From 880-Year-Old Slovenske Konjice Straight Into the Vineyards

As vineyards turn shades of gold and the wine-growing hills enter one of their most atmospheric seasons, Slovenske Konjice offers a compelling combination of wine, heritage, architecture and landscape. Just above the historical town centre, the vineyards of Škalce unfold across sunny slopes, revealing one of Slovenia’s most distinctive wine landscapes – and some of the best views over a town celebrating 880 years since its first written mention. Autumn feels particularly at home in Škalce, where vineyards rise almost directly from the streets of Slovenske Konjice. Within minutes, visitors can leave the old town behind and find themselves walking among vines, with views stretching towards Konjiška gora and the remains of the Old Castle.

The setting is especially striking at this time of year, when the predominantly white-grape vineyards take on warm autumn tones and the landscape reflects a wine-growing tradition that reaches back more than eight centuries.

More than 800 years of wine tradition

Winegrowing in the Slovenske Konjice area is closely linked to the Carthusian monks of nearby Žiče Charterhouse. Written sources mention their vineyards as early as 1173, making viticulture an integral part of the area’s identity for more than 800 years. The Carthusians played an important role in shaping the economic and cultural development of the region, and that connection continues today: sparkling wines from Zlati grič mature in the old vaulted cellars of Žiče Charterhouse.

Among the vineyards of Škalce, visitors will also find Škalčanka, a descendant of the world’s oldest vine from Maribor’s Lent district. Its “sister vine”, Kartuzijanka, grows at Žiče Charterhouse.

A wine cellar designed to disappear

One of Škalce’s contemporary landmarks is the Zlati grič wine cellar, an award-winning architectural project covering approximately 3,500 square metres.

Almost entirely built into the ground and covered by a green roof, the cellar appears to merge with the surrounding vineyards rather than dominate them. Visitors can step inside for wine tastings and discover the wines produced in the very landscape stretching out around them.

It is a striking example of how Slovenske Konjice brings together centuries-old wine culture and contemporary design in a remarkably compact setting.

From medieval streets to golden vineyards

The vineyards are only part of the story. Below them, Slovenske Konjice marks 880 years of recorded history in 2026.

The town has retained its medieval urban character and is symbolically linked to two animals: the horse, reflected in the town’s name, and the dragon, deeply rooted in local legends. Their stories are explored in the open-air exhibition The Horse and the Dragon: Eternal Companions of Humanity, on display at Mestni trg until the end of 2026.

Art offers another way to discover the town. The Slovenske Konjice Town Gallery, housed in a renovated historic townhouse on Stari trg, presents five themed rooms exploring local stories through artists, art colonies, notable personalities and motifs connected with the town.

Among its intriguing exhibits are the original statues from the plague column on Stari trg, a fresco from Žiče Charterhouse and archaeological finds from the once-mighty Old Castle.

This article is part of an exciting partnership with the Association of Historical Towns of Slovenia, of which Slovenske Konjice is also a member. The partnership aims to bring you captivating stories from the historical towns nestled across Slovenia. As a regular feature of News from Slovenia, delivered to our valued subscribers, readers can expect to discover exciting stories from these timeless cities in the coming months. The contents and photos for this article were provided by the Association of Historical Towns of Slovenia and The Slovenske Konjice Tourism Board.

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