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. Slovenia has a population of 2 million and its capital city is Ljubljana. The official language is Slovene, one of the South Slavonic languages.

As a small, beautiful and picturesque country, Slovenia makes a great tourist destination. Mountains, lakes, waterfalls, forests, caves, hills, plains, rivers and the sea - you name it, you can find it all within a modest km2 (half the size of Switzerland), as well as many natural and landscape parks. You can ski in the morning and surrender yourself to the luxury of the Adriatic Sea in the afternoon. Slovenia has 46.6 km of sea coast - an inch per inhabitant.

Maribor is the second biggest Slovene city; simultaneously it is the economic, cultural, scientific research, congress and a complete tourist centre of northeast Slovenia. It is also a traffic centre, as it is on the crossroads from west to east and southern Europe, just 11 km from the Austrian border. It has a continental position at 275 metres above sea level lying between Pohorje, Slovene hills and Kozjak on the gravely terraces of the River Drava. Or more simply said – it lies in the green embrace of Pohorje and the wine growing hills along the River Drava.

Maribor throughout the history 1 The origins of Maribor date to the times of defense from Hungarian intrusions. On mount Piramida a castle military fortification appeared, whereas in the lowlands, near to Drava, there was a village. Maribor is first mentioned in the year of 1164, in 1209 it became market-town, whereas and 1254 it became a town.

It became main transportation center along the road from Central Europe towards the Adriatic sea. Maribor was also the center of the wine commerce in the Drava region.

Maribor throughout the history 2 In 13. century the town acquired an urban wall. In 15. century resided about 1000 inhabitants in the town. In 17. century were fires which almost totally demolished the town. With the arrival of the railway at the half of the 19. century the town rapidly began to develop. Today Maribor has around inhabitants.

Europark shopping centre at night

The Slovene National Theater in Maribor

Gosposka street The bell-tower of the cathedral on the Slomšek square

Swans on the Drava river Water fountain on one of the Three Fishermen's Pool in the city park

Maribor castle with the Florian statue Synagogue in the memory of the Jews in Maribor with city walls

Pohorje covered with snow (view from the classroom)

The old vine (more than four hundred years old) on the Lent Vine growing hill Piramida with the chapel on its top

Water tower housing the wine cellar Almost 500-year-old Water tower, which used to protect the city from attacks

University of Maribor