Things to see and do Northeast

During the latest restoration, the wooden altars lost their gilding and reverted to their former black color, a reminder of the Pauline monks' veneration for the Black Madonna of their native Poland. The trompe l'oeil fresco on the choir vault is the work of Johannes Ranger, a monk from Tyrol (^18th century). The chapel of St. Francis Xavier was painted in 1760. The organ is remarkable, dating back over 230 years.

Built in 1910, it has a curious feature: a central stained glass window in the choir depicting Luther. This church is marked by lightness, finely decorated with geometric motifs that do not disturb its sobriety. Its construction in the axis of the castle would have displeased the count, catholic, who would have had his room moved. The architect Ernő Gerey is at the origin of this large-scale project: he gives back to the city the grandeur of its Protestant past. The painting of the altar has been entrusted to the artist Jenő Bory.

The 11th century church, partly circular, has a wooden bell tower and a shingled roof. The rotunda will surprise many people because it is absolutely unusual in Slovenia. The frescoes date from the 14th century. Small and simple church that you will not be able to forget so much its architecture surprises by its contemporaneity. One of the oldest religious buildings in the country and certainly one of the most beautiful. Muta was a border toll place in the Middle Ages.

This parish church was built as early as the middle of the 13th century. The baroque period has of course changed its appearance. You will discover paintings by Franz Ignaz Flurer, Anton Lerchinger and Filip Karl Laubmann. Above the altar, the work is signed by the hand of Martin Johan Kremserschmidt. A remarkable church, in many ways, which is clearly worth a little detour: it is so striking from afar as it dominates the town of Slovenska Bistrica.

It was the largest church in Slovenia in the 18th century. Its bell tower dates from 1671 and belonged to the previous church. In fact, a primitive church already existed around the year 1000. The Patriarchate of Aquileia founded a monastery and the Benedictines settled there in 1140, but three centuries later it was dissolved. Both the church and the monastery were destroyed in 1750. The present building was designed by Matija Perski. In the choir there is a fresco depicting the Virgin Mary and the two patron saints, a work by Layers like the Way of the Cross. The altarpiece is by Kumserschmidt.

In Renaissance style, it was built at the end of the 15th century. The present appearance is due to the Counts Széchy. From 1687 to 1934 the castle was owned by the Counts Szapary. For some forty years, its walls have housed ethnological, archaeological and plastic arts collections. The visit of the museum begins with the Neolithic period. It continues at the rhythm of the different historical periods. One room is dedicated to the pottery of the region. Emphasis is also placed on objects from Judaism intended for worship as well as Protestantism.

Built at the end of the 14th century, it has one of the most beautiful works of art in the country, a Mercy carved in a single block of stone (1410-1415). The Virgin shelters under a mantle, unfurled by seven angels, 81 characters. It is a veritable portrait gallery where the Emperor Sigismund and the Counts of Celje can be identified. The old tympanum of the portal, placed above the altar, was commissioned by Bernard III of Ptuj to celebrate the baptism of Elizabeth, daughter of the emperor. The whole, very pure, is very expressive and lively. It was the Prague Speaking Workshop that worked on the building of the church founded by Bernard III. Destroyed by the Turks, it was completed during its renovation with four defence towers, only one of which remains on the south side. In the 16th century the church became Protestant and in 1615 the Jesuits took it over again until 1774. It has been in the hands of the Friars Minor since 1937. The three-nave church, a fine example of Slovenian Gothic, also contains the altar of the Counts of Celje designed in 1400 in the southern apse in the "soft style" and the bas-reliefs depicting the death of the Virgin, the Magi, and the angels with coats of arms. The work The Death of the Virgin was created in 1415 by the author of Mercy, who remained unknown. This church is one of the most beautiful in Slovenia, with an impressively rich interior and documentation that helps to get a better idea of what it means to pilgrims.

Built in the Romanesque style in the middle of the 13th century, this church was later modified to become Gothic and then Baroque. In 1826, following the demolition of an old neighbouring church, Saint-Pierre received a magnificent statue of the Virgin and Child dating from the 14th century. For the record, this work has already been exhibited at the Louvre museum a few years ago. The frescoes are by the artists Jacob Brollo and Osvaldo Bierti respectively.

Dating from the 15th century, the castle belonging to the winegrowing family Klakočar is on a hillock and hardly visible from the car park. The styles are mixed: Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. The old chapel and its two angels whose legs hang from the ceiling in a rather comical way, as well as the cellar for wine tasting, are accessible. The castle has been given a new lease of life after years of work. Countless views of the region.

The nave and two stained glass windows are of Romanesque origin. Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles have transformed the oldest building in the city dedicated to the niece of Aquileia's patriarch Berthold, Count of Andech. The pictorial works are by two local Baroque artists, Franc Michael Strauss (1667-1740) and Franc Andrej Strauss (1721-1782). The baroque altar was designed by Janej Jakob Schoy, a sculptor at the court of Graz. Not to be missed!

A small mill, a smithy, a small sawmill, a traditional house... constitute the habitat of this park with its flowerbeds that can be walked through. Of course, the tulip is in the spotlight and reinforces the floral enchantment, as does the enchanting garden for young visitors. In the autumn, the locals come to watch Slovenia's biggest pumpkin competition, some of which can exceed 600 kg! Several exhibitions take place from April to September.

Renovation of this elegant castle began in 1985 and was completed some twenty years later, when it was listed as a protected Slovenian national heritage site. A variety of exhibits can be found here, including a room giving an overview of the region's wines and, in an adjoining room, an exhibition of the region's minerals. The trompe-l'oeil frescoes by Franz Flurer were created between 1717 and 1721. He worked in the Knights' Hall, the central staircase, the chapel and the rooms on the second floor. Greek mythology is still present, with deities such as Hercules, Poseidon, Zeus and Chronos, as well as the blue version of the 4 Seasons in medallions above the doors. Count Vettri had a French-style park laid out, whose reputation spread far beyond the borders of France. Today, only a quarter of it remains. The round tower with its polychrome Gothic vaults serves as a wedding hall. A collection of minerals and fossils, including some fine pieces, and prayer books were assembled by a local. 2 rooms are dedicated to the writer Anton Ingolič and Jože Tomačič, painter, writer, director and author of numerous tales and legends. More recent is the collection of dolls in traditional or folk costume. Opposite the collection of plates made in aid of Unicef is a blue-dressed doll donated by former Libyan leader Gaddafi. The upper part of the tower houses a fine collection of kerosene lamps. The ethnographic section includes pottery, ceramics and other everyday utensils of yesteryear. The chapel's altar is made of stone, which is not traditionally the case in the Štajerska region.

Mathilde, widow of Frederick III, donated the land to the Dominicans in 1230. Originally from Carinthia, they settled on the castle grounds a year later. The monastery was then only partially completed. Two renovations change its appearance. The first, in the mid-fourteenth century, following the fire of 1302. In the cloister, the fresco of the Dominicans at prayer dates from this period. The second renovation, a century later, gives the cloister its final appearance. The order was dissolved by Emperor Joseph II in 1786. The former monastery escaped its conversion into a textile factory. In 1928, this former museum installed its archaeological collections there.

In the crypt, the reconstruction of a shrine dedicated to Mithra, discovered at Spodnja Hajdina in 1901, allows you to become familiar with this religion originating in Persia, which was widespread in the first centuries of Christianity among the Romans and was introduced by soldiers on European soil. The initiation cult was reserved exclusively for men. The lapidary occupies the ground floor of the old church. Funerary stelae are attributed to soldiers and veterans of the Roman legions who were stationed in Ptuj (Poetivo). The bas-reliefs of the 2nd and 3rd centuries depicting the Nurse are of great beauty. The Nutrices Augustae was revered by the women and children she was supposed to protect. The Celts were already practicing this cult. On the first floor were gathered Roman pieces (jewellery, glassware, pottery...) as well as Slavic pottery.

Its origin dates back to the 11th century. It was first renovated in 1350 and is the resting place of the Counts Szapary. It is one of the best preserved Slovenian testimonies of late Romanesque art. Over the centuries, several modifications and renovations have been imposed on it. In 1910 it was completely rebuilt by the architect László Takács, who gave it three naves instead of the original one. Beautiful stained glass windows inside and a superb pictorial representation of St. Nicholas on the main altar made by Matthias Schiffer in 1797.

Superb Gothic church dating from the 15th century. It was consecrated by the Bishop of Ljubljana Sigismund von Lamberg in 1485. Its bell tower is more recent and would have been added at the very beginning of the 18th century. The main point of interest of this small church is undoubtedly its late Romanesque statue of the Virgin Mary carrying her child. It would probably date back to the late 1200s. Nice view over the whole valley from the religious building.

The manor served as the residence of the Counts of Celje in the 14th and 15th centuries. On the first floor, an exhibition shows the atmosphere of everyday life in the castle through the ages and the arts - classical, baroque, neoclassical, imperial. The focus is on the monumental work of the sculptor Ferdinand Gallo, whose depiction of the Last Supper is highly symptomatic of the beginning of the dominance of Baroque art. Archaeological exhibition room in the basement.

Here once stood Maribor Castle, which was completely destroyed in 1790. Today it is one of the best spots in the city for walking on sunny days. The footpath, about thirty minutes from the railway station, allows access to the top of the hill without major difficulty. It offers a breathtaking panorama of the country's second largest city and above all of the variety of the surrounding countryside between wine hills and deep plains. A true haven of peace in the middle of nature and a stone's throw from the city.

A little culture moment between two tastings? In the middle of the 17th century, the plague wreaked havoc. Lord Johann Drumpitsch and his wife Salome vow to build a church in Jeruzalem if the plague ceases. When the epidemic subsided, they built a baroque church, completed in 1652. Angels holding the instruments of Christ's torment are standing on the pulpit while an arm points a cross at the faithful. The angel with the dice reminds us of the episode of the tunic of Christ, drawn by lot between the soldiers in charge of its execution.

The castle is visible from afar, dominating the course of the Drava, and dates back to the ^13th century. Over the course of its long history, it has changed ownership many times: for example, at the end of the ^15th century, it belonged to the King of Hungary. After being burnt down in 1706, it was rebuilt, which explains its Baroque appearance. Until the ^mid-19th century, the castle was the seat of the provincial jurisdiction, and the gallows were not far away. After several years of restoration by the Cultural Association, it reopened in 2022.

7 km from the centre of Celje you will find a large oasis called Šmartinsko jezero. This lake is a meeting point of recreation, sports and water fun for people who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The lake is surrounded by a well-maintained walking and cycling path. The car park opposite the Panorama café in the hamlet of Runtole is the best place to park as the access road leads through a hilly coniferous forest. From the café, you will have a breathtaking view of the lake. The biggest carp caught was 34.6 kg!

The artificial lake of Ptuj was created by the dam designed to generate hydropower from the Drava River. It is the largest lake in Slovenia (346 ha) which in summer allows you to kayak on 9 km long, to rent small sailing boats, scooters on the water, to relax on the beach, to fish too... A beautiful promenade has been built all around this stretch of water. Many enthusiasts meet here to observe the avian biodiversity with its lot of cormorants, terns and gulls.

This is the town's museum of contemporary art, with a permanent collection of no fewer than 830 works on display, including paintings, sculptures, graphics, drawings and artistic photographs by the Pomurje region and other artists from all over Slovenia. Various temporary exhibitions are organized throughout the year, with guided tours available for the more curious. A low-cost way to discover ^twentieth- and ^{twenty-first-century} art, or to escape rainy weather.