SLOVENIA
The Republic of Slovenia lies at the heart of Europe where the Alps and the Mediterranean meet the Pannonian plains and the mysterious karst. To the north is Austria, to the east Hungary, to the south Croatia, and to the west Italy. Two million people live here on just over twenty thousand square kilometers. The capital and largest city is Ljubljana.
Slovenia has historically been the crossroads of West Slavic, South Slavic, Germanic, Romance, and Hungarian languages and culture. Historically, the current territory of Slovenia was part of many different state formations, including the Roman Empire and the Holy Roman Empire, followed by the Habsburg Monarchy, State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs, Kingdom and later Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia. Slovenia became an independent state in 1991. It has since established an international position and reputation as a democratic, stable and successful Central European country.
Slovenia became a member of the EU on May 1, 2004.
More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovenia
MARIBOR
With its 100,000 inhabitants, Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia, and the largest on Drava river, assigned by Charlemagne as the border between the »Alpine« patriarchy (Salzburg) and the »Adriatic« one (Aquileia). The city of Maribor sits half way between Vienna and Trieste, which has defined both its economical as well as cultural meaning. In mid 19th century, Maribor – then by the name Marburg – presented itself to Europe with a legendary concert by Franz Liszt, and in 2012, it was the “European Capital of Culture”. The city has a university, a series of museums and galleries, excellent ballet, opera and theatre, and interesting festivals.
THE OLD TOWN: Lent, the oldest part of the town, enchant you with its Old Vine, the oldest vine in the world, with medieval towers and remains of the old town walls, two with the castle and museum, the Plague monument and the Town hall, Bishop Slomšek’s Cathedral with its viewing tower, the Jewish synagogue, the Art Gallery and theatre.
Piramida and Kalvarija, town wine hills offer wonderful views of the city that has the oldest and biggest wine cellars in Europe.
A trip up to green POHORJE enraptures ramblers and hikers, cyclists, adrenaline seekers as well as lovers of the tranquillity of Pohorje’s primeval forest, waterfalls and peat moors. And the magic continues also in the wintertime when Mariborsko Pohorje, dressed in white, becomes one of the most attractive skiing centres in Slovenia.
Picturesque WINE ROADS interwoven along the slopes of Pohorje and the wine growing hills all the way to the Austrian border and onward create a wine-cultural trail, where not only wine connoisseurs but lovers of culinary art, traditional customs, ethnological heritage and outstanding viewing points will enjoy themselves, whether by bike, on foot or with a car. Tourist homesteads and wine growers are waiting to offer their homemade culinary delights and genuine hospitality.
Maribor’s position by the river Drava, between Pohorje and wine growing hills as well as the lively hospitality of the Štajerska people contribute to the well-being of the guests.
