During the last two decades of the 19th century, rye and wheat production across the broad plain which forms the central tract of the Savinja Valley, became supplemented and eventually supplanted by the cultivation of hops (humulus lupulus). Each spring this seemingly small and somewhat frail plant creeps up from the loosely ploughed furrows and into a trellis network supported by smooth poles. The plant's progress is rapid indeed, reaching the upper end of poles - a height in excess of six meters - by August, the mont when the plant is in full bloom and teady to harvest. Any journey across the plain in summer will convince one that is true hop country. To pass among the great gardens of these gianst is an experience indeed, one which is most unlike any other.

Hop-growing first came to tje central tract of the Savinja Valley during the mid-19th century, when the mineralogist and mining engineer Franc Zuza, who also ovned the Zalec brewery, introduced a Czech variety of hops into the district. Ther cultivation, however, did not prove successful, and smilar destinies awaited the hopyards and gardens of other local pioneeringgrowers. Josip Bilger, administrator of the Novo Celje Mansion near Zalec, was more successful. In 1876 he introduced the Wártenberg variety to Janez Hausenbichler and Joza Zigan, and thus the foundation stone of the Savinja Valley hop industry was established. Within a mere two decades hopyards had spread right across the Lower Savinja Valley, and much of the merit for this also goes to the Southern Styria Hop Association, which was established in Zalec in 1880.

Today Slovene hopyards cover more than 2.400 hectares, the majority, almost threequarters in fact, lie within the Savinja Valley. Slovene hops - universaliy known as "Styrian Hops" elsewhere in the world are highly esteemed, and their quality is also vindicated bay the calibre of Slovene beer brewed, of course, using hops from the Savinja Valley.

The new super-varieties of Styrian hop such Aurora, whish are cultivated hereabouts - give better yields per hectare and contain an increased amount of alpha acids. Today, however, the Savinja Valley hop-growers mostly cultivate Savinja Golding and Aurora-varieties, whils Slovene hopyards represent 2,8% of world acreage and yield some 3,3% of total global production.

Hop-growing transformed the fortunes of farming in this part of the Savinja Valley, and with that the whole local economy. Well maintained houses, a general affluence and a modern well developed infrastructure, are all the fruit of the industrious and diligent Savinja Valley hop-growers.