The Js are Silent

Ever since we transferred trains in Celje (pronounced “tsel-ye”) a few months ago and had a few minutes to walk into the Old Town center, we knew we’d be back. With April weather being unpredictable but beautiful, we caught a train back to Celje for a day of exploration. A pleasant less than 90-minute train trek drops you right into the heart of the action. Our goals for this day was visiting the regional museum, climbing up to the old castle, wandering around old town, and eating some great food. Check, check and check! Below are some of our favorite pics and a bit of backstory. Enjoy!

Back, back in the day, Celje was Celeia and was the administrative center of the Roman province of Noricum. It really flourished and was called “Troia secunda” or “second Troy”. The Princes’ Palace houses the “City Under a City” some really fabulous Roman ruins.

The Celje Regional Museum, which includes the Princes’ Palace, is not to be missed. It grounds what was called Celje’s second Camelot in the mid-fourteenth century with the Count’s of Celje. The counts, later dukes, where rich, powerful and challenged the rule of the Habsburgs. One of the best parts of this part of the museum is the Celje Ceiling which is not pictured below because we were lying down looking at it (and photography isn’t allowed).

The regional museum also had an awesome glass paperweight exhibit. Who know paperweights could be so beautiful…

One of our favorites was the exhibition on the life, travels and writings of Alma M. Karlin (1889-1950). I think we will let her speak for herself through her words and some of the photos we took. She lived a robust but short life very much on her own terms.

“I’m a being of female sex. If I were to say that I’m a woman, , people would immediately be tempted to think that I’m burdened with a marital “other”, but I roam about on my own like some hermit crab, besides, they might ascribe to me specific feminine charms, which I don’t have…”

Stari Grad (old castle) Celje is perched high on the hill with a spectacular view of old town and surroundings. We chose to walk up and down and reward ourselves for our effort with a lovely dessert. The castle is the largest fortress in Slovenia, originally built in the 13th century. It is in really good shape and unlike other monuments, you have pretty much free range to explore it.

And some other fun pics from the day (and dessert!).