Maribor, Cultural center in northeastern Slovenia
The city sits on both sides of the Drava River between the Pohorje range and Slovenske Gorice hills at roughly 275 meters elevation and forms the center of eastern Slovenia. Several bridges connect the riverbanks while the historic core spreads along the left side of the water.
The settlement gained city rights in 1254 and grew into a trading center thanks to its position on the route between Vienna and Trieste. Over the centuries different rulers shaped the townscape before the region joined Yugoslavia after the First World War.
The old quarter mixes baroque buildings and narrow lanes where local markets and cafés line the streets and bring people together throughout the day. Wine culture shows in small cellars and tasting rooms that serve regional wines from the surrounding hills.
A chairlift links the city center directly with the ski slopes on Pohorje and runs regularly during the winter season. Pedestrians can walk through the old quarter easily since most sights stand close to one another.
The Old Vine House keeps a grapevine over 400 years old that still bears fruit and counts as the oldest documented vine in the world. Every autumn the grapes get harvested and turned into small batches of wine.
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