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Maribor, Slovenia

Maribor, Slovenia
Name: Maribor
Country: Slovenia
Signing an agreement: 10.10.2017
Type of agreement: letter of intent
Year: 2017
Website: maribor.si
Contact: Municipality of Maribor
1 Heroja Staneta St.
2000 Maribor, Slovenia
tel.: +386 (02) 22 01 000
e-mail: mestna.obcina@maribor.si

Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia, and important economic as well as cultural center in the northeast of the country. It is standing on the River Drawa, several kilometers from the Slovenian-Austrian border, next to the highway leading from Vienna to Ljubljana and further to Trieste in Italy and the Slovenian coast. The first mention of a stronghold, existing in this place, comes from the 12th century, mainly due to the Marchburg fortress, located on a hill, north of the city. Main task of the stronghold was to defend the valley against Hungarian attacks. The municipality was constantly developing along the river, where wineries run by the Jewish community were established. In the fourteenth century, beside Hungarians, the city was also threatened by the Turks, as a result of which new fortifications were built. Four towers have survived to our days. The period of dynamic development coincided with the Habsburg reign (until World War I). In 1864 Maribor had gained a railway connection with Vienna, which also accelerated the development of the city. In the fourteenth century, beside Hungarians, the city had been threatened by the Turks, as a result of which new fortifications were built. Four towers have survived to our days. The period of dynamic development coincided with the Habsburg rule (until World War I). In 1864 Maribor had gained a railway connection with Vienna, which also accelerated the development of the city. In 1918 Maribor became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (from 1929 Yugoslavia). During World War II, the city had been heavily bombed and by the end of 1945, 2/3 of Maribor was in ruins. Occupied in 1945 by Josip Broz Tito's partisans, Maribor became part of Yugoslavia. Since 1991, the city has been within independent Slovenia. An important attraction of Maribor and the surrounding area is the production of wine. The city has the oldest vine in the world, about 400 years old. Tourists appreciate the possibility of active recreation in the region. Nearby is the largest winter sports center in Slovenia - Pohorje. Festivals, concerts and other cultural events occupy an important place in the city's life. Maribor was elected European Capital of Culture 2012.

Maribor is a center of the electrotechnical, textile, chemical and transport industries. There is a factory producing trucks and buses. In the past it was called Tovarna Avtomobil Maribor. The most famous of its products is the TAM bus, used to this day in intercity communication or acting as a bus. This company collapsed in 1996, but its successor is Tovarna Vozil Maribor.

Monuments and attractions, incl.:

  • Castle in Maribor (Slovenian: Mariborski hail) – the castle, consisting of several parts built in different styles, was built by Emperor Frederick III to strengthen the northeastern part of the defensive wall around the city. The castle now houses a museum, Pokrajinski Muzej Maribor, with some of the richest collections of Slovenia;
  • St. Patrick's Cathedral John the Baptist (Slovenian: Stolnica svetega Janeza Krstnika) – the most important temple of Maribor. Established in the XII century in the Romanesque style, has been rebuilt many times, currently it is mainly Gothic. The cathedral has a 54-meter bell tower, dating from the late eighteenth century, built in the classical style;
  • Basilica of our Mother of Mercy (Slovenian: Bazilika Sv. Marije Matere Usmiljenja) – a church belonging to the Franciscan order, built in 1892-1900, designed by the Viennese architect Rihard Jordan at the site of the former Church of the Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary;
  • The synagogue – the 15th-century building was initially the seat of the Supreme Rabbinate of Styria. After the banishment of Jews from Maribor in 1501, it became a Roman Catholic temple. Currently, it has a cultural function;
  • Old vine (Slovenian: Stara trta) – the oldest vine in the world, aging about 400 years old. Thanks to its age, it was entered into the Guinness Book of Records. In 1972, prof. Dr. Rihard Erker, a dendrologist at the University of Ljubljana, conducted a study to confirm the age of at least 350 years or even 400 years. Each year, the vine yields between 35 and 55 kilograms of grapes, from which about 100 bottles of wine are made. Every year, Maribor organises a harvest festival during which grapes are harvested using the traditional method;
  • Freedom Square (Slovenian: Trg Svobode) – a square located east of the castle, close to "vinag" (wine cellars) from the beginning of the 19th century. They are one of the largest and oldest wine storage facilities in Europe. Over 6 million liters of wine are aged here in wooden barrels;
  • Lent Quay- in this district stands the first of the defensive towers preserved from the city's defensive wall. About 150 meters along the waterfront is the Old Trta (the oldest vine in the world). About 300 meters north, there is a sixteenth-century defensive tower (Vodni stolop), and north of it is the medieval center of the Jewish quarter;
  • Pohorje massif – the eastern edge of the Pahorje massif, is also called the lungs of Maribor. There are many attractions, such as ski slopes, a bike trail or Pohorje Adrenaline Park.

Universities:

  • Maribor University (Slovenian: Univerza v Maribor) - public university, the second oldest university in the country. The history of the University of Maribor dates back to 1859, when Antoni Marcin Slomšek founded a seminary there. Further faculties were opened about 100 years later. The faculties of economics, business and technology were created in 1959, and agriculture, law and pedagogy in 1960. The university was officially opened on September 19, 1975. It currently has 17 faculties;
  • Private universities, among others: DOBA Higher School of Business, European Study Center Maribor.

Culture:

  • Regional Museum in Maribor (Slovenian: Pokrajinski Muzej Maribor) – is located at the Castle in Maribor. The museum boasts one of the richest collections of monuments in Slovenia, presented in 20 rooms;
  • Museum of National Liberation (Slovenian Muzej Narodne Osvoboditve) – exhibiting a collection documenting the fight of the Slovenian people for independence, with particular emphasis on the fight of partisans during the Nazi occupation;
  • Slovenian National Theatre in Maribor – the theatre started in 1919, is located in a building built in 1852 in the classical style, with a Baroque audience;
  • "MARIBOR" Puppet Theater (Slovenian: Lutkovno gledališče Maribor) – The Maribor Puppet Theater was founded in 1974. Every year, the theater prepares 4 new performances, and during the theater season it presents a total of over 400 performances. Despite, the fact that the theater is giving performances on its own theatrical stage, it travels throughout Slovenia and other countries. The group consists of 15 people who are putting on performances for children and adults. The Maribor Puppet Theater has been invited to many different theater festivals around the world and since 1990 it has been organizing its own international puppet festival in Maribor under the name "Summer Puppet Pier".The theater cooperates with other theaters from Slovenia, Austria, Italy and Croatia;
  • Musical Theater "Carmina Slovenica" – a renowned musical theater whose artistic director is Mrs. Karmina Šilec.

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