Cycle Route Drava - Slovenian part

Maribor (pronounced [ˈmaːɾibɔɾ] German: Marburg an der Drau) is the second-largest city in Slovenia with about 114,487 inhabitants in 2013. Maribor is also the largest city of the traditional region of Lower Styria and the seat of the City Municipality of Maribor. In 2000, Maribor was given the Alpine Town of the Year award. Association football club NK Maribor is based in the city.

Many medieval structures still stand in Maribor. Of the remains of city walls, the most prominent are the Judgement Tower , the Water Tower , and the Jewish Tower. The Maribor Cathedral was built in the Gothic style in the 13th century. The Town Hall was constructed in the Renaissance style.

Piramida Hill dominates the northern border of the city. Ruins of the first Maribor castle from the 11th century and a chapel from the 19th century are also located here. The hill offers an easily accessible scenic overlook of Maribor and the countryside to the south with the Drava River.

At the start of the 21st century, plans were made for a new modern business, residential and entertainment district, called the Drava Gate (Dravska vrata) and nicknamed Maribor Manhattan. The project includes many new exclusive residential apartments, offices and conference halls, a green and recreational space, and other structures. It also includes a 111 m (364 ft) tall skyscraper that would be the tallest building in Slovenia. Due to lack of finances, the project is currently postponed.

In 2008 the Studenci Footbridge (Studenška brv) was renovated according to the design of the Ponting company.

There are plans to renovate the Maribor Public Library and the Town Hall Square (Rotovški trg). In addition, the renovation of Maribor Island (Mariborski otok) in the Drava River is being planned.

Tourist attractions

Maribor has many tourist areas, attractions, and interesting events:

• Lent Festival - major festival event held during approximately two weeks at the end of June. Every year the festival attracts theater, opera, ballet performers, classical, modern, and jazz musicians and dancers from all over the world, and of course many visitors. There is also mime, magic shows are being held and acrobats perform during the festival.
• House of the oldest grapevine in the world (Hiša stare trte) - in Maribor is also the world's oldest living grapevine, which in 2004 was recorded in Guinness World Records . The grapevine of Žametovka is about 440 years old.
• Maribor Island (Mariborski otok) - the oldest public bath, still important and much visited place in Maribor. At the same time Maribor offers several new indoor swimming pools (Pristan, Fontana).
• Maribor Castle , Maribor Town Hall Rotovž, Betnava Castle , Plague Memorial, Maribor , ruins of the old castle Upper Maribor on Piramida Hill.
• Medieval defence walls with defence towers delineating the old city limits.
• Wine and culinary specialities - international and Slovene cousine (mushroom soup with buckwheat mush, tripe, sour soup, sausages with Sauerkraut, cheese dumplings, apple strudel, special cheese cake called gibanica ). Also many popular restaurants with Serbian cuisine.
• The Vinag Wine Cellar (Vinagova vinska klet) - with 20.000 m2 surface area and 2 km (1 mi) length has 5,5 millions litres of excellent wine.
• Maribor City Park (with City Aquarium and Terrarium, wide promenade, which leads to the Three Ponds (Trije ribniki) in the park containing over 100 local and foreign species of deciduous and coniferous trees).
• Pohorje Adrenaline Park(Adrenalinski park Pohorje) with High Ropes Course, one track line PohorJET, summer sledding and Bike park Pohorje.
• Maribor Synagogue (Sinagoga Maribor) - built in the 14th century, is in fact the second oldest synagogue of Europe. Today it serves as a centre for cultural activities and features various events such as exhibitions, concerts, literary evenings and round table discussions. The Synagogue is located in the Jewish Square (Židovski trg) of the former Jewish quarter.
• Kalvarija and Piramida (well visited city hills Pyramid, Maribor) surrounded by vineyards, and ruins of old castle Upper Maribor .
• Pekarna alternative cultural (former squat) area next to Magdalena Park.