A City Flourishing with Ideas
Velenje is a young, modern European city situated in the eastern part of the Šaleška Valley in the Paka river basin. The city was first mentioned in the 13th century as a market town, but was granted city rights in the 1950's, when in the middle of fields and meadows a new, modern city was build in a matter of years by voluntary strike labour. Diligent workers made more than a million of strike hours. In search of a better tomorrow they came to the city from all over, and together they built a picturesque, multi-cultural and hospitable city.
Back in 1889 Velenje was a small market town with no more than 364 citizens, a figure which stands in total contrast to the present-day situation. Nowadays, spreading on a bit more than 83,000 square metres, Velenje is home to a good 34,000 Velenje citizens.
Moreover, Velenje is today one of the strongest economic centres in Slovenia. It is the city of large economic systems, equipped with modern infrastructure. Economic development is based on energy, metal-processing and construction industries. In addition, environmental-protection, craft and trade services have been experiencing solid development recently. Furthermore, Velenje is an employment, administrative and educational centre of a wider Savinjsko-Šaleška region.
The youngest Slovene city has grown into the fifth-largest Slovene city, and still keeps growing and developing. It is the city with a vision and youthful energy. Velenje is the city flourishing with ideas.
City in a Park
A Diverse, Modern City Full of Charm
The city of Velenje and its countryside are neither big nor small. Its contemporary architectural layout makes it different from other Slovene cities. Its modern flat-roofed buildings, sizeable greens, impressive trees and neatly arranged flower beds fascinate every visitor.
Because Velenje is a city in a park, a city of greens and numerous sunny days. It is much more than mere heritage of an old market town situated under mighty Velenje Castle, which gave it the name. It has grown between Stara vas and the settlements of Šmartno and Šalek for five decades. Even though spatially limited by the hilly landscape, the city’s growth continues.
Nature in Velenje will enchant you on every step. Go for a stroll around Velenje and Škalsko Lakes, climb the Koželj or the Graška Gora, take your time in exploring diversity of woods and mountain paths or visit Sončni park (the Sunny Park), etc.. Furthermore, an extensive network of well-maintained cycle lanes invites you to explore the city and its surroundings on a bike.
Velenje gets beautiful when waking up, gets even more beautiful when bustling with life during the day as well as when calming down in the evening and finally falling asleep. Each day you spend in Velenje is a unique experience.
Stories of the Past
The Past Inspires Us, the Future Excites Us
Velenje may be a young city, yet it has a colourful history giving it a touch of mystery even today. As early as in the Middle Ages appeared first important written records about castles, which played an important role in later history of the Šaleška Valley. In that period more than 20 castles and manors were built giving the valley an important seal, and naming it the Valley of Castles.
Velenje Castle, first mentioned in 1264, is perched on a steep rocky mound above the town. It is one of the most well-preserved castles in Slovenia, and nowadays houses Muzej Velenje (the Velenje Museum). Having eleven museum and gallery collections it offers genuine travel through time. Moreover, Muzej Velenje also takes care of a refurbished Gril Farm, an old vinedresser's cottage converted into an ecomuseum in once wine-growing Lipje by Velenje. Apart from the cottage with “a black kitchen” (a kitchen with an open fire), the museum also consists of a herb garden, vineyard with the authetic sort “p′ček”, an apiary and orchard. Furthermore, Muzej Velenje invites you to see Kavčnik Farm in Zavodnje above Šoštanj. This remarkable jewel of folk architecture houses a unique, over 400 years old living room with the open hearth.
On the other side of the city, the visitor’s look is often captured by the ruins of Šalek Castle, which gave name to the settlement below and to the whole valley. The castle was erected on a cliff with first records dating back to 1287. It was abandoned after a devastating fire around 1770. The oldest part of the castle is a keep still standing today. It has a triangular floor plan, a unique one in Slovenia as well as Europe.
Down, in the middle of the valley, there is a young city centre – a living testament to contemporary history on every step - boasting numerous cultural and artistic monuments that adorn the city's streets and squares, which are actually monuments by themselves. There is Tito’s Monument, the most noticeable and mightiest of them all, erected on Tito's Square, which is the city’s central square. Moreover, at the edge of the square, there is a monument to Nestl Žgank, a builder of the modern Velenje.
At the entry to the city's oldest part - Old Velenje beneath Velenje Castle - greets you a refurbished Villa Bianca. Although the refurbishment has preserved the old shape, the villa fulfils modern assignments as a protocol building of the Velenje municipality as well as a Tourist Information Office and a pleasant bar.
Sports and Recreation
A Wide Array of Sports, Recreational and Adrenalin Opportunities
Wonderful nature is visible and accessible practically everywhere in Velenje. Velenje’s tidiness and hospitality have received numerous prizes at domestic and international levels.
Modern sports complexes, such as the city stadium, Red and White Halls, a ski-jumping centre, an indoor swimming pool, make an important contribution to the city's vibrancy.
The Jezero Tourist-Recreational Centre (TRC Jezero) is something special since it is developed in the area of sunk lakes, which are a consequence of coal-mining. Nowadays it is one of the most beautiful and attractive Slovenia’s sports centres, bustling with activity from dawn till dusk. A magic world of the lake-shore invites all fans of strolls in nature, jogging (also cross-country skiing in winter), cycling and horse riding. The TRC Jezero offers modern tennis, beach volleyball and streetball courts, a futsal pitch, golf training course, etc.. The White Hall also houses a modern fitness studio. Furthermore, the youngest are fascinated with children’s playground with Villa Villekulla, the home of Pippi Longstocking.
For water sports enthusiasts, Lake Velenje provides plenty of wind for windsurfing and dinghy sailing or relaxed rowing and boating. Lakes Velenje and Škalsko are true paradise for angling lovers as well as for outdoor ice-skating lovers in winter.
Would you like to discover the magic of events in Velenje? Would you like to get to know the true side of the city flourishing with ideas? Accept out invitation and let us spoil and surprise you!
www.velenje.si
