Maribor in vivid autumn colours

Autumn days in the colours of culinary events and festivals

Autumn is the time when Maribor transforms into the capital of cuisine and festivals. The Styrian capital, refreshed by Drava River, will enchant you with the Maribor culinary route, which includes four tasting stops. Indulge in top-notch flavours at Hiša Denk and Mak Restaurant, and sample Michelin-starred dishes. Bold combinations on a plate and innovative approach to cuisine brought the Vračko brothers, who own the restaurants, Michelin awards. With an autumn breeze in your hair, cycle through the city and discover its artistic image. The area bursts with guided bike paths, each following its own themed trail. Feel the green energy of the city, which boasts the bronze Slovenia Green Destination sign. No wonder: it is embraced by the green hills and forests. Every autumn, Maribor invites you to the Old Vine Festival, when numerous wine and culinary events take place. You are welcome to discover the city, whcih does not fall asleep not only for a moment in autumn.

Take a walk on a tasty side of the city

Maribor presents itself with traditional Styrian cuisine. You will get to know many local specialties on the Maribor Culinary Trail, which will take you to the best restaurants in the centre of the city. Pri treh ribnikih restaurant is the oldest restaurant in town. It is located within the city park, close to the three ponds; hence the name (Pri treh ribnikih literally means at three ponds). Then there's Restaurant Sedem which received the Michelin Plate as well as the Gault & Millau toques. Seven is a fairytale number. The restaurant will awaken the child in you again and take you to the seventh heaven with a playful tasting of the food. If you are in search for an urban gathering place, you will find it at Fudo Restaurant. This is the restaurant for all who share a desire for top-quality food made from local, organically grown ingredients and are in search of some fun on the most entertaining street in the city. When it comes to wine, the House of the Old Vine is a must-stop. A real treasure trove of wines from the Maribor wine-growing region will enchant you with top quality wines, culinary delights and a rich ethnological tradition.

Autumn music and wine festivals

When it comes to festivals, autumn in the Styrian capital is announced by two: Maribor Festival and the Old Vine Festival. At the Maribor Festival, the concerts of renowned local musicians take place and also the Maribor Theatre Symphony Orchestra is regularly featured. The programme is composed for all who love orchestral, chamber and vocal music. The concerts take place in various Maribor concert halls and other smaller venues full of history and charm.

The Old Vine Festival is a tribute to the oldest vine in the world. It focuses on wine and provides you with a handful of culinary as well as cultural experiences: from autumn cooking workshops, a cycling trip along the Old Vine path and a ride with a hybrid e-carriage to a journey through the time of the development of viticulture, for which Archduke Janez is credited in Maribor. The five-star wine experience Big Guys Wine Tour that follows the path of the most beautiful wine stories to the oldest vine in the world it is not limited to the time of the festival only, but can be experienced every day of the year. The festival ends each year with a ceremonial harvest of the oldest vine in the world.

Culinary delights in the wine capital

Creating authentic tastes and top culinary plates is something that the Vračko brothers were born with. Treat yourself to an unforgettable Michelin pampering in the wine capital. The older brother Gregor, whose modern-style Hiša Denk was awarded the Michelin star invites you to an unforgettable culinary experience in the suburbs of the city. The younger David, who received a Michelin plate, impresses with bold and extravagant plates at the Mak Restaurant. The fountain of wines in Vodole, just a stone's throw from the city centre, invites you to taste top wines from local producers. The symbiosis of vineyards, cereal fields, flowering meadows and plantations of herbs has enabled the production of exceptional wines that will impress even the most experienced wine lovers. The Old Vine Festival is one of the greatest experiences for all lovers of wine and traditional delicacies, as well as for culinary gourmets. The festival dedicated to the oldest vine in the world, thanks to which Maribor has been nicknamed as the wine capital, invites you to the temple of Slovenian viticultural tradition and culture. The old vine is entered in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest vine in the world. It still bears grapes of žametovka or modra kavčina (Bleu de Cologne). As part of the 5-star experience, you can climb the traditional ladder to a carefully guarded vine, and taste the wines of boutique local winemakers in the Old Vine House wine shop. One of the largest and oldest classic wine cellars in Europe is also located in the centre of Maribor. With an area of ​​15,000 m2 and a total capacity of 3 million litres of wine, Vinag is really worth a visit. Their wine archive with bottles of the best vintages is a valuable specialty of the cellar. Indulge in excellent wine tastings in a pleasant tasting room and walk through the wine tunnels for a total length of two kilometers. At the end of September, exchange wine for beer and quench your thirst at Maribor Beer Fest, where microbreweries from all over Slovenia and neighboring countries will present themselves in two days. Beer tasting is further spiced up with musical happenings.

Active on the streets of Maribor

The most beautiful way to discover the lively streets of Maribor on the autumn afternoons is by bike. Until the end of October, on Fridays and Saturdays, you can go on a guided tour of the city centre, which sums up with a visit to the oldest vine in the world. At the same time, treat yourself to a glass of wine and feel the green pulse of the city. The main square of the city with a new look, friendly to walkers and cyclists, invites you for a coffee in one of the cafes. Observe the sights of the old town and feel the hustle and bustle of city life. On the town hill named Kalvarija stands the church of St. Barbara, from which a short forest path takes you to the plain, surrounded by rich vineyards, worthy of admiration. The walk is worth the effort, as you will be treated to one of the most beautiful views of the city opening up along the way. The capital of many natural sights also has its own natural island on Drava River, which is considered the largest river island in Slovenia. The island features a pleasant promenade with a nature trail, where you get to know the living and non-living world of the island. The island itself is also of great importance for the supply of drinking water. You can also discover the beauties along the Drava River by bike. The 145 km long Drava cycling route is part of an international long-distance cycling connection of four countries, where you will experience real cycling pleasures in the abundance of unspoiled nature.

Picturesque nature right next to Maribor

Mariborsko Pohorje, an oasis of nature just a stone's throw from the city, pulls you into a new world of experiencing the Styrian capital. Extensive forests, clearings and pastures, unspoiled Pohorje waters, waterfalls and peat bogs with ponds fill your lungs with clean air and calm your eyes. Pohorje nature is a real paradise for hikers, cyclists and all active sports. The Pohorje cycling transversal is a varied cycling route that winds through the forests of Pohorje and connects the Maribor part with the western part of Carinthia. Discover the pristine nature and Pohorje sights along forest roads. The area is also the site of many beautiful lakes and waterfalls, which are one of the most beautiful natural attractions. All hikers will be richly rewarded by nature. The path to Lovrenc Lakes leads through velvety soft grasslands. At the edge of the lakes stands a lookout tower with a remarkable view. Ribniško jezero Lake is surrounded by six smaller lakes and Črno jezero lake (litteraly black lake) offers an intense experience of unspoiled nature. The Skalce waterfalls, which flow in the natural environment all the way to the lowlands, Mali and Veliki Šumik in the untouched rainforest, and Bistriški Šum, which creates a dance of drops, steep slopes and streams, are natural heritage definitely worth a visit.

To sum it up, take a look at the video about Maribor and how Marco Tavalares, a Brazilian footballer who plays for Maribor as a striker, sees it:

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