The Church of Our Lady in the monastery complex was built at the beginning of the 14th century. But its present appearance originated in the period between 1858 and 1880 when considerable renovations took place.

Celje is the third largest town in Slovenia and is the administrative, business, economic, commercial, cultural, educational, medical, sports, and market center of the region.
Celje lies along the Savinja River in the southeastern part of the Celje Basin, 241 meters above sea level. It is located at the traffic junction between Ljubljana to the west, Maribor to the north, Zidani Most to the south, Velenje and Slovenj Gradec to the northwest, and Rogaska Slatina to the east. Relative to the flow of traffic, it could be said to lie at the very heart of Slovenia.
A visitor to Celje will be immediately impressed by its beautiful setting, surrounded by abundant greenery, parks, and forests. The Savinja River flows past the old town on its way to join the Sava River. The medieval old town welcomes you with restaurants, numerous boutiques, sidewalk cafes, cobbled streets, and narrow passageways, setting a mood from an age of bygone elegance. The ancient castle walls dominate the town; this majestic residence of the past Counts and Princes of Celje is now being restored to its former glory.
Splendid monuments from that era appear in many downtown areas, some incorporated into more modern buildings. Every view of the town shows a different face. One can stroll from the fine old railway station to the National Hall, or along the river promenade past the Regional Museum and across to the old bustling marketplace which reflects the energy and vitality of Celje’s citizens. One is impressed by the splendid 18th- and 19th-century facades with their wealth of detail and ornament, where time has left its legacy for future generations. Celje is indeed a real treasure for history-loving tourists!
Looking farther back in the history of Celje, we find the area was inhabited from the Neolithic period on and later became the second most important commercial and administrative center of the Noricum Kingdom. The name Celje is the final derivation of the original name Kelleia, a major Celtic settlement in the 3rd and 2nd centuries B.C. The name changed to Celeia (Latin) in Roman times when the town flourished as a Roman administrative center. The rule of Rome lasted for a period of four centuries, during which time four future emperors were governors of Celje. Numerous Roman artifacts have been found in Celje and its surroundings.
The name Celeia was changed to Cilli when it gained importance under the Counts and Princes of Celje in the Middle Ages. Their power reached its peak in the 14th and 15th centuries when with their political might they represented the only authority to counter Hapsburg ambitions in this area. On April 11, 1451, Friderik II, Prince of Celje, granted the title Town of Celje, and this day continues to be observed as a municipal holiday. Magnificent cultural monuments such as the Old Castle above the town, the splendid County House, and the City Castle testify to this great chapter in the history of Celje.
Despite Turkish raids, fires, and the plague, the town quickly developed into a successful trade and commercial center. After the construction of the Southern Railway from Vienna to Trieste, which reached Celje in 1846, the town became an important industrial, commercial, cultural, and educational center. In the period between the World Wars, Celje was the third most important town of the Drava Province.
After World War II, Celje expanded its industry, mainly chemicals and metalworking but also the timber, printing, and textile industries, and banking. Commercial and marketing activities increased as well. A thriving food-processing industry developed, especially milling, baking, and meat-processing with their centuries-old tradition.
The proclamation of the independent Republic of Slovenia in 1991 represented yet another turning-point for the town and Municipality of Celje.
In recent years, new forms of trade and business have flourished and are now replacing the more traditional heavy industry. Within the business structure the latter have been replaced by numerous smaller companies that are engaged in promotion of economic progress and growth. Among the more than fifteen fairs organized annually, the International Trade Fairis the second largest of its kind in Europe. This has made Celje into an important international commercial center.
This ancient yet modern city with its many historical and modern attractions and abundant green surroundings draws many visitors all year around. In its immediate vicinity there are numerous possibilities for recreation such as hiking, skiing, skating, golfing, kayaking, tennis, paragliding, and swimming. Several health spas and resorts with natural thermal springs are located only a stone’s throw from Celje, offering a quiet retreat, healing therapies, and unspoiled nature.
Due to its attractive natural setting, mild climate, and rich cultural and historical heritage, Celje has always been and remains an attractive tourist destination. It looks forward to presenting itself to Europe and to the world as a sophisticated, creative, and friendly city.

		A distinct stamp to the medieval city was given by the Counts of Celje, who strengthened Stari grad ("Old Castle") above the city, encircling it with fortified walls with defense towers. Numerous buildings from that period have been preserved. In the middle of the 20th century, one of the bastions was connected with the new Slovene Folk Theatre and the "Water Tower" was renovated. Entering the city, Ljubljanska cesta brings us to Trg celjskih knezov, on whose corner there stands Knežji dvorec ("Prince's Manor") or Spodnji grad ("Lower Castle"), built by the Counts of Celje in the Middle Ages. The manor was enlarged by the Counts of Celje in the 14th century, and in the period of Maria Theresa it was converted into a military barracks.