Bee Walk through Mežica
Country of origin: Slovenia
Contact person: Drago Bahč and Katja Peruzzi Bahč
E-mail: drago.bahc@gmail.com
Website: https://iter-tours.si/turisticna-ponudba/iter-apium-cebelji-sprehod-po-mezici/ and https://www.apiturizem.si/cebelarstvo-dkj/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087068726301
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cebeljisprehodpomezici/
Čebelarstvo (Beekeeping) DKJ, also known as Bee Walk through Mežica – ITER APIUM Mežica, stands as a beacon of excellence in the fields of beekeeping, apitherapy, and apitourism.
In addition to beekeeping and the production and processing of bee products, their activities extend to the fields of apitherapy and apitourism. Since apitourism, as a visible part of sustainable tourism, is a priority for their beekeeping endeavors, they were awarded the TOP BEE Certificate of Excellence in Apitourism in 2024. This represents the highest category of apitourism offerings, ensuring only the best quality.
Mežica is a charming town with around 3,500 inhabitants, which has already achieved three significant milestones in beekeeping: in 2016, it was named the most bee-friendly municipality in Slovenia; it hosts the rich Beekeeping Collection of Rudolf Galob; and it features a beautiful 1.5 km beekeeping trail.
Their beekeeping operation faced three key challenges: creating an apiary with an api-chamber, enhancing an already excellent beekeeping educational trail, and curating the Beekeeping Collection. This collection includes over 80 painted hive panels, a remarkable overview of the work of Carinthian beekeepers from nearly 100 years ago, and various beekeeping tools. Driven by a passion for education and the desire to provide the best offerings, they reached a turning point. Completing the Beekeeping Tourism Guide Course opened up new opportunities for further development of their apitourism services.
Everything developed beautifully, their vision began to materialize, and their aspirations turned into reality. At the request of a local farmer in Mežica, they established an apiary on the farm. While it may appear ordinary from the outside, its interior offers much more to both them and their visitors. In the apiary, they practice various apitherapeutic techniques, including massages, inhalations, relaxation, and tastings. To add value to bee products and elevate them to a higher level, they now offer them in forms that the average consumer of bee products might never imagine.
Mežica is a town with hidden treasures. While widely recognized as a mining town, it is far less known that miners often kept bees. Because of this and other historical facts, they enjoy intertwining mining and beekeeping in their tours, sharing many fascinating stories from that era.
Their path of development and passion for working with bees and people also led them to actively engage in providing additional educational content in kindergartens, schools, various camps, and the Intergenerational Center. They also organize school technical days at the apiary, which they are very proud of, as the response from children is invaluable. The program focuses on behavior and safety around the apiary, accessible tourism, environmental awareness, and a sustainable approach.
What does the TOP BEE certificate for excellence in apitourism mean to us:
CHALLENGE: To achieve the required standards and maintain and improve them in the future.
RESPONSIBILITY: To strive for the highest quality and diversity of offerings.
ORIENTATION: To be a strong part of sustainable tourism, which means continually promoting respect for nature, environmental protection, enhancing quality of life through local connections, and supporting the development of the local community. Beekeeping embodies all of this – they live with nature, care for it, and aim to bring people closer to the positive effects of their bees’ work.
Where do they see the advantages?
SPECIALIZATION: The TOP BEE educational concept offers a rich educational program covering various thematic areas – from accessible tourism, phytotherapy, and apitherapy to economics and, most importantly, the correct approach of the provider to the visitor.
UNIQUENESS: An educational and one-of-a-kind experience for visitors, supported by high standards for the provider.
SUSTAINABILITY ORIENTATION: Raising awareness about the importance of bees for life, environmental care, reconnecting people with nature, and reducing pollution.
TOP BEE therefore represents an ongoing challenge. It is apitourism that offers something more – a richer, unique, and innovative experience in the form of tourism, combined with exploring the cultural and historical heritage of their town, well-being, and more.
So, if you’re looking for something extra, the TOP BEE team is here. Anything less than an excellent experience is simply not an option. They guarantee it, and that drives them forward.
