Sightseeing in Maribor - what to see. Complete travel guide

Maribor is one of the biggest cities in Slovenia and the most important cultural center of the country that has long attracted tourists’ attention. The castle called Marchburg was first mentioned in the second half of the 11th century. The settlement surrounding the fortress gained an official city status and a modern name in 1254. Maribor was developing primarily as a trade center facilitated by the beneficial location of the city. In the Middle Ages, it suffered multiple forays of the Turks but countered them successfully. In the middle of the 19th century, the city became a location of the bishopric of Levant.

Maribor had to undergo a lot of harsh trials during the First and Second Wars. At present, it has a status of the most important transport, trade and cultural center of Slovenia. The city is famous among travelers primarily for a variety of architectural monument preserved in its territory. One of the major symbols of the city is beautiful St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Stolnica Svetega Janeza Krstnika, that was built in the 12th century and is a true example of the Gothic style.

In the city, there is the old Maribor Castle that has managed to survive and remained almost unchanged since the 15th century. The architectural heritage of the city includes multiple museums and exhibition centers, which rich collections lets appreciate the national culture of citizens and learn a lot of interesting historical facts about Maribor. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

It also should be noted that in winter the city is often visited by skiing fans. Near Maribor is Mount Pohorje, on which slopes magnificent ski routes are equipped for skiing fans. The resort area of Maribor Pohorje has long been a place where the largest international competitions are regularly held, so the resort is visited by many eminent sportsmen.

Another attractive feature of the old Slovene city is healing thermal springs, near which upscale wellness centers are located now. Travelers can successfully combine walks along picturesque places and their acquaintance with the city attractions with wellness procedures, as thermal centers are accessible to the tourists all year round. Maribor is a fascinating modern city with a rich and eventful historical past. It will certainly impress those travelers who give their priority to different kinds of sport. The perfect tourist infrastructure of the city attracts to comfortable and interesting recreation.

Maribor is famous as a thermal resort. First healing thermal springs were discovered more than a century ago there. These thermal springs are located not far from the resort, so several modern wellness centers have appeared nearby in recent years. Nowadays, professional doctors work there, and local wellness centers offer rejuvenating treatment courses for different groups of illnesses. However, regular tourists also visit these thermal centers. As a rule, they simply want to have a vacation that is both exciting and good for their health. There are swimming pools with thermal water, massage rooms, and even balneology rooms.

Maribor is an essential stop in thematic wine tours. Not far from the resort, there are historical wineries and large vineyards. Vinag wine cellars are one of the main landmarks of the region. They were founded several centuries ago, and until now these cellars remain among the largest in central Europe. The length of the underground tunnels is more than 2500 meters. The cellars constantly store more than 5.5 million liters of wine. Nowadays, the cellars are open for excursion groups. Naturally, such wine tours end with sampling of the best varieties of the popular drink.

Fans of exploring picturesque places should definitely not forget to visit the Drava River. There is a beautiful waterfront on one of its banks. In summer, vacationers will have an opportunity to enjoy a refreshing boat ride. There is an interesting landmark not far away from the waterfront – an ancient grape-vine that was planted on its current site more than 400 years ago. Surprisingly, the vine is still alive. In summer, open-air stages open on the bank of the river. In total, several interesting music and theatre festivals take place in the town during warm months. Finally, Maribor Island is located within walking distance of the waterfront. In summer, a comfortable beach opens there.