The Maribor Water Tower is a medieval stone tower dating back to 1555, built in the late Renaissance style and located along the Drava River. It was built as a fortified tower that protected the city of Maribor from penetration from the river. Before the current tower was built in 1555, there were two other framed towers in this place. One was a Jewish tower and the other a baroque tower. They existed there until 1520.
In 1555, craftsmen from Italy built two bastions, or rather two towers, which were known under the name of Maribor Venice. This part of the city was also called the Venice of Maribor because these towers were built by Italian masters. The Maribor Towers were located in the west, and the Water Tower was located in the east. Outside the city walls, the Lent settlement developed, which also bore the names Kej and Pristanište. It was the main commercial center of old Maribor. Until the railway between Maribor and Klagenfurt was built in 1863, significant commercial traffic was carried out in the tower called Venice.
In the 1960s, the Drava regularly overflowed and the water level rose constantly, which is why the towers were destroyed. One part of Maribor was submerged and a reservoir was created, so the towers were a refuge, but the Water Tower was not because it did not pose a danger when sailing on the river. These medieval houses that were located on the banks of the Drava River were demolished, but not the Water Tower. The water tower had a good position and survived all the difficulties. This tower was saved thanks to the great efforts of the builder Jože P. He created a project to raise the mass, ie the land, by 2.5 meters, and this is how this tower was saved.
In the Water Tower, which looks more like an old stone house by the river, which it is, not exactly like a tower, today there is a wine shop where you can taste and buy top Slovenian wines. While the oldest Slovenian wine cellar is located in the city center. On the top floor of the Water Tower, there is a hall with high ceilings that represents a medieval banquet hall that has been fully adapted for wine tasting. Not far from this tower is the oldest vine in the world.
Autor of the article:
Bojana Pantić - correspondent for the city of Maribor
