached bell tower. The Galerija Zgornji trg Šentjur is located in the former cellar rooms of the residents of Ipavčeva 17 in Zgornji trg. It hosts five to six exhibitions of local and visiting artists every year. The exhibition also includes a plague monument from Marija Dobje bearing the year 1641.

Šentjur also has a permanent exhibition about the work of prominent performers in the fields of swing, gospel and spiritual music. The performers featured there began their successful musical careers in Šentjur in 1968. Šentjurjevo, which takes place in Šentjur every year at the end of April, is considered the municipality of Šentjur’s largest tourist event.

Museums and Local Tradition

The Museum of the Southern Railway Šentjur is located at the town’s railway station. It presents a reconstruction of the historic railway station from the period when the Graz–Celje railway line was built. The Winegrowers Learning Basement is located below the museum. Wines from local winegrowers can be tasted there.

The connection with the railway is also part of the town’s current orientation: the Šentjur Tour destination is located on the Southern Railway. In the Šentjur Tour destination, railway services are operated by Slovenske železnice, the Slovenian Railways.

Cycling Routes and Nature

There are two differently named circular cycling routes, each 34 kilometres long. “The Song of the Southern Railway” starts in Šentjur, passes the ponds of Blagovna and runs over Sveta Uršula Hill above Dramlje to Hotunje and Ponikva. The also 34-kilometre-long circular route “The Path of Good Energy” can be started at Zgornji trg in Šentjur, at Šentjur or Ponikva railway station, or at the car park by the bus stop in Dramlje.

Regular bicycles and electric bicycles can be rented at nine stations in Šentjur and its surroundings. The Rifnik Archaeological Park near Šentjur is open all year round. It preserves the foundations of two early Christian churches and seven houses, as well as fortification walls with watchtowers and a well.

Lake Slivnica, which is also near Šentjur, is suitable for water sports. Its surroundings are suitable for walking, cycling and observing rare animals and plants.

Workshops and Activities

The Mlin Umetnin experience includes a guided tour of the farmstead and pottery workshop, as well as materials for making an object that participants can take home with them. The pottery workshop takes place in Osredek, near Šentjur, in a more than 200-year-old mill whose water wheel is still powered by water.

Another activity is the treasure hunt in Šentjur. It is a free family activity and takes about 25 minutes.

For more town pages, you can visit Razbor.

For the higher-level travel overview: Šentjur Pri Celju.