# Visiting Celje and its castle > After visiting the Skocjan caves and a brief stop in the Lake Cerknica area, we took the motorway to head towards Lower Styria because we were staying in Maribor that evening. Source: https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/en/blog/celje-and-its-castle/ Published on 18 August 2019 After visiting the Skocjan caves and a brief stop in the Lake Cerknica area, we took the motorway to head towards **Lower Styria** because we were staying in Maribor that evening. So we stopped at the end of the day to discover the small town of **Celje** and its **castle**. And what a lovely surprise! ## What to see in Celje ### The town centre **Celje's** town centre is quite small and can be visited very quickly. We wandered through the pedestrian streets to the banks of the **Savinja river** which flows at the foot of the old castle. If you have time ahead of you, there are a few museums to visit such as the Celje Regional Museum, the Princes' Palace or the Museum of Recent History of Celje. We didn't come across many people in the streets, no doubt due to the fact that we were there at the end of the day and the weather was overcast. That is really the whole joy of this trip to Slovenia: feeling alone, even in town! ![Cobbled central square lined with yellow facades and a bell tower](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/visiter-celje-et-son-chateau-02-b6fb3ea4.webp) ![Gothic church with a pointed green spire at the roadside](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/visiter-celje-et-son-chateau-03-35867040.webp) ![Massive ochre stone building standing above an old wall](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/visiter-celje-et-son-chateau-04-4c727358.webp) ![Shopping street lined with arcades and flower-decked terraces](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/visiter-celje-et-son-chateau-05-7e64dce3.webp) ![River flowing over a weir in front of colourful houses and a wooded hill](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/visiter-celje-et-son-chateau-06-1a8e5b51.webp) > **Note** > > you can park for free on the edge of the pedestrian town centre from 4pm. ### The old castle (_Stari Grad_) We then got back in the car to go up to the top of the hill that overlooks the town and to visit the [castle](https://www.slovenia.info/fr/destinations/regions-touristiques/les-thermes-de-pannonie-de-slovenie/celje). The latter was still open when we got there around 7pm: the summer opening hours (**9am-9pm** from June to August) let you enjoy the site at sunset. Student entry cost us only **2€** per person (**4€** for adults), so we didn't hesitate for long. Here again, we were almost alone for the self-guided visit across the whole site: a real joy! ![White tower with a pointed roof amid the ruins of the old castle](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/visiter-celje-et-son-chateau-07-4c963110.webp) ![Stone walkway between two low walls facing the mountains](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/visiter-celje-et-son-chateau-08-f70d30b6.webp) ![Couple leaning on the wall walk of the ramparts at the end of the day](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/visiter-celje-et-son-chateau-09-1f9072d4.webp) ![Wall turned golden by the low sun along the path](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/visiter-celje-et-son-chateau-10-e5f26f5f.webp) ![Ruined section of wall standing against the sky, visitor down below](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/visiter-celje-et-son-chateau-11-6503acf0.webp) ![Woman against the light in front of the sun setting over the hills](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/visiter-celje-et-son-chateau-12-30165d73.webp) The castle and its ramparts are very well restored and offer a **panoramic view** over the whole area around Celje. The warm light of the sun made a lovely contrast with the grey sky and the green of the mountains. A magnificent spectacle! It is without a doubt one of the loveliest views of our trip to Slovenia. ![Portrait of a smiling man with the castle in the background](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/visiter-celje-et-son-chateau-13-52a95311.webp) ![Man standing on the wooden terrace facing the wooded hills](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/visiter-celje-et-son-chateau-14-87c698b9.webp) ![Figure photographing the castle from a dark opening in the tower](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/visiter-celje-et-son-chateau-15-7d309ed1.webp) ![Woman in profile looking at the mountains from the rampart](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/visiter-celje-et-son-chateau-16-0ff30b1d.webp) ![Castle courtyard and ramparts overlooking the town and its river](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/visiter-celje-et-son-chateau-17-12f82601.webp) So we got an eyeful during this visit to Celje castle. The site is worth the detour for its exceptional views and the good state of preservation of its ramparts. > **Note** > > few rooms are furnished in the castle, it's more of an outdoor visit! ## What we thought of Celje Still little known and rarely mentioned in tourist circuits in Slovenia, **Celje** was a lovely surprise we weren't expecting! While the town can be visited quickly, the castle is a must, to be discovered at sunset in summer for a breathtaking view over the whole valley. **We strongly recommend including Celje in your itinerary if you're passing through Lower Styria!** Planning a trip to Slovenia? Read [all our articles about our road trip](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/en/destinations/slovenia/)! ![Woman leaning on the parapet facing the hills, title Celje](https://voyagesurlacomete.fr/photos/2026/visiter-celje-et-son-chateau-18-c46b2ef8.webp)