Maribor

A vacation in Maribor, known in German as Marburg an der Drau, pairs Slovenia's second-largest city with vine-covered hills and a ski mountain right on the edge of town. The world's oldest grapevine grows here, and in summer the banks of the Drava turn into one big festival stage.

Location and City

Maribor sits on the Drava River in Lower Styria, only about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the Austrian border. To the west, the forested Pohorje mountains rise; to the north and east, the vineyards of Styria and the Slovenske gorice roll away. The city was long predominantly German-speaking and an important industrial center; in 2012 it was a European Capital of Culture. The Old Town, with its castle, main square, plague column, and cathedral, is easy to explore on foot, and the riverside Lent district, with its water tower and old townhouses, is the liveliest quarter.

Sights in Maribor

On the facade of a house in Lent climbs the Stara trta, the "Old Vine": this Žametovka grapevine is more than 400 years old and, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the oldest vine in the world that still bears fruit. A small museum tells its story, and the harvest is celebrated with a ceremony every year. Beneath the city lie the wine cellars of the Vinag winery, among the largest in Europe. In June and July, the Lent Festival brings concerts, theater, and street art. Pohorje and its Mariborsko Pohorje ski area can be reached by cable car; the women's World Cup race for the Golden Fox is held here, and in summer hiking trails, bike parks, and mountain lakes draw visitors.

Food, Getting There, and Best Time to Visit

Styrian cuisine features pumpkin seed oil, gibanica (a layered pastry with poppy seeds, curd cheese, nuts, and apples), and hearty soups. White wines such as Welschriesling and Sauvignon Blanc from the surrounding hills pair well with the food. Maribor lies on the highway and on the Graz–Ljubljana rail line. The best time to visit is May through October; in fall, during the grape harvest, the Buschenschänken (rustic wine taverns) are open, and in winter the ski mountain is the draw. Ptuj, the oldest town in Slovenia, is just a half-hour drive away and makes a great day trip.