Žiče Carthusian Monastery is a place where time stops, nature speaks and cultural heritage is revived. Gastuž, part of the Žiče Carthusian Monastery, is the oldest inn in Slovenia and holds the treasures of white and rosé sparkling wine. Many of the sights in Maribor can be seen on a walk along Lent. The story of the Old Vine, the oldest vine in the world, tells of wine, durability and vitality. The wine shop of the Old Vine House is a valuable treasury that delights both amateurs and connoisseurs. In addition to top culinary experiences, the rich history and fantastic views of Ljutomer - Ormož vineyards are also fascinating. Traces of the Romans will lead us to the oldest Slovenian town of Ptuj. The programme offers you a daily experience of top quality wine cellars, excellent local cuisine, the beat of the countryside and the biggest attractions of the region.
 

Programme ***

Carthusian monastery Žiče

Žiče Carthusian Monastery was the Monastery of the Carthusian monastic order, which began with the construction of the first buildings around 1160. In the upper monastery - Žička Kartuzija, with the great church of St. John the Baptist lived the monks in a very strict daily life. Brothers and apprentices lived in the lower monastery - Špitalič, where they set up a small church. The famous Late-Romanesque church of Mary's visit is adorned with the unique Romanesque portal, one of the oldest in Slovenia. The ruins of the monastery; towers, stone walls and cathedral remains are fascinating. Despite the fact that the renovation works are still in progress, the surroundings are so romantic that in the cathedral there are nevertheless weddings. At the entrance to the monastery there is Gastuž, the oldest inn in Slovenia that has existed since 1467. The inn also keeps medieval cooking recipes. From the very beginning the ground floor of the Gastuž was a part of the Žiče Carthusian Monastery, where the monastery wine was offered to travelers. In the arched cellars of the Žiče Carthusian Monastery, 60,000 bottles of white and rosé sparkling wine mature. In addition to a guided tour of the surroundings and a lunch, you will experience a taste of premium sparkling wine.

Maribor

Maribor is the capital of Styria and the second largest city in Slovenia. The town boasts the oldest vine in the world. The old vine is located in the central part of the Old Town. With more than 400 years of age, it is enrolled in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest vine of the world. It symbolizes the rich wine culture of Maribor and Slovenia, and ultimately the whole world. Today, its descendants grow already domestically all over the world. Lent is the most magical and oldest part of the city of Maribor, where we also find the Old Vine House. Its wine shop is one of the smaller ones but in terms of content, it is the real treasury of Styrian wines, which, with a wide range of wine tastes, delights both lovers and connoisseurs. Only the best wines of local winemakers are accepted in the wine shop, many of which achieve top results even at the largest international wine evaluations at home and abroad. More than 40 local winemakers with more than 130 of the best wines are now represented in their wine collection. At the guided tour, you will visit Maribor Castle and get to know other sights of the old town. In the Old Vine House you will taste the wines in the company of an expert sommelier. For many guests, the wine tasting is the highlight of their visit to Maribor.

Ormož-Jeruzalem

On the way to the picturesque Ljutomer - Ormož wine hills, we will stop in one of the ethnological pearls - Babič mill. It is a monument of Slovenian heritage of priceless value, since it is the last floating mill on the Mura River. Prlekija, a small and predominantly hilly region in the north-eastern part of Slovenia, is a place of rich cuisine, top-quality wines, winding terraced wine hills, rattling wind rattles and rich cultural heritage. It’s an inspiration for many artists, since the views are really fantastic. The Jeruzalem wine hills live and breathe with vines and wine, while pedantically arranged vineyards mark the landscape wherever you look. There is not just a single viewpoint there, but the views are impressive at almost every step. You will experience the region best, when visiting an exciting ecological-social farm where you will enjoy top-class local cuisine. The region boasts excellent pumpkin seed oil. In one of the oil-extraction plants, you will learn about the production of pumpkin seed oil, while tasting their products. The dedication to the vine will be most felt when visiting a unique wine cellar and by discovering the mystery of fine wines.

Ptuj

Ptuj Castle is one of the most distinguished castles in Slovenia. During the Roman Empire, Ptuj was an important city (Poetovio) and a military post. Mithraism, Persian faith with mysterious rituals, which were only attended by men, was established here with the soldiers from the Eastern countries. In the sanctuary of the god Mithra from the 3rd century, many, with these cult-related monuments, have been preserved. From the castle the view stretches over the brick roofs and paved streets of the oldest city in Slovenia. In addition to viewing the icon of the city - the Ptuj castle and the romantic old town, we will also devote time to visiting the outstanding museum collection of the Regional Museum Ptuj-Ormož. While discovering the wonderful city you will also learn about the unique regional specialty - Kurentovanje, a traditional mask carnival. For the end, we will go to taste the wines in the region's most pompous wine cellar - Wine Cellar Ptuj. On the way to the airport or to Ljubljana, we will have at least one stop for refreshment or more by agreement.

 

Additional information:

• Start of the tour is at 8.30 from the stated location
• The location of the start of the tour is anywhere in Slovenia if agreed in advance
• You need a valid ID for the tour
• In case of unexpected situation the course of the tour can be partialy changed
• For the type of accommodation we can adapt to your wishes