Maribor is the second most important centre and second largest city in Slovenia. It has about 114.000 inhabitants who live sweetly embraced by the surrounding wine growing hills and mount Mariborsko Pohorje. Located close to the Slovenian border with Austria and the Drava River, as well as lying at the centre of five natural geographic regions, Maribor is the capital of Štajerska, the Slovenian Styria.
Although the city had been attacked by the Turks several times during the course of history, it was ruled by the Austrian Habsburgs until the end of the World War I. After the end of the Great War, the city was claimed by both the Austrians and the new State of Yugoslavia; in the end, it fell under Yugoslavian domination. It was invaded by the Germans during World War II, but became part of Yugoslavia again once the war was over. In 1975 the University of Maribor was founded and this has helped the city to become an ever more popular, vibrant, and modern city. After Slovenia declared independence back in 1991, the city suffered economic consequences.
Today, Maribor is a trans-regional financial, educational, trade, and cultural centre. Moreover, since it is pleasantly small and gracefully lodged in the nature of Pohorje Mountain, it has grown into one of the country’s most important tourist destinations. Its key features are: the rich wine culture (the oldest vine in the world, numerous wine routes and wine cellars), the old town’s cultural offer (theatre, traditional events, galleries, and museums), and an incredible selection of recreational activities.
Want to know more about Maribor? Take a look at this Maribor travel blog!
