Eastern Slovenia: Ptuj and Maribor (3 photos)

Ptuj (pronounce it Pet-uyee) is a delightful, almost sleepy town on the bank of the river Drava.  Its site was inhabited in the Stone Age; it was capital of the Roman province of Pannonia, with a population of 40,000.

(1) Ptuj Castle (and Wallenstein's death)

A visit to this castle is a MUST!  No single photo can convey its beguiling atmosphere.  If you visit it, look up at the coat of arms above the entry gate to the castle building: two griffons and the motto:

 "GRIP FAST".

The castle was in the ownership of a Scottish mercenary, Walter Leslie, who fought on the side of the Hapsburgs during the 30 years war.  It was Leslie who brought to the Emperor the news of Wallenstein's assassination; no doubt he was deeply involved in the conspiracy, it is likely also that he participated in the killing of the Emperor's principal adversary.

Leslie rose to high office in the service of the Habsburgs.  The castle was in the ownership of the Leslie family from 1632 to the late 1700s, when there were no heirs to it.


(2) River Drava at Ptuj

Ptuj's castle can be seen on the skyline.  The River Drava, already massive here (749 kms long) joins the Danube at the Serbian/Croatian border above Belgrade.


(3) Plague column at Maribor

Original column erected1681, to give thanks for the end of a plague epidemic during which one third of the town's population died.  It was replaced in 1742 in elaborate Baroque style. Statues of six saints, all associated with intercession for healing: Francis of Assisi, Sebastian, James, Anthony of Padua, Roch and Francis Xavier 

The town of Maribor is the second largest town in Slovenia.  Seat of an Archdiocese since 2006, it has an old, highly revered cathedral.