Clan Rising
Maribor Castle today

Slovenia · Still standing

Maribor Castle

Mariborski grad

Maribor Castle is a Baroque mansion in the town of Maribor in northeastern Slovenia. The building now houses a regional museum and fronts the town's paved market square.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1483

Its prime

1483

Today

Still standing

As it stood in 1483

What Maribor Castle looked like in its prime.

Long rectangular white-plastered mansion facing a paved market square, with a broad low-pitched roof covered in red clay tiles and a continuous row of rounded arcades on the first-floor facade. A square corner tower projects one storey above the eaves, with rectangular windows, an octagonal belfry section pierced by round oculi and topped by a dark bulbous cupola and finial. The main entrance is a classically framed portal with pilasters; plain ashlar quoins mark the building corners.

Its story

The story of Maribor Castle.

Maribor's city castle was begun in 1478 on the order of Emperor Frederick III as a princely stronghold in the north corner of the town walls, reinforced in the mid-16th century with a four-sided bastion. A Loreto chapel was added in 1655–61, and rebuilding in the first half of the 18th century gave the castle its present Baroque face.

Sold in 1590 to Wolfgang Schranz von Schranzenegg, vice-chancellor of Inner Austria, it passed by purchase in 1608 to the Khiessl family together with the lordship of Marburg, and in 1728 to the Brandis family, who kept it until 1876. Later owners included Clemens August von Twickel of Westphalia, the naturalist Otmar Reiser and the merchant Vilko Berdajs.

The palace was cut back in the 19th century: only one of its four towers survives, and in 1871 a street was driven through the courtyard, destroying the sculpted portal. The city bought the castle in 1933 and installed the Maribor Regional Museum, which occupies it still.

Step inside

8 places to explore in 1483.

The record describes 8 distinct spots at Maribor Castle, including 1 interior: museum entrance hall (interior). Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Exterior approach from the main squareMain entrance portalArcaded first-floor loggiaCorner tower, lower stagesOctagonal belfry and cupolaRoofline and skylightPaved market square in front of the castleMuseum entrance hall (interior)

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The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1483, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

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Whose castle

Clans who held Maribor Castle.

The families that held Maribor Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Khiessl

    Held by the Khiessl family with the lordship of Marburg, 1608–1728.

  • Brandis

    Held by the Brandis family, 1728–1876.

Questions about Maribor Castle

What is the history of Maribor Castle?

Maribor Castle began in the late 15th century as a princely stronghold in the north corner of Maribor’s town walls. Emperor Frederick III ordered its construction in 1478, and it was reinforced with a four-sided bastion in the mid-16th century. A Loreto chapel followed in 1655–61, while rebuilding in the first half of the 18th century created its present Baroque appearance.

What is inside Maribor Castle?

Maribor Castle contains a museum entrance hall and houses a regional museum. The documented building description also identifies two courtyards, including a very large courtyard intended for a riding school, and rooms associated with the count’s family in the former bastion.

Why was Maribor Castle built, and what was it used for?

Maribor Castle was built as a princely stronghold protecting the north corner of Maribor’s town walls. Its defensive role was strengthened by a four-sided bastion in the mid-16th century. Later rebuilding gave it a Baroque mansion form, and it now houses the Maribor Regional Museum.

Where is Maribor Castle?

Maribor Castle stands in Maribor, in northeastern Slovenia. It is on the north-eastern edge of Maribor’s old town centre and is associated with the Maribor City Municipality. The building fronts the town’s paved market square.

When was Maribor Castle built?

Maribor Castle was first raised in the late 15th century. The site record gives 1483 as its first-raised year, while its history dates the beginning of the city castle to 1478; both dates place its initial construction in the 15th century. Later work in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries altered the building.

Which family or clan held Maribor Castle?

Maribor Castle was held by the Khiessl family from 1608 to 1728, together with the lordship of Marburg. The Brandis family then held it from 1728 to 1876. Earlier, it was sold in 1590 to Wolfgang Schranz von Schranzenegg, vice-chancellor of Inner Austria.

What did Maribor Castle look like in its prime?

Maribor Castle is a long rectangular, white-plastered Baroque mansion facing a paved market square. It has a broad low-pitched red-tiled roof, a continuous row of rounded arcades on the first-floor façade and a projecting square corner tower. The tower ends in an octagonal belfry with round oculi, a dark bulbous cupola and a finial.

Is Maribor Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Maribor Castle is still standing and is described as intact. Its 19th-century form was reduced: only one of its four towers survives, and a street driven through the courtyard in 1871 destroyed the sculpted portal. Rebuilding in the first half of the 18th century had already given the castle its present Baroque face.

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