Menu Close

Trg Generala Maistra Square

17.10.2019

Named after the Slovene general Rudolf Maister, this square is encircled by several noteworthy buildings: Maribor Castle, I. Gimnazija Maribor high school, the municipal building, a business and residential building called Maister’s Hall, and the Vinag Wine Cellar. Since 1883, the square has had a large park, in which a statue of Rudolf Maister was erected later.

Maister is known as the defender of the northern Slovenian border after the defeat of Austria-Hungary in the First World War. He and his troops ensured that Maribor and the surrounding regions became part of the Slovenian territory rather than stayed in Austria.

Near the municipal building is a monument to the newspaperman Anton Tomšič, who was the first Slovenian professional journalist and the editor-in-chief of the newspaper Slovenski narod. The paper, which later became the first Slovenian daily paper, was first published on April 2, 1868. The paper supported the United Slovenia program and forging ties with other Slavic nations.Tomšič was succeeded by Josip Jurčič in 1871.

Josip Jurčič was a famous 19th-century Slovenian author and journalist and one of the first Slovenian storytellers and realist writers. Is statue can be found in the southwestern part of the square. He introduced new storytelling forms to Slovenian literature: sketch story, novella, and novel. His book Deseti brat is considered the first Slovenian novel, while his drama Tugomer is the first Slovenian tragedy.

On the easter side of te square stands the Prva Gimnazija Maribor school. It was constructed between 1871 and 1873, based on the plans by Vilhelm Buchner, an architect from Graz. It was designed in the European historicism style, flirting with classical architecture. The entrance has three portals, and was inspired by the Roman arc de triomphe. The facade and the front are adorned with symmetrically placed objects, while the windows conclude in a semi-circle. At the top of the building are a clock and four statues of women who personify the freedom of art.

History of the Square

During the Austro-Hungarian Empire the square was named after the Austrian admiral Tegetthoff, during the days of the first Yugoslavia it was called Jugoslovanski trg, after the country, and during the second Yugoslavia it got its name from Soviet leader Lenin.

The land where the square lies was purchased by the Maribor municipality from count Brandis in 1863, and immediately adopted a decision to prohibit building there. The square is outside the former Maribor town walls.

During the days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a monumental statue of the famous admiral with innovative tactics and excellent leadership skills Wilhelm von Tegetthoff was erected there. The unveiling of the statue was attended by the emperor Franz Josef I. After World War I, admiral Tegetthoff’s statue was removed, and later his pedestal as well.

The Serbian Orthodox Church metropolis built the Church of St. Lazarus there in the years 1935 and 1936. During the construction of the church, an arched channel was discovered at the depth of 3 to 4 meters, once used by the Brandis counts to capture water from the Three Ponds, which was used to water their flower park, while 7 meters deep, the workers found the foundation of the former castle ice chamber. Immediately after occupying the city in 1941, the German army demolished this church.

 

 

Back to top

Sign up for special discounts, exclusive features & local travel tips

Almost finished …
We need to confirm your email address. To complete the subscription process and receive your discount code, please click the link in the email we just sent you.

Success