Maribor Local Customs

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Slovensko Narodno Gledalisce, The Slovene National Theatre of Maribor, is situated on the Slomškov trg. First theatre in Maribor dates from 1785 but in times it become to small and the city authorities made decision to built the bigger and more spacious theatre. The construction began in 1848 and the new theatzre was open in 1852. It has drama, ballet and phylcharmonic orchestra.

This was one of my favourite things to eat in Maribor - the roasted chestnuts. I love eating them in late autumn, early winter and in Maribor they were stalls selling them everywhere.

Getting a bag of roasted chestnuts and eating them on a bench at the bank of the river Drawa was making the best of both - the chestnut season and the unusually warm November weather.

I bought a large bag of chestnuts to take home and we had a wonderful chestnut cream for dessert back home. A great recipe, but peeling the chestnuts just takes too long - that's not something we'll have very often. Most recipes I looked up simply said "buy frozen chestnut cream".
After I've been peeling chestnuts for at least three hours I knew why.

But the cream turned out be very good, so it was worth it.

Mariborians love their Drava river and it has always been very important for them and marked their city; nowsadays they will love to stroll or do jogging along the river bank, and in early morning grandmothers and old gentelmen will bring bread and leftovers to feed birds - which they seem to be used to it and always approach people. One can easily notice plenty of swans there by Lent or on right riverbank, lazily swimming in large group with other birds, competing for attention (well, food).

You can walk by Drava on its both banks: the left bank is most interesting between Kolosej (though an ugly building itself), then through Lent (with old grape and cafes, and monumental medieval buildings) until the pedestrian bridge where you can walk to the other side. You may as well continue more and less further on the left bank if your time allows, and in fact nice shaded path will take you to quieter places and nice scenery getting rural; you may find the way to Mariborski otok (Drava island) which has plenty of birds and swimming pool in one part of the island. Another kilometer further you will get more splendid views, and hills getting higher, Drava curved and disappearing behind mou8ntains into Drava valley, very scenic route for biking and driving.

If you turned by pedestrian bridge to the right bank before and walk back to the Red bridge you will have some fine views towards the old core, yet the river bank here has more natural feel and is shaded by the slopes upon which Studenci quarters rise with many old homes and ex factory workers units... It can be busy path when everyone is out on a nice day taking walks and doing some sport, but not as much as the left bank where cafes are. I really like this path by Drava, it's scenic way to see the city from local view.
If you continue behind Red bridge you will pass large europark building, the giant mall (which again I cannot help myself and find it ugly because it's such an eyesore) and will get to Pobrezje and there is no longer path by the river so you may as well finish your Drava walk and return to the city via the double storey bridge.

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The vine of the "žametna èrnina" variety, growing and bearing fruit for over 400 years, has entered into the famous Guinness Book of Records as the oldest noble vine in the world.

Note: From the sign outside the Wine House.

Contact:
Hiša Stare trte (The Old Vine House)
Vojašniška 8, 2000 Maribor

Lent area, by the Drava river.

- Fax: (+386) (0)2 234 66 13

This beautifully decorated medieval well stands right befind the Old Castle and next to the statue to poet Jurcic. It remind us at the past times when people had to take the water away from their homes. At the same time, while waiting for the water, it was a kind of meeting point, place to exchange the news or just to talk to each other, something we miss in this days.

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The well preserved Synagogue was first mentioned in 1429, but must have been in existance well before that. Adjacent to it was the Jewish cemetery, the rabbi's house and the Talmudic school. After expulsion of the Jews, in 1501, it was turned into the Catholic Church of All Saints.
Zidovski stolp (the Jewish Tower) was built in 1465. In the past it was the dwelling of the town peace officer.

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Initially a figural column of the Virgin Mary was erected by the town people as the Plage Memorial, but in 1743 it was replaced by the present memorial, sculptered by Josef Straub.
It occupies the central position of the main city square named Mestni trg.

I noticed people in Maribor Just adore flowers. You can see them everywhere. On this picture you can see the flowers even on the dog's house window. I was delited when I saw it and I had to take the photo of it.