Velenje, the city of flourishing ideas

Velenje welcomes you in the valley of the Savinja River in the east of the country. In 2014, it celebrated 750 years from the first mention of the square and 55 years from the official opening of the new city centre. Velenje is one of the youngest towns in Slovenia. It has grown on the foundations set by the mining industry. Its architecture is marked by modern buildings and many green spaces.

Feel Velenje. At the sensory tour of the city you will use all your senses, smell, touch, sight, hearing and taste During July and September, the tour is adapted to the visually impaired and blind visitors, movement impaired persons, deaf and partially hearing visitors and other people with disabilities. Give yourself a panorama ride on the Velenje lake. The lake has been created following the subsidence of the coal mine. The idyllic ride on the lake lasts for approximately 30 minutes with a stop on the floating Water Town. The pier with berths for the Pletna boats is located at the Velenje lake beach below the office of the Velenje Water Sports Association. Spend your summer near water. At Velenje Beach next to the lake, you may spend your free time in the shadow of the trees, play volleyball or football, row the lake in the sup or just listen to the twitter of birds.

Get to know Velenje and its surroundings on a bike. Use the web site Plan2bike which is dedicated to bikers who wish to enjoy both biking and the tourist explorations. It is possible to rent bikes in the Tourist and Information Centre and the free of charge and automated city bikes rental system - BICY - has been arranged in the city. You simply rent a bike and bring it back to one of 11 stations scattered around the town. Take a drive on the Pozoj` s Castle Path passing 5 castles and the former centre of Šaleška valley. Discover the geographic characteristics of the Šaleška valley on the hiking trail From Energy to Ecology or the industrial characteristics of the valley on the From Coal to Electricity hiking trail. There are other thematic trails available and you can choose among them here with the option of also visiting them on foot.

The development of the city was particularly influenced by the industry which flourished during socialism. In the role of pupils and students co-create an animation and experience socialism through interesting stories. Go on an interesting journey through time and stop at the highest monument in the world of the charismatic leader of the former Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito. Go 160 metres underground and visit the Coal Mining Museum of Slovenia. Experience the working conditions of the miners and their meals- Finish the visit with a ride on the underground train.

Children may join the book hero, Pippi Longstocking. There is the Pika`s Festival organized in Velenje between 20 and 26 September. During this time, the town is flooded with girls dressed like Pippi Longstocking, and boys dressed like pirates, the road signs are supplemented with giant yellow buttons, and next to Velenje lake, the great Pika`s town is created with the Villa Villekulla Throughout the day there are creative workshops. theatre performances and puppet shows, dancing shows and other entertainment activities.

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