{"id":1947,"date":"2021-02-03T16:33:26","date_gmt":"2021-02-03T16:33:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/belajcenter.si\/about-us\/"},"modified":"2024-02-06T09:54:56","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T09:54:56","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/belajcenter.si\/en\/about-us\/","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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about us<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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<\/p>

Pri Grenadirju (Grenadierwirt) Inn, owned by Jo\u017ee Gmajner, the then mayor of the Slovenian district municipality, was situated here since 1829. Later it was taken over by Gmajner’s adopted son Jo\u017eef Jezernik and his wife Terezija, and in 1923<\/strong> Ana and Matev\u017e Belaj<\/strong> bought the inn from Jezernik’s daughter Ana.<\/p>\n

Matev\u017e Belaj was a successful livestock trader, and they invested their assets in constructing the extension of the inn and improving the range of services. The restaurant was known for its bourgeois cuisine, the so-called Viennese cuisine, and renowned wines and daily fresh beer. During the interwar period, the Belajs also ran a dairy business and supplied dairy products to other catering establishments. Their cured meat products were also known far and wide in the region.<\/p>\n

In 1933, they built a boarding house Penzion Belaj in the immediate vicinity. Most guests were from Slovenia, Croatia and Austria.<\/p>\n

Younger inhabitants of Celje probably do not know that the inn was also a favourite meeting place for raftsmen. They stayed overnight and had refreshments at the Belaj\u2019s place. Down by the Savinja, they joined 2 rafts together and headed towards the Sava.  The rafts were once again joined together at Rade\u010de. This gave rise to rafting convoys that journeyed even as far as the Black Sea. They made a film about the raftsmen, and it was partly filmed in the Belaj inn.<\/p>\n

In 1954, Irma Belaj-Ko\u0161tomaj, daughter of Ana and Matev\u017e Belaj, took over the inn and successfully ran it with her husband Ferdo Ko\u0161tomaj until 1984, when their daughter Irma Ko\u0161tomaj, Jr. took over. The inn has always been a popular venue for celebrations, weddings and other social events. The entire family was involved in making and serving homemade sausages, delicious cured meats, flancat pastry and other homemade delicacies. Later, they also set up the Valentinin koti\u010dek Caf\u00e9 next to the inn, named after Tina (Valentina), the daughter of Irma Ko\u0161tomaj, Jr.<\/p>\n

In 2012, the Belaj-Ko\u0161tomaj family decided to take a slightly different, more modern approach to their business activities. After they renovated the entire building, they created the Belaj Centre, which combines various activities: a caf\u00e9 and patisserie, a veterinary clinic, beauty and hairdressing services, accommodation facilities and a bread and bakery shop. This ensures that the basic needs of the city folk are met in this beautiful southern district of Celje.<\/p>\n

For relaxation, visitors can sit under the canopy of wild chestnut trees planted by the aforementioned Ana and Matev\u017e Belaj.<\/p>\n

Tina Ko\u0161tomaj, Director<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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