Maribor Town Hall, Maribor, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Maribor Town Hall, known locally as the Rotovž, stands on Glavni trg, the Main Square of Maribor in Slovenia. It was formed more than five centuries ago from two older houses and still looks over the square that has been the heart of city life since the Middle Ages. It is one of the best places in the city to read the story of Maribor in stone.

The story behind it

The town hall took its present form when two neighbouring houses were merged and rebuilt, more than 500 years ago. From that period comes the balcony, where the stone coat of arms of Maribor dates from 1565. Two crowned lions flank it, a fitting pair of guards, since the lion is the king of animals.

The square below it is first mentioned in 1315. From the Middle Ages until the first half of the 20th century it served as the town's main market place. In the middle stands the Mary's sign, also called the plague column. It was raised in 1743 on the spot of an older one from 1681, made by Jozef Straub on the order of the citizens of Maribor as thanks for the end of the plague in the city.

What to look for

• The balcony on the front of the building, with the stone coat of arms of Maribor carved in 1565.
• The two crowned lions on either side of the coat of arms, standing guard over the square.
• The Mary's sign in the middle of Glavni trg, a plague column from 1743 that replaced an earlier one.
• The overall shape of the square itself, which kept its role as the town's marketplace for centuries.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 15 to 20 minutes to look at the facade, the balcony and the plague column, longer if you want to sit and watch the square.
• The outside can be seen at any time from the square. If you hope to go inside, check current access and opening hours first.
• Soft morning light or a calm early evening makes for the best photographs of the facade and its lions.
• The Drava riverfront is a short walk from the square, so the town hall fits easily into a longer stroll through the old centre.

See it on a quest

Crowns of Maribor brings you to the town hall on foot as one stop of a longer route through the city. The app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle in front of what you are looking at, so you notice details like the crowned lions rather than walking past them. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.

Where is Nikola Tesla? Maribor Tour is another self-guided route that passes through the area. You walk from place to place at your own pace, hear the story of each stop on your phone and solve a puzzle on the spot, with no guide and no group to join. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.