Eco Museum of Hop Growing

Eastern Slovenia


Based in an old hop-drying house in Žalec (10km west of Celje), this museum is dedicated to hop growing in the area. Before technology lightened the farming load somewhat, around 30,000 hop-pickers used to flood into town during the picking season, and the exhibits here concentrate on their back-breaking work. The friendly staff will guide you around explaining the history and processes involved in hop growing. Don't miss the brilliant black and white documentary showing Žalec during the mid-20th century.

Larger groups can do beer tastings here as well.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Eastern Slovenia attractions

1. Green Gold Beer Fountain

0.17 MILES

What other liquid would you expect a fountain to dispense deep in the heart of hop-growing country? Yep, Žalec (10km west of Celje) is home to the world's…

2. Šempeter Roman Necropolis

1.97 MILES

Some 12km west of Celje, Šempeter is the site of a reconstructed Roman necropolis of wealthy families living in the area. Scattered around the grassy plot…

3. Pekel Cave

3.13 MILES

One hour tours of 'Hell Cave' take you 1200m from the lower wet area to the upper dry section. Among the highlights, you'll pass a 4m-high waterfall, the…

4. Princes' Palace

4.93 MILES

This 4th-century structure houses an important branch of the Celje Regional Museum. In the cellar is the City under the City exhibition: partial remains…

5. Gallery of Contemporary Art

4.97 MILES

This gallery, in the southern wing of the Princes' Palace, hosts thematic exhibitions of both local and foreign artists.

6. Celje Regional Museum

5.03 MILES

This branch of the Celje Regional Museum's collection is housed in a grand Renaissance building called the Old Count's Mansion. The 1st floor is home to a…

7. Celje Museum of Recent History

5.05 MILES

The permanent Living in Celje: 1900–2000 exhibition here records the story of Celje from the late 19th century onwards. It's not the most interesting of…

8. Church of St Nicholas

5.08 MILES

South of Temple of Hercules, you can walk up 396m-high Nicholas Hill (Miklavški Hrib), topped by the Church of St Nicholas, for a wonderful view of the…