Maribor

Lent is the most delightful and the oldest part of the city of Maribor. You can see most of the attractions of Maribor while walking through Lent. It is best to start at the Old Vine, continue past Judgement Tower to the Maribor Market where you can buy original products of the local farmers and craftsmen. The route further leads you towards the Studenci Footbridge where lovers can attach padlocks to the railing, as a sign of eternal love.

When you cross the Drava River, you can admire the breathtaking view of the old part of the city of Maribor from the right bank. Walk to the Old Bridge, cross it and continue towards the starting point along the Usnjarska Ulica Street past the Žički Dvor Manor, synagogue, medieval walls and water tower where you can taste excellent local wines in a modern wine cellar.

The Drava River has undoubtedly left a great mark on Lent. Today you can enjoy a ride by traditional raft or by the Dravska Vila Boat. Numerous bars, cafés and restaurants offering international food invite you to laze around in the company of the excellent gastronomic offer.

Once in the square of Slomškov trg, you have to visit Maribor's Cathedral. The construction of the cathedral and its further development brought Maribor additional cultural impetus and enforcement. It was built in the 12th century as a Romanesque building. Today it shows a Gothic style with a long chancel dating from the 14th century and a central church nave from the 15th century.

The long chancel or presbytery is completed with choir benches dating from 1771, on which there are shallow, gilded relief images of scenes from the life of St John the Baptist created by carver Jožef Holzinger. It is here that stand a statue of Bishop Anton Martin Slomšek, made by sculptor Franc Zajec in 1878, the Bishop's Chair dating from 1890, and the vaulted tomb of Maribor's bishops. In Baroque carver Jožef Holzinger built the chapel of the Holy Cross, furnished with an altar, where in 1996 the tomb of Bishop Slomšek was placed. On 4 September 1859 Anton Martin Slomšek transferred the seat of the Lavantine diocese to Maribor.

The 57 metre high classicist designed bell tower was rebuilt at the end of the 18th century when the primarily 76-metre high bell tower was struck by lightening.

The Basilica of Our Mother of Mercy in Maribor is one of the seven basilicas in Slovenia and the home church of the Maribor Franciscan Monastery. Today's church with its monastery was built from 1892 to 1900 and stands on the site of a former Capuchin church, which was built in the 17th century. The building was built in a pseudo-Romanesque style. The façade is adorned with two powerful 58-meter high towers, which culminate in a pointed roof and two 3-meter-high gilded crosses. The church has three entrances that are decorated with stone. 

The most abundant are the main portal treated with a mosaic residing in the lunette that shows the Annunciation. The organ was built in 1900 by Maribor's organ master Jožef Brandl. The most beautiful and most precious ornament of the entire church is the main altar, made of 17 types of marble and adorned with a merciful image. The church is three-aisled, from its original painting the only part preserved is on the triumphal arch. The walls of the presbytery were decorated with frescoes in 1965 by academic painter Stane Kregar, who is also the author of three new stained glass windows. In the tomb of the church under the presbytery rests Maribor Counts Khiesel and Brandis, Brothers Capuchins, who helped people in time of the plague, Maribor bishops (among others in it rests the Blessed Anton Martin Slomšek) and the builder of the new church Father Kalist Heric. The tomb is now inaccessible. 

Locals know this church as the Franciscan church because the church with its monastery was taken over by Franciscans in 1864 and they are still managing it today.

The Maribor synagogue is one of the oldest preserved synagogues in Central Europe and one of the most important monuments of Jewish cultural heritage within the Slovenian territory. Around 600 years old religious center today serves as a centre for cultural activities and it offers visitors various events including exhibitions, concerts, literary evenings and round tables. The synagogue is located in the square Židovski trg in the former Jewish quarter near the Glavni trg square.

Maribor's synagogue was first mentioned in 1429, but for sure it was built earlier on. Occasionally it served as the seat of the supreme rabbinate for Štajerska, which concludes that there was a Jewish community here. In 1501 the synagogue was consecrated as Catholic Church and called All Saints. After 1785 it was turned into and used as warehouse. During the 19th century even more alterations were made, which considerably changed its appearance. The interior was rebuilt as two storeys – the upper into a residential area and the lower into a basement. In 2011 the Synagogue began operating as an independent public institution under the title Center of Jewish Cultural Heritage Synagogue Maribor.

One of the most remarkable architectonic monuments of our city grew exuberantly right in its centre: Maribor’s town castle is surrounded by the busy squares of Grajski trg, Trg svobode and Trg Generala Maistra. In the castle you can visit the Regional Museum of Maribor, which is home to many collections of great value that will certainly impress you!

The castle, which boasts several constructional and style periods, was been built by Emperor Friderik III between the years 1478 and 1483 for the purpose of fortifying the north eastern part of the town wall. The castle was in the course of time changed into a rich feudal residence.

Among the more important constructional achievements of the castle are:
- the Baroque stairway built between 1747 and 1759,
- the Loretto chapel on the south frontage, built between 1665 and 1675, and
- the Festive Hall on the 1st floor with its wonderful ceiling, painted by Jožef Gebler and its murals. 

With its collection of more than 5,000 art works by Slovenian authors from the end of the 19th century up to present, Maribor Art Gallery - UGM is one of the main museums for modern and contemporary art in Slovenia. Painting, sculpture and prints are joined by photographs, video art, multimedia installations and interactive art projects. With its collection and programme of 20 special exhibitions a year – ranging from retrospective reviews of works by Slovenian authors to international festivals of contemporary art as well as architecture and design exhibitions – UGM importantly shapes both the art scene in Slovenia and internationally. Well structured education programme joins different generations, ethnic groups and educational institutions. UGM is the place for every one!

The Slovene National Theatre Maribor is situated in the old town centre, at the beautiful Slomškov trg square with the  cathedral and park. You can look at the square and park from the theatre's coffeehouse, where you can sit and enjoy good coffee and have a nice chat in an agreeable atmosphere.

Enjoy pleasant evenings during the many cultural events that our theatre house offers, such as:
- Drama – indulge in Slovene and world classical plays and modern drama of different kinds and genre;
- Opera and ballet – performances of classical and modern, Slovene and international ballet repertoire will enchant you and
- Symphonic orchestra – along with playing for opera and ballet performances the Symphonic orchestra also holds regular concerts.

There are also several important theatre, music and other events taking place in our theatre, which enliven the cultural scene of our town – among those events the most important being the Borštnikovo srečanje, the biggest Slovene theatre festival!

Glavni Trg or The Main square is the second largest square in Maribor, where the history and the hustle and bustle of town life flow into one. Here you can look at important sights of the old town core; sip coffee and sit out in the sunshine or visit some of the small shops.

A historical seal was left on this central square by the historical buildings, which still surround it today. They are the Town Hall, Aloysius Church and ex- Casino. In the centre of the square stands the Plague Column, which the inhabitants of Maribor erected in the 17th century in memory of the plague, which they survived.

Among the most interesting buildings is the one in the place of the former restaurant Koper where the first Maribor brewery was located, and was owned by the Čeligi (Tscheligi) family for decades; the corner building at the beginning of the street Poštna ulica with the inscription Ludwigshof and the year 1905 was owned by the former milling family Franz, who had a big mill in Melje (today owned by the company Intes) and the house decorated with apothecary motifs, which in former times was the town apothecary of the known Maribor pharmacist Franc Minarik.

You can find the beautiful building of late baroque architecture when you stroll through the old town core, as it adorns the old street Koroška cesta and rounds off the cultural and artistic picture of the square Glavni trg. The local architect Johannes Fuchs designed the building and Jožef Holzinger made the fittings. The church, with its extremely beautiful rococo railings, was built in 1769.

The statue of St. Andrew’s and St Peter adorns the main altar, also a late baroque colonnade work of art.  The altar picture of St Aloysius, with its panorama of Maribor, is the work of artist and director of the Graz gallery Gianpaolo Tunner. The artist Kuppelwieser painted the paintings for both sides of the altar, St Viktorin with a view of Ptuj and St Maxsimilian with a view of Celje. Consequently there are three church paintings, all collected in one place, depicting panoramas of three Štajerska towns, dating from the 19th century.

After the dissolution of the Jesuit order in 1773, the church and residence were taken over by the army, who later vacated the church in 1831 and the residence as late as 1859, when Anton Martin Slomšek established a theological seminary there; this was the first school of higher education in Maribor. In 1831 the church was re-consecrated for ecclesiastical purposes.