Facts about Maribor
Maribor is a city in Slovenia and the seat of the Maribor urban municipality. As of 2002, Maribor has a population of 108,000, which makes it the second-largest city in the country. Maribor lies on the river Drava at the meeting point of the Pohorje mountain, the Drava valley, the Drava plain, and the Kozjak and Slovenske gorice hill ranges. It is the center of the Slovenian region of Lower Styria maribor is also the largest city of Slovenian region of Lower Styria. Maribor's coat of arms features a white pigeon flying downwards above a white castle with two towers and a portcullis on a red shield. In 1164 a castle known as the Marchburch (Middle High German for "March Castle") was documented in the March of Styria. Maribor was first mentioned as a market near the castle in 1204. Maribor received town privileges in 1254. It began to grow rapidly after the victory of Rudolf I of Habsburg over Otakar II of Bohemia in 1278. Maribor withstood sieges by the Ottoman Empire in 1532 and 1683, and the city remained under the control of the Habsburg Monarchy for centuries. Maribor, previously in the Catholic Diocese of Graz-Seckau, became part of the Diocese of Lavant on 1 June 1859, and the seat of its Prince-Bishop. The name of the diocese was changed to the Diocese of Maribor on March 5, 1962. Maribor was elevated to an archdiocese by Pope Benedict XVI on April 7, 2006. Before World War I, the city had a population of 80% Germans and 20% Slovenians, and most of the city's capital and public life was in German hands. According to the last Austro-Hungarian census in 1910, Maribor and the suburbs Studenci (Brunndorf), Pobrežje (Pobersch), Tezno (Thesen), Radvanje (Rothwein), Krcevina (Kartschowin), and Košaki (Leitersberg) were composed of 31,995 Germans and 6,151 Slovenians. During World War I, many Slovenians in Carinthia and Styria were detained for allegedly being enemies of the state, which led to further conflicts between German Austrians and Slovenians. After the collapse of Austria-Hungary, Maribor was claimed by both the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs and German Austria. On November 1, 1918, a meeting was held by Colonel Anton Holik in Melje's barracks, where it was determined the city would be part of German Austria. Major Rudolf Maister, who was present at the meeting, renounced the decision. Popular tourist sites in Maribor include a 12th century Gothic cathedral and the town hall constructed in the Renaissance fashion. The castle dates from the 15th century. The city hosts the University of Maribor, established in 1961. It is also home to the oldest grapevine in the world called Stara trta which is more than 400 years old. Maribor was also named as an Alpine city in 2000. Maribor also has the second biggest international airport in Slovenia. Maribor was also chosen as European Capital of Culture 2012 alongside with Guimarães, Portugal. Aleš Ceh, the football player is from Maribor. Blessed Anton Martin Slomšek, Roman catholic bishop is also from Maribor. |
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