"Troia Secunda (The Second Troy)" a Celje Travel Page by Lochlainn

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In the middle ages Celje was notable to travellers as a place replete with the remnants of antiquity - evidence that it had developed from the wealthy Roman town of Celeia and had subsequently found itself at the heart of some of the largest migrations of races across Europe that were sparked off by the fall of the Roman Empire, a period of turbulence that effectively destroyed the settlement. For this reason a parallel was drawn by medieval scholars to Homer's Troy - and so the situation remained until the town and surrounding area were revitalised from the 12th century on, and later when it became the capital of a princedom that defied the might of the Hapsburgs for 20 glorious years in the 15th century. The old town today is an architectural mixture betraying the many influences that Celje has absorbed in its long history, and a real pleasure to walk around, if even for just one afternoon.

The Grad, situated on a hilltop across the river, has splendid views overlooking the town itself and equally splendid views of the surrounding Slovenian Alps. I had the advantage of being chauffeuse driven to its summit (more thanks to Oja), and am glad I didn't persist in attempting to walk from the town - though the castle appears quite close when viewed from the riverbank!