Velenje
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A little closer toVelenje.

A town built from nothing in the 1950s, a coal mine you can go down, and three lakes that exist because the ground sank.

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SloveniaA different perspective.
About Velenje

Velenje

Velenje is the most interesting modern town in Slovenia and the least likely tourist destination in it. The centre was designed and built in one go in the 1950s on the proceeds of the coal below it, which is why it looks like nowhere else in the country, and a ten-metre statue of Tito still stands in the square it was built around. The Coal Mining Museum of Slovenia puts visitors in overalls and takes them down a shaft into the real workings: the best industrial visit in the country. The lakes on the valley floor are not natural: the ground subsided as the coal came out, water filled the hollows, and the largest of them now has a sand beach in the middle of a mining basin. Velenje Castle on the hill above holds the regional museum, including an unexpectedly good African collection.

Photo: Yerpo (via LetsVisit)

Plan your visit
✳ Velenje
What To See & Do

Explore Velenje

Žovnek Castle

Žovnek Castle is a castle northeast of Braslovče, Slovenia. It lies above Lake Žovnek.· Wikipedia

Velenje Castle

Velenje Castle is a well-preserved castle in Velenje, Slovenia that was owned by the Kunšperk family, followed by their Ptuj relatives and the Lichtenberg family. The castle houses a museum of art and culture.· Wikipedia

Ojstrica Castle

Ruins near Velenje.

Novi Klošter Monastery

Novi Klošter is a former Dominican priory near Polzela (Slovenia), built in the mid-15th century by Frederick II, Count of Celje.· Wikipedia

Smrekovec Lodge

The Smrekovec Lodge is a mountain hostel on the southern slope of the Smrekovec Mountains in the Kamnik–Savinja Alps. The first lodge was built in 1933, but it was burned down during World War II.· Wikipedia

Turn Castle, Velenje

A castle near Velenje.

Dobrna Castle

Ruins near Velenje.

Forhtenek Castle

Ruins near Velenje.

Grad Pakenštajn

Ruins near Velenje.

Lake Žovnek

Lake Žovnek is a lake near Celje in Slovenia.· Wikipedia

Hell Cave

Hell Cave is a karst cave in the settlement of Zalog pri Šempetru in Slovenia.· Wikipedia

Lake Družmirje

A lake near Velenje.

Rotovnik Cave

A cave near Velenje.

Lake Velenje

A lake near Velenje.

Practical Guide

Make the most of Velenje

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Okrepčevalnica Ribiški dom

Restaurant in Velenje.

Restavracija Jezero

Restaurant serving regional in Velenje.

Skalca

Pub in Velenje.

Ribiška koča Šoštanj

Pub in Velenje.

Vila Herberstein

Restaurant serving regional in Velenje.

Kavarna Nova

Cafe in Velenje.

Tuševo

Pub in Velenje.

Čujež

Restaurant in Rečica ob Savinji.

Lucifer

Cafe serving coffee shop in Velenje.

Best time to visit

May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep

Elevation

390 m

Population

25,000

Suggested stay

Day trip

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