Maribor
Despite being the nation’s second-largest city, Maribor has only about a third of the population of Ljubljana and often feels more like an overgrown provincial town.
Štajerska has long been the crossroads of Slovenia and virtually everyone has ‘slept here’ – Celts, Romans, early Slavs, Habsburgs and the Nazi occupiers. In the 14th century the German-speaking Counts of Celje were among the richest and most powerful feudal dynasties in Central Europe and they challenged the Austrian monarchy’s rule for a century. Štajerska suffered more than most of the rest of Slovenia during WWII, when many of its inhabitants were murdered, deported or sent to Nazi labour camps.
Despite being the nation’s second-largest city, Maribor has only about a third of the population of Ljubljana and often feels more like an overgrown provincial town.
Rising gently above a wide valley, Ptuj (in English sounding not unlike someone spitting) forms a symphony of red-tile roofs best viewed from across the Drava River.
With its time-warp historical centre, fabulous architecture, excellent museums and enormous castle looming over the picturesque Savinja River, Celje might appear to have won the tourism sweepstakes.
Rogaška Slatina is Slovenia’s oldest and largest spa town, a veritable ‘cure factory’ with almost a dozen hotels and treatments and therapies.
The beautiful Upper Savinja Valley (Zgornja Savinjska Dolina) is bound by forests, ancient churches, traditional farmhouses and high Alpine peaks.
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