Veronika Award

The Veronika Award (Slovene: Veronikina nagrada) is a literary award in Slovenia awarded each year for the best poetry collection Slovene of the year. It has been bestowed since 1997 by the Municipality of Celje at the Veronika Festival that takes place at Celje Castle. The festival and the award are named after Veronika of Desenice, wife of Frederick II, Count of Celje accused of witchcraft, incarcerated in Ojstrica Castle and murdered in around 1425. The winner receives a financial award. Since 2005 a separate Poetry Gold Medal is bestowed on a poet for their life achievement that has contributed to the richness of Slovene poetry, language and culture.