Žalec

Žalec is a small and picturesque town located in the heart of the Lower Savinja Valley. It was first mentioned in literature in 1182 and was granted market rights in 1265. During the Turkish invasions in the 16th century, Žalec suffered significant damage. To defend against Turkish attacks, the people of Žalec built a temporary defensive wall with four defense towers around the Church of St. Nicholas. The wall later collapsed, and only one of the towers remained, which was restored in 2002. In 2004, a vine called "Nikolaja" was planted next to the tower, and it is a descendant of the oldest grapevine in the world, located in Maribor's Lent.

Today, Žalec is known for its brewing tradition, which dates back more than 400 years. Since the end of the 19th century, it has been the center of Slovenian hop growing. Therefore, it is no coincidence that one of Žalec's biggest attractions is the Eco-Museum of Hops and Brewing in Slovenia, which offers insights into the history of brewing. Another unique feature of Žalec is the Beer Fountain, located in the main square. The fountain was built in 2016 and is one of the largest beer fountains in the world. Visitors can pour different types of local beer from six taps themselves. In addition to beer lovers, Žalec also caters to wine enthusiasts. The Obrambni Stolp with a wine cellar Keuder) offers tastings of the best wines from the Savinja Valley and also has a permanent ethnological exhibition showcasing tools and equipment used for grape and wine production.

In addition to the Eco-Museum of Hops and Brewing in Slovenia, beer tastings at the Beer Fountain, and wine tastings at the wine cellar, visitors are also invited to see the birthplace of composer Risto Savin, Zoltan's blacksmith building, the Roman necropolis, sacred heritage (Basilica of the Mother of God, Church of St. Nicholas), Novo Celje Castle, the mining museum in Griže, or simply take a walk around the town and discover the points of the Savinja Walking Path and admire the old town architecture.