World’s Oldest Vine

For more than 450 years, the world’s oldest vine has remained firmly rooted in the heart of Maribor.

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World’s Oldest Vine

World’s Oldest Vine

The heart of Maribor, Lent, is home to the oldest grapevine in the world. It is more than 450 years old and is the only plant with its own museum, situated in the Oldest Vine House. Various events are organised in Maribor throughout the year to celebrate the oldest grapevine, such as the Pruning of the Oldest Vine, St Martin’s Feast and the Oldest Vine Festival. And, believe it or not, the oldest grapevine even has its own anthem that the people of Maribor like to sing.

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From the Middle Ages to the present day

Žametovka or modra kavčina (Bleu de Cologne), confirmed at 400 years of age, is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest vine in the world still producing fruit. The oldest vine was planted in Maribor at the end of the Middle Ages during the Turkish invasions. It witnessed – and survived – the battles that raged between the invaders and defenders of the city, for the Oldest Vine House of today was once part of the city wall.

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Enjoy gastronomic Maribor

Set out on gastronomic journeys through the city of Maribor and its surroundings. You can enjoy a vast variety of Štajerska flavours, and all paths will lead you to the Oldest Vine House.

A gourmet getaway for rockers at heart

A five-star rock ’n’ roll of tastes will take you to Maribor’s gourmet spots and fill you with nostalgia for the city’s rock ‘n’ roll character of the 1960s. The experience is a unique blend of gastronomy and alternative cultural life that will make you rightfully cry out: “Rock on!”

A gourmet getaway for rockers at heart

Along the path of the most beautiful wine stories to the Oldest Vine

Maribor’s surroundings are adorned with vast vineyards, which hide beautiful spots, such as the heart-shaped road in the Svečinske Gorice hills. A sommelier will help you discover the wines of the Štajerska region that pair perfectly with local cuisine. You will visit one of the largest and oldest classical wine cellars in Europe and finish your tour at the Oldest Vine House, home to more than just the oldest vine in the world. Live through its 450 years of history with special VR glasses.

Wine tastings at the Oldest Vine House

A more than 450-year-old vine, which is considered to be the oldest in the world, grows on Maribor’s Lent. It is a symbol of wine culture of the Štajerska region and the city of Maribor. It has its own museum, festival and even its own anthem. It is no wonder that the Oldest Vine House houses a wine bar with a selection of wines from 55 local winemakers. Here you will have the opportunity to taste the finest wines from the Štajerska region, accompanied by a local snack of homemade bread, pumpkin seed oil and salt.

Hiša Stare trte

The Oldest Vine House

The oldest grapevine is the only plant in the world with its own museum, situated in the Oldest Vine House. Once part of the city wall, the house today showcases a venerable wine heritage, with a winery and a wine tasting room offering premium wines from the Maribor wine region. And to celebrate the Oldest Gapevine, Maribor and vicinity boast numerous picturesque wine roads and wineries.

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Festival Stare trte

The Oldest Vine Festival

This top festival of cuisine, wine and culture starts every October with a solemn harvest of the oldest grapevine and closes with St Martin’s Feast in Maribor, the largest one-day celebration of St Martin in Slovenia. You’ll be able to experience the best that Slovenian wine producers, especially those from the Štajerska region, have to offer. Fans of traditional culinary delights will be able to sample authentic dishes by local chefs, and there’s also an exciting cultural programme to round it all off.

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450 years of the Oldest Vine through a virtual experience

Would you like to see what more than 450 years of history have been like for the Oldest Vine? Put on a VR headset in the Oldest Vine House and travel back in time. The virtual experience will take you through the life and important events in Maribor from 1570 until today.

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From the oldest grapevine to the neighbouring vineyards

The second-largest Slovenian city Maribor prides itself with the oldest vine in the world, which is more than 400 years old. There are three wine routes from this venerable wine “lady” to the countryside of Maribor and you can ride your bicycle on them. Individual points of the three wine routes are connected with the international Archduke Johann Trail from Graz to Maribor. If you are not one of the most enthusiastic cyclists, you can also ride an electric bicycle and ride along these roads.

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Upper Slovenske gorice wine-tourist road

The Upper Slovenske gorice wine-tourist road will also bring you to the famous Špičnik, the heart-shaped road among the vineyards. Cycling along this route in the autumn can also be complemented with a visit to the Rural holiday in Svečina.

Maribor wine-tourist road

If you like to ride uphill, you can take a ride along the Maribor wine-tourist road and drink in the views of the city and its surroundings from the hills, such as Kalvarija and Piramida.

Podpohorska wine-tourist road

The Podpohorska wine-tourist road will take you along the sunny edges of Pohorje between Ruše and Zreče into the heart of the Limuš – Pekre hills and to the Dravinja hills.

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A visit to the old town

There's plenty to see in Maribor. Lent is the oldest and most magical part of the city. Stop at one of the many cafes and restaurants along the Drava River. Art and history lovers will want to see the remains of the city wall and the medieval towers. Museums and galleries shed colourful light on life in Maribor, past and present. And come evening, go see a play at the Slovene National Theatre Maribor.

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Book your experience

Take a stroll down the old town district of the second largest Slovenian town, discover the bustle of life in the Lent quarter, home to the oldest grapevine in the world. Choose and book your holiday today!

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Enjoy all that nearby towns have to offer

Make your visit to Maribor even more enjoyable, and spice it up with some culinary adventures amidst a unique landscape.

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World’s Oldest Vine