COUNTRY: SLOVENIA
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE: POETOVIO
Surrounded by vineyards and beautiful hills, the oldest Slovenian city Ptuj is the perfect destination for lovers of history, nature and active holiday. Remarkable Roman monuments and magnificent medieval facades create unique historic experience. One of the most important is marble Orpheus Monument erected in the honor of Marcus Valerius Verus, the mayor of ancient Poetovio (2nd c. AD). A walk along the Drava River will take you to the Ptuj Lake, a paradise for birds and birdwatchers.
About Destination
A walk through Ptuj will take you past Roman monuments and magnificent Medieval facades. One of the most important is the marble ORPHEUS MONUMENT, erected to honor the memory of Marcus Valerius Verus, who was the mayor of Poetovio (Ptuj) in the 2nd century AD.
Your next stop should definitely be the Town Hall of Ptuj. One of the most prominent buildings in the old city center, it was designed by Viennese architect Max Ferstl at the beginning of the 20th century. Ptuj has beautiful cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy a coffee or try some of the many delicious culinary specialties.
Cobbled streets and squares will lead you to one of the most majestic castles in Slovenia, which offers a view over the roof tiles of Medieval monasteries, churches, and various other buildings. This castle is home to the impressive exhibitions of the Ptuj-Ormož Regional Museum: from musical instruments and arms, to traditional masks and striking tapestries.
Complete your perfect day in the city park, which is also an excellent starting point for a popular walk that will take you along the Drava embankment.
For lovers of cycling, this is the perfect tour, taking you along the Drava cycling route to Ptuj Lake.
Ptuj Lake is the largest and also one of the most beautiful lakes in Slovenia, with over 230 bird species that can be found nesting in the protected area around the water. The lake offers many activities like water skiing, surfing, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, kitesurfing, pedal boats and fishing.
Where to sleep and eat
Hotel Mitra Ptuj ****
When you are in Ptuj and you want to be surrounded by culture, a romantic atmosphere and great hospitality, the Hotel Mitra Ptuj is the perfect choice. This boutique hotel has a long and immersive history and provides excellent accommodation and services. The hotel offers 29 comfortable and stylistically unique rooms with five interior styles, representing five different epochs of the city’s development: Antique, Medieval, Bourgeois, Secession and Contemporary. A particularly enjoyable and relaxing part of the hotel is the Mithras Garden green café terrace where you can sample the in-house coffee brand “Kipertz” and the variety of delicious artisan desserts. For all wine lovers, we recommend a visit to the Osterberger Wine Cellar, where you can enjoy wine tastings and a presentation of the wine culture and history of Ptuj.
Grand Hotel Primus ****
Located in Ptuj, just a few minutes from the golf courses and the Thermal Park, and close to the castle, the Grand Hotel Primus offers a variety of facilities for people looking to restore their energy while surrounded by health, harmony and well-being. Decorated in the ancient Roman style with 118 well-appointed rooms of various sizes, this hotel can satisfy all your needs and tastes. The hotel’s mainrestauran is the a la carte Primus restaurant, and it also offers the club Gemina XIII. A special attraction for lovers of hedonism and relaxation is the wellness and spa center. As in Roman times, you can enjoy facial and body treatments, various saunas, such as the Roman VIP sauna, a whirlpool with thermal water and a large indoor pool, with access to the outdoor and children’s pool.
Ptujska Klet
Wine is one of the most important building blocks of the history of Ptuj, the oldest town in Slovenia, and formerly the Roman settlement of Poetovio. Ptujska Klet has a two-hundred-year-old cellar, making it the oldest wine cellar in Slovenia. The Ptuj Klet wine library boasts the largest and most famous collection of vintage wines in the region. The modern story of Ptuj Winery started at the beginning of the 21st century. A remastered wine philosophy was implemented, the wine cellar was modernized and joyful, modern and trendy wines started to be produced, whilst maintaining a respect for the traditions of the winery.
Today, 85% of the winery’s production is white wines: Italian and Rhine Riesling and Šipon (a Furmint variety), Sauvignon and Chardonnay, Pinot, Zeleni Silvanac (Silvaner Green), Yellow Muscat and Traminac. The most popular red wines are Žametovka, Frankovka Blue (Blaufrankisch), Gamay and Blue Zweigelt. The winery sells three brands: Haloža, the best selling white wines in Slovenia, Pullus (white and red wines), and Pinki Chique (Rose).
Besides the cellar, the complex has a wine archive, wine shop and degustation room.
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