A Unique Experience in Zalec
Zalec, a small town nestled in the Lower Savinja Valley, might not be on everyone’s travel itinerary, but it offers an experience that is both unique and unforgettable. While driving from Slovenia’s famous Lake Bled to Lendava to visit family, my husband spotted a road sign for a beer fountain and made a spontaneous right turn off the highway. This decision led us to discover a charming town that has embraced its hop-growing heritage in a most unexpected way.
The Lower Savinja Valley is known for its devotion to hops, which locals refer to as “green gold.” This dedication to hops is evident in the town of Zalec, where the most notable civic project is the Green Gold Fountain. This impressive structure takes the form of two semi-circles, one for beer and one for water, with six silver cylinders rising from it like something out of a James Bond film. The fountain is located in the middle of a park, making it a central point of attraction for both locals and visitors.
To use the fountain, visitors must first purchase a souvenir glass from the kiosk opposite the fountain. Each glass is embedded with a microchip programmed for a single tasting from each tap. However, it’s only after using the glass that we realize there are different tiers of tastings available. At the fountain, eight men were already gathered, drinking and chatting as if it were the most natural thing in the world. It was 1pm on a Monday, which felt worth noting.
I inserted my glass into one of the cylinders, and a green light flashed, signaling the start of the pouring process. Magic. I began with a hazy IPA from Jasha Brewing, inspired by a troll from Norse mythology. Next came a stout from Brewery Vizir: rich, heavy, and not quite for me.
My favorite of the six options glowed an improbable shade of neon green. It was called Zeleno Haler from Haler Brewery, brewed two hours up the highway in the village of Olimje. This lager, based on an old German recipe, had a clean, classic taste with a grassy finish.
There is a reason Zalec built a fountain instead of a traditional taproom. According to Katja Fajic from Visit Zalec, the goal was never just about beer, but rather a way to honor the Lower Savinja Valley’s hop-growing heritage. The design of the fountain was determined through an architectural competition, inspired by the shape of a hop cone and wrapped in copper mesh to represent beer foam.
“Set beside the town market, we say the fountain ‘lives together with the town,’ rather than standing apart from it,” says Fajic.
Urska Cigler from the Ecomuseum of Hop Growing and Brewing of Slovenia sees the fountain’s appeal as something more imaginative. “A fountain is unique,” she says. “It lets people imagine. It makes them curious.” Six beers are on tap at any time, with four changing monthly, including lagers, craft styles, and experimental pours, all brewed with local hops.
From there, the experience expands outward, encouraging visitors to explore the Savinja Valley via the Path from Hops to Beer, which links hop fields, breweries, and museums. The Ecomuseum completes the loop, offering hands-on brewing sessions and a VR experience that traces hops from field to glass, before returning visitors to the fountain for the final pour.
Together, the fountain and the museum have helped reframe Zalec as more than a pit stop. According to Cigler, visitor numbers have climbed steadily, drawing people from across Europe and beyond.
“The fountain was the beginning,” Cigler says. “It was the stairway to Zalec becoming a thing.”
For generations, hops here have shaped the landscape, the economy, and, eventually, the town’s sense of humour. The fountain isn’t a novelty so much as a very Slovenian expression of pride. Even the nearby kebab shop feels like a sensible conclusion to drinking beer in a park on a Monday afternoon.
Travel Tips
Fly + Ride
Major airlines, including Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, fly into Ljubljana from most European cities. Trains run from major cities like Vienna, Munich, Budapest, and Zagreb. From Ljubljana, it’s a 1hr 50min train with a transfer to Zalec. Alternatively, the best way to get around Slovenia is by car, which you can easily pick up from Ljubljana Airport or Ljubljana Railway Station. See sixt.com for more information.
Drink
The fountain operates from noon to 6pm on Mondays, 10am to 6pm Tuesday to Friday, and 10am to 7pm on weekends, though hours vary by season. Six tastings cost €12, including the take-home souvenir glass. See beerfountain.eu for more details.
Visit
The Ecomuseum of Hop Growing and Brewing of Slovenia is located at Cesta Zalskega tabora 2, Zalec. Open from 10am-5pm Tue-Sat. See visit-Zalec.si for more information.
The writer travelled at her own expense.
