Slovenske Konjice, a medieval town among the vineyards

Why visit Žiče Charterhouse?

Žiče Charterhouse was founded in 1165 and was the first in Central Europe. When the Church split in the Great Schism of the 14th century, the head of the whole Carthusian order resided here. Today you visit the restored ruins, with an award-winning semi-transparent roof over the church of St John the Baptist, four permanent exhibitions, a herbal apothecary and the Gastuž inn, founded in 1467, which still serves dishes inspired by the monks’ kitchen.

The Dravinja valley town

According to SURS, Slovenske Konjice has 5,242 residents and its municipality 15,534 on 1 January 2026, across 58 settlements. It recorded just 5,268 arrivals in 2025, very few for what it offers. The tourist board describes a medieval town between Mt Konjiška gora and the sunny Škalce vineyards, embraced by the Dravinja valley. It belongs to the Association of Historical Towns of Slovenia and, together with Žiče Charterhouse, was a European Destination of Excellence finalist.

Sparkling wine, vines and golf at Zlati grič

The Carthusians pioneered winemaking here and brought in Pinot Noir, Blaufränkisch and Chardonnay. Their legacy lives on in Konjice sparkling wine, aged in the Otokar cellar from Zlati grič grapes. On the same estate there’s a 9-hole, 2,500 m, par-35 golf course among the Škalce vines, and the Zlati grič winery, which the tourist board counts among Europe’s most modern. For more, see my guide to Slovenian wine.

If you are staying the night, see the best hotel deals in Slovenske Konjice for your dates: the well-placed rooms go fast.

Surroundings and a day in Konjice

Each summer the charterhouse holds a wine and food afternoon in its small cloister, with tastings from local producers, the sort of event worth timing a visit around if you’re in the area in June. Nearby are the castle on Konjiška gora, Trebnik manor with its herbal gallery and Oplotnica manor. Zreče and Rogla are a short drive away, as is the space centre at Vitanje. I’d give Konjice and Žiče a full, unhurried day and sleep in Zreče to carry on into the Pohorje hills.

Carthusians, a baroness and other anniversaries

In 2025 the town marked 860 years since the Carthusians arrived at Žiče, a century since the death of Baroness Adelma von Vay, whom the tourist board describes as a humanitarian, healer and spiritualist, and 70 years since the first publication of Huda mravljica, a much-loved Slovenian children’s song by local author Branko Rudolf.

So you do not lose the morning at the ticket office, browse tickets and tours in Slovenske Konjice on GetYourGuide.

If you are staying the night, see the best hotel deals in Slovenske Konjice for your dates: the well-placed rooms go fast.