Maribor, Žiče Charterhouse & the Wines of Styria

Depart Ljubljana at 09:00 and return at approximately 17:30. The complete programme lasts 8½ hours for a private group of 1–8 people. The order of visits may adapt to traffic, opening conditions and confirmed arrangements; additional cellar visits and longer vineyard excursions are not part of the standard day.

In the secluded valley of St John the Baptist, the remains of Žiče Charterhouse introduce a different rhythm of life. Founded in the twelfth century, the monastery connected solitude and prayer with study, manuscript production and practical work. Explore the architecture and the Carthusian way of life with your guide, and hear about historic Gastuž beside the complex. Admission and the actual visiting arrangements must be confirmed in advance.

Continue towards Maribor, a city shaped by the Drava River, trade and links across Central Europe. Built in 1478–1483 under Emperor Frederick III to strengthen the north-eastern defences, the city castle connects the history of fortification with civic life. We walk around its exterior and Grajski trg; a visit inside the regional museum can be arranged separately.

The main square brings together the city's trading and administrative history. The Town Hall tells the story of urban self-government, while the Plague Memorial preserves the memory of past epidemics. Read the changing city through its streets, façades and public spaces, rather than simply passing from one landmark to the next. Built in 1515 and remodelled in Renaissance style in 1563–1565, the Town Hall invites a closer look at its coat-of-arms balcony and off-centre clock tower.

At the Cathedral of St John the Baptist, discover the city's religious and cultural heritage and the role of Bishop Anton Martin Slomšek. He moved the seat of the Lavantine diocese to Maribor in 1859 and was beatified in 1999. An interior visit depends on opening and services; the explanation remains part of the walk even when access is restricted.

The streets around Židovska ulica reveal the place of the Jewish community in medieval Maribor. The synagogue, first mentioned in writing in 1354, served religious, cultural and communal life. Its story includes the community's achievements and the expulsion at the end of the fifteenth century. Today it is a centre for Jewish cultural heritage. The quarter and exterior are part of the walk; any interior visit needs a suitable opening or prior arrangement.

Follow the city towards Lent, its historic riverfront and former port. The Drava connected people, goods and ideas, while the surviving riverside buildings recall the town's working past. Meet the more than 400-year-old Žametovka, also called Modra kavčina, recognised by Guinness as the world's oldest noble grapevine still bearing fruit. Viewing the vine does not include admission to a wine venue or a tasting of its rare wine.

Enjoy free time for lunch with regional specialities, or choose a short tasting of local wines arranged in advance. Lunch, tasting and admission charges are extra unless your confirmed offer expressly includes them. A longer tasting, additional cellar or vineyard excursion requires a separate custom arrangement.

The return journey completes the 8½-hour day. Our aim is personal attention and an understanding of the places visited, with a realistic route and no unnecessary rushing. Exact supplier arrangements and the day's travel conditions are checked before confirmation.