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Maribor Cultural Guide: For everyone
Many of these cute little places in Maribor turn you a century back in time with a nostalgic spirit that can hardly be described. Slovenia in general is a country where artistic wonders can surprise you around every corner but Maribor in particular with its unspoiled approach can offer... ...a day of magnificent art - a day for your soul and heart.
Regional Museum of Maribor {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} One of Maribor's most remarkable architectural masterpieces sits right in its centre: Maribor’s town castle is surrounded by the busy Grajski trg (Castle square), Trg svobode (Liberty square) and Trg Generala Maistra (General Maister square). It is a home to the Regional Museum of Maribor, with a number of invaluable collections. The castle, which boasts several period styles, was built by Emperor Friderik III between 1478 and 1483. Its purpose was initially to fortify the north eastern part of the town wall. The castle was then gradually changed into a rich feudal residence. Knights, emperors and popes The main room in the castle is the Festive Hall. The hall has rich interior décor with pictures of the artistic Quadri family and Laurenzo Laurigo. The oval ceiling is decorated with a picture of an epic battle between Christian and Turkish soldiers, which was painted by Johann Gebler from Graz in 1763. In 1874, as written by the then chronicler “In front of a selected public” Franz Liszt gave a concert in the Festive Hall. In addition, some well known people resided in the castle including: Castle Square with the main entrance to the Regional Museum of Maribor.
Among its more important architectural achievements are the following:
The eastern part of the castle is enriched with a bastion in the north-east corner. It is the work of the builder Domenic dell’Allio from 1556 to 1562 representing a major defense point. The whole castle is undergoing a massive restoration that is to be completed by 2012 so only a small proportion is actually open to public! VISIT REGIONAL MUSEUM OF MARIBOR: Permanent museum exhibition: Tuesday - Saturday: 9am - 4pm Sunday: 9am - 2pm Monday and holidays: closed Tickets: $4.50 (adults), $3 (children 6 years and above, students), Grajska ulica 2, Maribor Tel: +386(0)2 2283 551.
Astoria coffee house {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} Kavarna Astoria (Coffee-house Astoria) with its "EZLEK" (ask the locals about that) was a very popural meeting place for many Mariborians in the past and it is a very popular meeting place for many Mariborians also today. Before the Second World War Kavarna was owned by the Petan family but it was originally a horse stable as an outbuilding of the City Castle. Today it is a coffee-house, restaurant (La Storia Trattoria), confectionery and pizzeria all in one. What really matters for me is that this place is actually one of the rare places where you can sit outside and bath in the morning sun late in the autumn, spring and even during the winter when other places can just dream about chairs and tables outside. In 1989 Kavarna Astoria witnessed filming of a movie about its owner's family in the Second World War. When I was writing this part about Kavarna Astoria my husband told me that he was taking part in the movie as an extra. Big surprise for me, really. He was a school boy at the time wanting to earn some money for summer holidays. But it is an absolute disgrace that he has actually never seen the movie! OPEN: Monday - Friday: 7am - 10.30pm Saturday: 8am - 10pm Sunday: 9am - 9pm Slovenska ulica 2, Maribor Tel: + 386 (0)2 25 15 250
Caj-Ek cafe {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} Well, this is actually a tea room, in fact this is Maribor's first tea house. I have, with pleasure because they are so damn good, witnessed their development from a small cinema tea house to a shopping mall tea house to finally re-brand themselves into a cute city center tea house. It is one of the most beautiful tea houses I've ever seen. However, they of course don't serve just tea. They will serve you, yet again, wonderful coffee and I really like their home made House cake. OPEN: Monday - Friday: 7.30am - 10pm Saturday: 9am - 2pm and 5pm - 10pm Sunday: 5pm - 10pm Slovenska 4, Maribor Tel: + 386 (0)2 25 02 986
Ilich Cafe {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} Slovenska street is obviously blessed with good cafes and Ilich is one of them. What makes them special is their long confectionary tradition. They produce marvelous desserts but their ice creams are really extraordinarily delicious! Coffee, as expected, is excellent so time here will be well spent. OPEN: Monday - Saturday: 7am - 9pm, Sunday: 8am - 9pm Slovenska ulica 6, Maribor Tel: +386 (0)2 25 02 408
Kruh Pecivo cafe {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} The cafe is a very popular meeting point for Mariborians who enjoy great coffee and absolutely delicious freshly baked cakes from the bakery (ask for delicious KREMSNITA, pronounced creme-snee-tah). If you want to eat really fresh bread pop in in the morning and choose between different sorts of bread baked just a few hours ago. I really like to visit the bakery especially when the weather is warm enough to sit outside and observe the buzz around me. OPEN: Monday - Friday: 6am - 7pm Saturday: 6am - 1pm Sunday: CLOSED Grajski trg 6, Maribor Tel: + 386 (0)2 25 14 842
Park Cafe {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} This is a recent addition to Maribor's rich and excellent coffee culture. A new building just next to the Tourist Information Center brought a new cafe and they are good, no doubt about that. I still have to explore their offer in more detail but so far it promises to be yet another excellent coffee house in Maribor. OPEN: Monday - Thursday: 7am - 11pm Friday: 7am - 2am Saturday: 8am - 2am Sunday and holidays: 9am - 11pm Ulica Vita Kraigherja 1a, Maribor Tel: +386 (0)2 22 97 186
The National Liberation Museum {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} The museum's home is a villa that was built in the late 19th century by a Scherbaum family. In the First World War the villa was a home to Austro-Hungarian Soca front Supreme Command. The building was then used for various purposes until 1954 when the museum has finally been established. The Museum of Slovenian Modern History is partly dedicated to the national liberation from the 2nd World war Nazi occupation but they also regularly host a number of exhibitions (e.g. puppets, photography, etc.). There are four thematic areas in the museum: National Liberation Museum from the city park.
VISIT NATIONAL LIBERATION MUSEUM: Monday - Friday: 8am - 4pm Saturday: 9am - 12pm Sunday: CLOSED Ulica Heroja Tomsica 5, Maribor Tickets: $2.30 (adults), $1.50 (all children) Tel: +386 (0)2 235 26 00
Franciscan church {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} The current church with a monastery was built between 1892 and 1900 and replaced an older Capuchin church from 17th century but the vault itself has been preserved.The church has been ordered by the Franciscan monk Kalist Heric, deisgned by Viennese architect Richard Jordan and built by a Viennese builder Josef Schmalzhofer. It's major architectural symbol are the two 58m tall bell towers. Magnificent Maribor Franciscan church: the main entrance is behind the two towers.
7 November 1906 is a remarkable date for the church as it has been pronounced for Basilica Minor by the Pope Pius X - the first of its kind in the then Austro-Hungarian Empire. The church interior is decorated with various magnificent details of which the main altar made of 17 different types of marble is the most prominent. In addition there are also 6 side altars. VISIT FRANCISCAN CHURCH: Monday - Saturday: 6am - 6:30pm Sunday: 7am - 8pm Entry: Free Ulica Vita Kraigherja 2, Maribor Tel: +386(0)2 2285 110
Restaurant Ancora {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} It's a hidden gem of the city center as it doesn't look much from the outside but wait and see inside! Pizza in Ancora is one of the best in Maribor but the rest is equally good. We had fabulous lasagnas here, both vegetarian and meat. Bartenders know their way around food and wine really well, and as a result we are their regular guests. OPEN: Monday - Thursday: 6am - midnight Friday and Saturday: 10am - 2am Sunday: 10.30am - 10.30pm Holidays: closed Jurciceva ulica 7, Maribor Tel: +386 (0)2 25 02 033
Restaurant Rozmarin {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} Absolutely fantastic new chic Maribor restaurant. We were really impressed by the quality of food, creativity, wittiness and refinement of their bartenders. In addition their award winning interior, a coffee bar and a wine cellar will make your lunch/dinner here truly wonderful. My personal opinion is that this is the best restaurant in Maribor's city center. OPEN: Monday - Saturday: 9am - 10pm Sunday and holidays: CLOSED Gosposka ulica 8, Maribor Tel: + 386 (0)2 23 43 180
Restaurant Stajerc {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} Traditional Maribor and Stajerska cuisine, wonderful beer from their mini brewery, pretzels and huge terrace overlooking the busiest part of the pedestrian zone are the marbles of this restaurant. It's difficult to miss the place as it has such a central and wonderful location but their food is good and we are regular customers. OPEN: Monday - Thursday: 10am - 10pm Friday - Saturday: 10am - midnight Sunday and holidays: closed Vetrinjska 30, Maribor Tel: + 386 (0)2 23 44 234
Restaurant Toti Rotovz {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} This is a wonderful restaurant with Slovenian, Serbian, Mexican, Thai, Japanese, Greek and Italian cuisine so they certainly can satisfy a variety of tastes. We were lunching and dinning in this restaurant and the experience was always good. Dinner in their wine cellar is particularly attractive due to the ambient and live music during weekends. OPEN: Monday - Saturday: 9am - midnight wine cellar: Monday - Saturday: 9am - 2am Sunday: CLOSED Rotovski trg 9, Maribor Tel: + 386 (0)2 22 87 650
Restaurant Gala Zar {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} Forget about fast food and burgers! Gala is our favorite Balkan restaurant where burgers have a completely new dimension. Stuffed pleskavica is awesome, Sobska salad unforgettable and all the rest is simply delicious. OPEN: Monday - Saturday: 11am - 11pm Sunday and holidays: 12pm - 6pm Loska ulica 10, Maribor Tel: + 386 (0)2 25 23 600
Maribor Cathedral {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} The history of the Maribor Cathedral starts in the second half of the twelfth century with the first notice of a parish priest Konrad who had his seat in a church built by the Styrian count Otokar III. The church was originally a single aisle Roman building with a wooden ceiling and semicircular apsis, which grew bigger with the growth of the town, and was dedicated to John the Baptist. In the middle of the fourteenth century two side aisles were added to the main aisle on the north and south side, and from 1380 to 1390 a Gothic stile presbytery was also added. The famous images of four Evangelists on the presbitery ceiling and on the Gothic sedilia are from that period, too. During the baroque period both chapels were added, the chapel of St. Francis Xavier with rich ceiling decorations in 1716 and chapel of the Holy Cross between 1775 and 1776 with the fresco "Finding of the Holy Cross" painted by Vienna's Painter Adam Molk. The altar of the Holly Cross was made by Maribor's artist Jozef Holzinger. The famous chairpaws are from the same period as well as the Holzinger's relief that shows the life of John the Baptist. The reproduction of Ruben's "Election of the Cross" is also interesting (the original is in the Antwerp Cathedral). The pipe organ was made by the German organ-builder "Walcker", and has 3 manuals and 37 stops. Maribor Cathedral: picture taken from the west of the Slomsek Square. The church-tower originally 76 meters high, but since it was struck by lightning in 1792 only 57 meters high, has four bells: C-2300 kg, Es-1600 kg, F-900 kg and As-530 kg. The parish church of John the Baptist has been turned into the Cathedral on September 4th 1859 when the Bishop Anton Martin Slomsek, moved his seat from St. Andrä in Carinthia to Maribor. In the same year on October 14th, he founded the college for theological studies, which was the first college in Maribor. He also established the brotherhood of St. Cyril and Metodius to promote the unity among Christians. Holy mass: Sunday and holidays: 7 am, 8 am, 9 am, 10 am, 11 am, 6 pm; April 6.30 pm, May-August 7 pm. Working days: 6.30 am, 7 am, 7.30 am, 8 am and 6 pm; April 6.30 pm, May-August 7 pm. VISIT CATHEDRAL: Bell tower viewing platform (free entry) Open daily: 8.00-17.00 Tel: +386 (0)2 25 18 432, +386 (0)41 762 244
Gallery Premzl {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} They organize four exhibitions per year and normally sell modern and some older works of Slovenian and other authors. The offer includes old cartography and veduta graphics from the region of Slovenia from the 16th to the 19th century. OPEN: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 10am - 12.30pm Monday - Friday: 3.30pm - 6.30pm Slovenska ulica 8, Maribor Tel: +386 (0)2 25 00 670
Gallery Petrina {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} The gallery is owned by the author and also bears her name. This is one of Maribor's nice little family run galleries with a colorful selection of a wide variety of works. OPEN: Tuesday - Thursday: 10am - 1pm and 3pm - 5pm Every first Saturday in the month: 10am - 1pm Slovenska 31, Maribor Tel: +386 (0) 2 25 24 133
Maribor Art Gallery {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} Maribor Art Gallery is the largest and most important gallery in this part of Slovenia. Their permanent exhibition is a wonderful collection of masterpieces of some of Slovenia's most important artists. However, they regularly host visiting exhibitions, lectures, workshops for kids and adults. I've been to several exceptionally well organized openings and my experience of the place was always positive. OPEN: Tuesday - Saturday: 10am - 6pm Sunday: 10am - 1pm Monday and holidays: CLOSED Strossmayerjeva 6, Maribor Tel: +386 2 22 95 860, +386 2 229 58 61
Gallery Lent {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} The gallery is located in Maribor's old town where a gallery of this type is a must. It is owned by Vlado Petek, the author of most of the art work on sale. He is particularly obsessed with metals so the gallery is full of various graphics and abstract forms but you can really find a wide selection of art work. OPEN: Monday - Friday: 9am - 1pm and 3pm - 7pm Saturdays: 9am - 1pm Vojasniska ulica 10, Maribor Tel: +386 (0)41 433 597
Gallery Hest {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} Gallery Hest is one of Slovenia's leading galleries. They regularly organize very popular exhibitions and offer wonderful works of some of the best Slovenian painters. This is yet another hidden gem in the Maribor's cultural life. OPEN: Monday - Friday: 10am - 1pm and 4pm - 8pm (7pm in winter time) Saturday: 10am - 1pm Zidovska ulica 1, Maribor Tel: +386 (0)2 25 00 666
Gallery Dlum {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} Although pretty modern inside the gallery itself is located in the medieval Jewish Quarter with a special character. They exhibit works of the Maribor's Fine Arts Society. OPEN: Monday - Friday: 9am - 7pm Saturday: 9am - 1pm Zidovska ulica 10, Maribor Tel: +386 (0)2 252 36 81, + 386 (0)31 867 203
Multimedia Center KIBLA - KIBELA and Narodni dom Maribor {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} KIBLA-KIBELA: Yet another magnificent cultural institution in Maribor. The center is the first institution of its kind in Slovenia and is truly remarkable. Famous Australian artist Stelarc has said for MMC KIBLA "this is the best cyber space in Europe" the great Eduardo Kac, who works at the Art Institute of Chicago, "something like this doesn't exist in United States" and Joseph Tabby, university professor and writer, "I came to visit Slovenia, because I've heard about KIBLA.".
Narodni dom Maribor (Slovenian National Home Maribor) - the home of KIBLA-KIBELA. Specialised humanistic library, cyber bar, multimedia lab, publications office and IT market space are just some of their numerous activities. They organize festivals, international projects and competitions, and are definitely the most active multimedia center I've ever visited! OPEN: Monday-Friday: 9am - 10pm Saturday: 4pm - 10pm Ulica Kneza Koclja 9, Maribor Tel: +386 (0)2 22 94 012
Narodni dom Maribor: Narodni dom is a cultural and event center. With over 1000 events every year it is one of the biggest cultural institutions in Slovenia and Central Europe. They organise music, theater performances, festivals and other cultural events. Each year for the past XY years and counting they organise an infamous International Lent festival attracting around 600.000 visitors. But that's not all, they also organise the International Folklore Festival - FOLKART and the International Chamber Music Festival Maribor. Information office, ticket sales: every day: from 8.30am - 6pm Saturday: 9am - noon one hour prior to an event
e-mail: info@nd-mb.si, prodaja@nd-mb.si Phone informations: +386 2 229 40 11, +386 2 229 40 50 general e-mail: nd@nd-mb.si
Masters Hochstatter Photo Gallery {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} How can I possibly describe this photo gallery and its owner? No words can describe this wonderful 19th century experience that you can nowadays only see in movies. Medieval building, Master Hochstatter with his long white hair and a set of world class classical cameras he is using produce results beyond description. The best small photo gallery for true connoisseurs and lovers of art, no doubt about it. OPEN: Monday - Friday: 9am - 2pm and 4pm - 6pm Saturday: 10am - 1pm Vetrinjska ulica 30, Maribor Tel: +386 (0)2 25 08 223, +386 (0)40 742 627
Restaurant Ancora {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} It's a hidden gem of the city center as it doesn't look much from the outside but wait and see inside! Pizza in Ancora is one of the best in Maribor but the rest is equally good. We had fabulous lasagnas here, both vegetarian and meat. Bartenders know their way around food and wine really well, and as a result we are their regular guests. OPEN: Monday - Thursday: 6am - midnight Friday and Saturday: 10am - 2am Sunday: 10.30am - 10.30pm Holidays: closed Jurciceva ulica 7, Maribor Tel: +386 (0)2 25 02 033
Restaurant Rozmarin {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} Absolutely fantastic new chic Maribor restaurant. We were really impressed by the quality of food, creativity, wittiness and refinement of their bartenders. In addition their award winning interior, a coffee bar and a wine cellar will make your lunch/dinner here truly wonderful. My personal opinion is that this is the best restaurant in Maribor's city center. OPEN: Monday - Saturday: 9am - 10pm Sunday and holidays: CLOSED Gosposka ulica 8, Maribor Tel: + 386 (0)2 23 43 180
Restaurant Stajerc {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} Traditional Maribor and Stajerska cuisine, wonderful beer from their mini brewery, pretzels and huge terrace overlooking the busiest part of the pedestrian zone are the marbles of this restaurant. It's difficult to miss the place as it has such a central and wonderful location but their food is good and we are regular customers. OPEN: Monday - Thursday: 10am - 10pm Friday - Saturday: 10am - midnight Sunday and holidays: closed Vetrinjska 30, Maribor Tel: + 386 (0)2 23 44 234
Restaurant Toti Rotovz {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} This is a wonderful restaurant with Slovenian, Serbian, Mexican, Thai, Japanese, Greek and Italian cuisine so they certainly can satisfy a variety of tastes. We were lunching and dinning in this restaurant and the experience was always good. Dinner in their wine cellar is particularly attractive due to the ambient and live music during weekends. OPEN: Monday - Saturday: 9am - midnight wine cellar: Monday - Saturday: 9am - 2am Sunday: CLOSED Rotovski trg 9, Maribor Tel: + 386 (0)2 22 87 650
Restaurant Gala Zar {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} Forget about fast food and burgers! Gala is our favorite Balkan restaurant where burgers have a completely new dimension. Stuffed pleskavica is awesome, Sobska salad unforgettable and all the rest is simply delicious. OPEN: Monday - Saturday: 11am - 11pm Sunday and holidays: 12pm - 6pm Loska ulica 10, Maribor Tel: + 386 (0)2 25 23 600
Slovenian National Theater Maribor {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} Slovenian National Theater Maribor (Slovensko Narodno Gledalisce Maribor) is the largest public cultural institution in Slovenia and one of only a few European theaters that unites Opera, Ballet, Drama and Symphonic Orchestra under one roof. The history of organized theater dates back to 1785 but the building as it is seen today was built in 1851. Maribor theater is truly spectacular. Every October they organize Slovenia's oldest theater festival Borstnikovo Srecanje (Borstnik Theater Festival). This is the most prestigious Slovenian theater festival that brings together the best performances from Slovenia and abroad and the final in a way resembles Oscar nominations although the winners in Maribor get a so called Borstnik's golden ring. Now, how cool is that! The 43. Borstnik Festival will be held in October 2008. Slovenian National Theater Maribor: main entrance. Slovenians treat theater with great respect and you will see people dressed extremely smartly for the occasion. Plays and concerts in Maribor theater are excellent to say the least. This is actually mostly a result of excellent actors and world-class theater directors. Tomaz Pandur, one of world's best theater directors is one of them and his specialty is rich visual representation. His plays are theatrical fireworks and I always leave the theater with a commotion, they are so colorful and dynamic! VISIT THEATER: Performances normally start at 10am, 11am and 11.30am for kids and 5pm, 7pm, 7.30pm and 8pm for the rest Tickets can be purchased in the theater:(from $15 to $50 per person) Monday - Friday: 10am - 1pm and 3pm - 7.30pm Saturday: 10am - 1pm and 1h before the play Tel: +386 (0)2 250 61 15 and +386 (0)2 250 62 26 e: rezervacija.vstopnic@sng-mb.si
Gledaliska Kavarna (Theater Cafe) {BACK TO GUIDE - Maribor cultural guide} The good old Theater Cafe is a cafe with a long history and great tradition. Well known by locals it is often visited by actors, actresses and other artists from the theater. They were always known for their excellent coffees and sweets. Sitting outside in the shade of great Slomsek square trees makes the experience even better. OPEN: Monday-Friday: 8am - midnight Saturday: 10am - 2pm and 7pm - midnight Sunday and Holidays: open during performances only Slovenska 27, Maribor Tel: +386 (0)2 25 23 720 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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