Celje, Slovenia | Named as a City of Literature by UNESCO

Celje, the third - largest city in Slovenia, a centre within of the traditional Slovenian region of Styria, located at the confluence of the rivers Savinja, Ložnica, and Voglajna in the lower part of the Savinja Valley, a very captivating centre with a mix of historic architecture and natural landscapes,  dominated by the mighty castle of the Counts of Celje with its medieval fortified walls has been reigning over the town for centuries, and also highlighted by other attractions include the Old Town, Celje Cathedral, the Regional Museum and the Savinja River Promenade has been named as a city of Literature by UNESCO. 

This year 58 new cities have joined the UNESCO Creative Cities network, all which stand out for their active commitment to culture, creativity, and innovative urban development.

With this prestigious recognition the Slovenian city joins 408 cities in more than 100 countries that are included in the UN organisation’s Creative Cities Network, becoming the second city in Slovenia after the capital Ljubljana to be awarded the title.

The network was launched in 2004, is a platform for cities to collaborate internationally, sharing the best practices and strengthen their cultural and creative industries. Member cities are designated in one of these creative fields : Crafts and Folk Art, Media Arts, Film, Design, Gastronomy, Literature, archiutecture and Music. Key features include promoting sustainable urban development, fostering creativity and innovation, and integrating culture into local policies and plans.

By joining the Creative Cities Network Celje upgrades on the many successful projects and partnerships it has been developing with cities around the world in culture, education, sustainable development and youth and will be able to join UNESCO’s projects, and tap into opportunities in cultural tourism and promotion of cultural heritage.

Celje has won the title just before featuring as the guest city of the 41st Slovenian Book Fair, to be held in the capital of the country Ljubljana from 24th to 30th November.

The title honours Celje’s public libraries, festivals, and its role in promoting literature through various projects, placing itself the in the cultural elite globally, and continuing to highlight this relevant success the Central Library of Celje is currently working on a rich program in cooperation with the Družba publisher and other partners. 

Celje municipality stated that the city has been recognized as a city nurturing literature heritage, reading culture and creatvitiy. Celje integrates literature into everyday life through its rich network of public library units and literary festivals, and many projects linking books, art, and education.

One such is the Veronika Prize, a prestigious Slovenian award for the best poetry collection named after 15th – century countess Veronika Deseniška, the second wife of Frederick II, one of the counts of Celje, which the Celje city municipality has been presenting annually since 1997 at the iconic Old Castle.

Celje Mayor, Matija Kovač welcomed the title as a recognition for everyone in the city who keeps literature alive, from the city’s library to the publishers, authors, and volunteers, as well as a commitment to continue developing Celje as a city of culture, creativity and open - mindedness.

Link
https://sloveniatimes.com/45456/celje-named-unesco-city-of-literature