For art, architecture, and rhythm enthusiasts
Maribor for cultural surfers is a walk that connects the main streets and squares with the less polished faces of the city, revealing the arrhythmia in Maribor's tumultuous history that has sharpened the survival instinct, ingenuity, and individuality of the Styrian metropolis. Experience the highlights of Maribor's culture and art, the most impactful graffiti, a cosmopolitan bistro, and unrivaled coffee. Stroll from one of Slovenia's leading museums for modern and contemporary art to murals and iconic buildings from the short 20th century, which left a significant mark on Maribor.
Discover the highlights of the walk
1. Maribor Art Gallery
UGM is one of the largest museums for modern and contemporary art in Slovenia. It houses more than 7,000 artworks by Slovenian artists from the late 19th century to the present and is celebrating its 70th anniversary.
2. GT22
In former warehouse and factory spaces, and a former nightclub, lies GT22: a creative center, connected artistic community, and educational laboratory. The building's rooftop features an urban beehive, and inside you'll find everything from a skate park to a theater and a photography museum.
3. Wall mural - We will get the flag
"We live in a historical moment of oppression, to which we can only respond with class struggle." The mural on the courtyard side of the building at Glavni trg 22 tells the story of the national liberation struggle during World War II.
4. Fudo
A culinary stop at one of Maribor's most popular urban bistros. Fudo is the answer to the craving for good wines, locally sourced ingredients, and innovative cuisine with just the right balance of local and cosmopolitan flair.
5. Hi Ko Fi
A must-stop for all coffee lovers. At the coffee shop, you can try various coffee drinks such as espresso, flat white, filter coffee, cold brew, coffee cocktails, and more.
6. Hutter building
Maribor textile industrialist Hutter built a residential building in 1940 to provide his employees with quality and modern living conditions. The Hutter Block, or Gradišče, is a textbook example of residential construction from the interwar period in Slovenia.
7. The Jemčev vrt commercial-residential building
Once a nursery, today it stands as a visually commanding structure, its bold and exposed use of concrete embodying the tenets of brutalism architecture. This striking building, constructed in the 1970s, bears the mark of architect Borut Pečenko's visionary design.
8. FORMA VIVA - Atomic age
The "Atomic Bomb" sculpture stands as a thought-provoking reminder of the destructive potential of nuclear weapons. Created in 1973 by sculptor Janez Boljka as part of the Forma Viva Maribor sculpture symposium, this seemingly fragile sculpture resembles a molecule, yet its symbolic significance carries immense weight.
9. National liberation museum Maribor
The National Liberation Museum Maribor tackles the complex and tumultuous period of the 20th century, consistently juxtaposing it with the global context and the unique stories of Maribor.
10. FORMA VIVA – Rolled Sphere
A walk through City park Maribor passing by the Rolled Ball, another piece by the renowned Maribor sculptor Slavko Tihec.
11. "Kiss" - wall drawing
The mural by contemporary artist Petra Varl was created as part of the exhibition in public space titled "Embrace and Kiss" in 2012 when Maribor was the European Capital of Culture. The protagonists of the work are a man and a woman, captured in a moment of a "mouth-to-mouth" kiss.
12. Theatre Café
The retro café from 1987 exudes an artistic atmosphere. It's an excellent spot for reading newspapers, chatting, or observing the surroundings from its upholstered booths. It's particularly lively before and after performances at the SNG Maribor Theatre.
13. The young arcades
This is a gallery of young artists that is always open. The outdoor exhibition space is located in front of the entrance to Media Nox Gallery.
14. Media Nox gallery
A space showcasing domestic and international artists from younger generations. And here's a tip: don't miss the shop featuring selected works by contemporary Maribor artists as well.
