Maribor, the second largest city in Slovenia

Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia. It lies at the end of the Drava Valley between Kozjak to the northwest and Pohorje to the south.

Extending southward is the fertile Dravsko polje (Drava plain), while the winegrowing district of Slovenske gorice lies to the northeast. Here two important ancient trade routes, one connecting Vienna and Trieste, and the other linking Croatia and Koroška (Carinthia), meet and cross the Drava River. Their positions at an important crossroad as well as the vicinity of the Drava River with its immense water power have enabled it to achieve rapid economic growth.

In the 12th century a castle was erected on Pyramid hill to control the traffic along the routes. Near the passage across the river, a settlement sprang up and was soon fortified with walls and a defense tower. During the period of Turkish invasions the town’s growth almost stopped.

The city was the first Slovene city to have a railway line. This occurred in 1846. Twenty years later the town was already an important railway crossroad. This was the main reason for its accelerated growth and prosperity.

During World War II part of the town was destroyed by allied air attacks. Following the war, however, the town experienced even greater flourishing, which has lasted to this day. The city has expanded to the south side of the Drava River, to the very foot of the Pohorje range and along the major access roads. Today it has more than 200.000 inhabitants.

The city's secondary school was opened in 1758. The town also has a university. The Maribor-Museum is one of the most impressive in Slovenia. Also worth visiting is the aquarium.

O.K., we are done here. See you soon. Bye, bye...

From Maribor back to the Drava Region