Maribor Cathedral

Once you are in the square of Slomškov trg, you must visit Maribor Cathedral. The construction of the cathedral and its further development brought Maribor additional cultural impetus and enforcement. It was built in the 12th century as a Romanesque building. Today it shows a Gothic style with a long chancel dating from the 14th century and a central church nave from the 15th century.

The 57 metre high bell tower

The 57 metre high classicist designed bell tower dates back to the end of the 18th century as the primarily 76-metre high bell tower built by Pavel Porta in the year 1623 was struck by lightening.

The first Slovene saint Anton Martin Slomšek in the Cathedral

The long chancel or presbytery is completed with choir benches dating from 1771, on which there are shallow, gilded relief images of scenes from the life of St John the Baptist created by carver Jožef Holzinger. It is here that stands a statue of Bishop Slomšek, made by sculptor Franc Zajec in the year 1878. In the presbytery are also the Bishop's Chair dating from 1890 and the vaulted tomb of Maribor's bishops. Carver Jožef Holzinger in the Baroque period built the chapel of the Holy Cross, furnished with an altar.  The tomb of Bishop Slomšek was placed in this altar in 1996. On 4 September 1859 Slomšek transferred the seat of the Lavantine diocese to Maribor.