Pokrajinski muzej Maribor

About the museum

Maribor Castle consists of two parts: the administrative court of the provincial prince, built in 1478–1481 on the orders of Emperor Frederick III, and the north-eastern part of the town's fortification system with the castle bastion and loggia. The bastion was built between 1555 and 1562 to plans by Domenico dell'Allio. With the ownership of the Counts Khisl, from 1620, the court was transformed into a residential castle with the Knights' Hall and the Loreto Chapel; in 1727 the castle passed to the Counts Brandis, who added a new staircase and completed the Knights' Hall.

When today's Grajska ulica (Castle Street) was laid out in 1871, the castle was split in two. In 1933 it was bought by the then municipality, and in 1938 the Pokrajinski muzej Maribor moved into it. The museum holds archaeological and cultural-historical movable heritage from the area of 23 municipalities.

Visitors can see the permanent exhibitions with a guide. Among them are Začetki (Beginnings), on the history of Maribor's museum work, in a room with frescoes by Matej Sternen from 1940; Med bliščem in bedo srednjega veka (Between Splendour and Misery of the Middle Ages) on the ground floor of the bastion; and Prostori lepega (Spaces of Beauty), with furniture from the museum collection. The museum also includes the Muzej najstarejše trte na svetu (Museum of the World's Oldest Vine), the Muzej okusov (Museum of Flavours) and the exhibition space Kino Partizan.

Highlights

• Knights' Hall with a painted ceiling and portraits of Styrian nobility
• Exhibition Med bliščem in bedo srednjega veka (Between Splendour and Misery of the Middle Ages) in the castle bastion
• Exhibition Prostori lepega (Spaces of Beauty) with furniture from the museum collection
• Loreto Chapel from 1655
• Showcase depots: painting, sculpture, furniture, glass, uniforms and fashion

Permanent exhibitions

• Med bliščem in bedo srednjega veka – The exhibition on the ground floor of the castle bastion presents trade, defence, religion, the plague, fires, town government and crafts in Maribor from the Middle Ages to the early 18th century, as well as older weapons.
• Prostori lepega – The exhibition presents selected furniture from the museum collection and the ancient craft of furniture decoration; touch screens allow a closer look.
• Portret meščanstva – The exhibition illuminates cultural life in Maribor in the 19th century: societies, urban development, music, the national awakening, and technical novelties such as the train and the pocket watch.

Founded

1903

Operated by

Javni zavod Pokrajinski muzej Maribor

Admission & discounts

Prices apply to visits to the castle with a guide. Free admission is granted to holders of the ICOM, SMD and PRESS cards, licensed tourist guides and donors.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The museum prepares educational programmes and workshops for kindergartens and schools. In the exhibition Med bliščem in bedo srednjega veka visitors can try on a knight's armour.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Up to 300 guests.

For events the following can be hired: the Knights' Hall (214 m², 200 standing places or 100 seats), the Rococo staircase, the arcades (407 m², 300 standing places or 200 seats), the spaces of the castle bastion and the castle courtyard.

Plan your visit