Tourism in Maribor, Slovenia

Festival of the City and Culture

"The basic idea was to create a project dedicated to celebration of 500 years since Primoz Trubarj was born, the man who wrote the first Slovenian book. Doing the research, we found out the data about historical wealth of Steier's region capital: Turks have attacked us in mid-sixteenth century, in Maribor happened the first "process against witches" in Slovenia, and protestantism is here the first time banned. A large number of events on this ground in the period when Trubarj has lived here" - Bojan Lesjak, manager of the Festival of the City and Culture


By DANICA ŠUBERNIK
from Maribor, SLOVENIA


Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia, as well as the center of Styria province, famous for its good wine. River Drava goes through the very center of the city, and the surrounding hills are decorated with vineyards, churches and numerous castles. So romantic and pleasant atmosphere encourages the man to the joy and celebration, and such events in Maribor does not lack. During the year a large number of meetings and festivals are organized, and the best-known international one is Lent, which lasts two weeks, and visitors from all over the world may see more than 400 events during this time, dedicated to the audience of different ages and interests.

This year, the touristic offer of Maribor is wealthier with the Festival of the city and culture, dedicated to the life of medieval Slovenia. The first festival is focused on Primoz Trubarj, Slovenian protestant's clergyman, innovator, translator and what is most important, a writer of first book in Slovenian language. This important cultural worker was born at the beginning of the sixteenth century and he wrote 22 books in Slovenian and two in German language during his life. Throughout the country, during the whole of this year, the 500th anniversary of his birth was marked.

Association for promotion of tourism and culture TIMKO, Tourist Association of Maribor and Styria touristic organization have seen the opportunity to promote Maribor through its history, which is one of the strongest points of the city.

"The basic idea was to create a project dedicated to celebration of 500 years since Primoz Trubarj was born, the man who wrote the first Slovenian book. Of course, placed the first question, how to create a connection of Trubarj to Maribor, because he was born and worked in completely different part of Slovenia? It was a challenge for us. Studying old books, we have come to the knowledge that Protestant Christians in the sixteen century, have opened the first Protestant primary school on Maribor's Betnava. Further scrolling archives, we found out the data about historical wealth of Steier's region capital. Turks have attacked us in mid-sixteenth century, but the city was successfully defended. In Maribor is conducted also the first proceedings against witches in Slovenia, and Protestantism was the first time banned right here. banned. There are numerous events on this ground in the period when Trubarj has lived here" - explained the idea and the creation of project for "WAVE magazine" Bojan Lesjak, manager of the Festival of the city and culture.

This meeting lasted three days and included a rich program. Morning hours were intended for children, all with the aim to expand their knowledge about the Middle Ages and work of Primoz Trubarj. Adults were able to enjoy walking down the street of medieval crafts, or play in the street, which was presenting the Turkish attack on Maribor and courage of Slovenian knights, who have taken the final victory and defended the city. The festival gathered more than 150 participants, of which a large number of volunteers.

With all the difficulties that followed the implementation of project, the main organizer Bojan Lesjak wasn't hiding satisfaction with the results: "Bearing in mind that this is a festival for the first time organized, as well as bad weather that was accompanying us, so we had to shift some activities from one in the second term, we can say that the festival is full success." Organizers had no support from the local authorities, and funds for the realization of this interesting project they gathered with the help of a large number of sponsors.

"In Maribor there are numerous cultural and tourist institutions that each must connect to get the best product, and we hope that this festival started with positive energy. Also we hope that we are only one in a series of those who is successful or will only succeed ", emphasized Lesjak.

According to him, the plan for this festival is to become traditional and the following year on even greater number of participants, and activities to last more days. Help of the city authorities would significantly contribute, all in hope that the Festival of the city and culture could become one of the biggest Autumn events in Maribor and well-known part of touristic offer of Slovenia.


(Published: 10.10.2008.)