University Of Maribor

The University of Maribor, Univerza v Mariboru, is the second-largest university in Slovenia, with faculties in many fields from engineering and economics to education and the arts. Its rectorate stands on Slomškov trg, in the western part of the old town of Maribor, facing the cathedral and the gardens of the square, and many of its faculties are in buildings around the city, which gives Maribor the lively feel of a university town. The university was formally established in 1975, and it grew out of earlier institutions of higher education in the city, which in turn belong to a long tradition of learning going back to the days of Bishop Anton Martin Slomšek, who moved the diocese to Maribor in the nineteenth century and promoted education in the Slovene language.

For most visitors the university is not a tourist attraction in the usual sense, since it is a working institution, and there is no regular programme of visits to its buildings. It still plays an important role in the character of the city, and it explains much of what a visitor will notice in Maribor: the large student population, the busy cafes and bars, the festivals and cultural events, the many young people on the streets and in the squares. The city's role as the European Capital of Culture in 2012 was supported by the university's staff and students, who took part in the programme, and the university continues to work with the city on research, culture and innovation.

The setting is pleasant. Slomšek Square, where the rectorate stands, is one of the most dignified spaces in the town, with the cathedral, the National Theatre and the park with its pool and statues, and walking through it gives a sense of the academic and ecclesiastical history of the town. The facades of the university buildings show the architecture of different periods, from nineteenth-century public buildings to modern faculty blocks, and some have notable interiors that are open during events or on request. Open days and cultural events sometimes give visitors a chance to see inside.

Maribor offers plenty to see nearby, among them the castle and its museum, the Old Vine and the Lent quarter, the Drava promenade and the Pohorje hills above the town. Maribor also has many wine bars and cellars, and the Vinag Wine Cellar under Freedom Square is a short walk away.

A visit to the university area suits people interested in education, architecture and city life. It is best combined with a walk through the old town. Check current information at the tourist office if you want to see inside any building.