Slomsek Square

Slomšek Square, Slomškov trg in Slovene, is the main ecclesiastical and cultural square of Maribor, in the western part of the old town, a short walk from the Main Square and the Drava. It is named after Anton Martin Slomšek, the bishop and writer who moved the seat of the diocese to Maribor in 1859, and who is revered in Slovenia as a teacher, poet and promoter of the Slovene language. The square is dominated by the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, a large church of Romanesque origin that was rebuilt in the Gothic style and later extended and decorated in Baroque style, and its tall tower is one of the landmarks of the city. Around it stand the University of Maribor's rectorate, the Slovene National Theatre and the main Post Office, an ensemble of imposing buildings from different periods, which make the square one of the most dignified spaces in the town.

The square has gone by various names. In the nineteenth century it was the church square, Kirchenplatz in German, and it became the cathedral square, Stolni trg, once Maribor became the seat of the bishop. After the First World War, when the town passed to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and was renamed, it received its present name in honour of the bishop. Such changes reflect the city's story as a place where German and Slovene identities met and where the Slovene character became dominant in the twentieth century.

The central space is laid out as a small park with lawns, trees, paths and a pond, and it is decorated with statues. A monument to Bishop Slomšek stands in the park, and other sculptures, among them a figure known as Korlek, add to the sights. The arrangement of the square was carried out in the twentieth century with advice from Jože Plečnik, the architect of Ljubljana, who proposed a calm, formal setting with an oval space, stone pillars and trimmed trees, and the stamp of his taste can be seen in the careful geometry. The walls of the cathedral hold old tombstones, and a Roman lion sculpture recalls the ancient settlement in the region, so the square contains history from several eras.

The square is a pleasant place to sit, with benches in the shade, and in summer the cafes and the theatre bring activity in the evenings. The cathedral can be visited outside services, and the main sights of Maribor, such as the castle, the Plague Column and the Lent quarter, are a few minutes away.

The square suits history lovers, architecture fans and anyone who wants a quiet corner in the town. It is free and open at all hours.