Maribor

Some 45 kilometers (27 miles) to the south of Graz lies the lively city of Maribor, Slovenia's second largest city. Maribor has had close ties with Graz ever since an administrative accord was signed in 1157. In the mid-19th century, Maribor blossomed into an administrative, economic and cultural center in Slovenia. The 1960s saw the founding of Maribor University, which further enriched the city's open-minded, lively charm. Since Slovenia's independence from Yugoslavia in 1990, Maribor has gained further momentum.