Maribor City Walk

Maribor is a compact city, and the best way to understand it is on foot. A walk of two or three hours through the old centre takes in the oldest vine in the world, the medieval riverside quarter, the castle, the cathedral and the main squares, and it can be done independently or with a guide. The city lies at the foot of the Pohorje hills on the Drava river, in the centre of a wine region, and it has been a market town, a fortress, a railway hub and an industrial city. It was a European Capital of Culture in 2012, and the care that went into renovating its streets and squares shows.

The natural starting point is Lent, the old riverside district. Here the Old Vine, which is recognised as the oldest still-fruiting vine in the world, clings to the facade of a house beside the Drava, and a small museum and tasting room nearby explain its story. The Judgement Tower, a medieval tower, and the Water Tower, one of the surviving parts of the city's old defences, stand close by, and the quay along the Drava is lined with cafes. From Lent, you walk up through narrow streets towards the main square, where Maribor's City Hall, a Renaissance building of the sixteenth century, faces a baroque plague column that was raised in thanks for the end of an epidemic. Nearby stands the Gothic Maribor Cathedral, with its bell tower, the oldest church in the city, which gives a sense of medieval Maribor. The route continues to Maribor Castle, a fortress of the later fifteenth century that now houses the Regional Museum, whose collections include archaeology, daily life, crafts and, among the most charming objects, painted wooden beehive panels of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, typical of Slovenian folk art. The museum was founded in the first half of the twentieth century, and its displays cover the history of the region. Details of exhibits and opening hours change, so check ahead.

Wine is part of the walk. The historic Vinag Wine Cellar, a large cellar under the city, is a place to learn about the wine tradition, with tours and tastings by arrangement, and the city's wine bars offer glasses of local white wine. The walk is easy, mostly flat, on pedestrian streets, but some surfaces are cobbled, so wear comfortable shoes. A self-guided walk can be supplemented with a guided tour if you want more stories, and the tourist information office sells maps and organises tours.

The city walk is free if you do it yourself, and each sight has its own opening times and fees. Allow a full morning or afternoon and add a stop for coffee and cake.

Beyond the core route, Freedom Square Maribor, the Maribor Art Gallery, the Drava River Promenade, Calvary Hill (Kalvarija), Kavarna HiKoFi, MAK Restaurant, Cultural Tours, Historic Sites and Beautiful architecture offer more to see.

It suits first-time visitors and anyone who likes to see a city on foot. The Maribor City Walk begins with the World's Oldest Grapevine, and Other stops follow naturally. The Pohorje Mountains frame the view, and Slovenia’s second city rewards slow feet, and Maribor’s lanes are best at a stroll. Walk it, and see Slovenia in miniature.