Ptuj
Fašenk po Markovsko (2012) (shrovetide)
 
Ptuj lies at the junction of the Ptuj Plain and the western foothills of the Slovenske gorice, in a strategically important position on the left bank of the Drava River. This location is not merely a geographical curiosity, but the fundamental reason why one of the oldest and most significant towns in Slovenia developed precisely here. Throughout the centuries, the Drava enabled trade, connected the Pannonian region with the Alpine world, and created the conditions for the emergence of an urban centre that already in antiquity bore the name Poetovio.
In the Middle Ages, Ptuj was among the most important towns in the wider region. Its role as a commercial, administrative, and military centre was exceptional, as confirmed by numerous archaeological finds, written sources, and the rich urban structure preserved to this day. The town was a crossroads of cultures, religions, and trade routes, creating an extraordinary cultural and historical stratification. Roman Poetovio was one of the largest cities in the province of Pannonia, and medieval Ptuj later became an important feudal and economic hub whose fairs, guilds, and fortifications shaped the development of the broader region.
Overlooking the town stands Ptuj Castle, a mighty fortress that defines the silhouette of Ptuj. Over the centuries, the castle passed through the hands of various owners—from the Archbishops of Salzburg to the Leslie family—and gradually transformed from a military stronghold into a representative residence. Today it houses the Ptuj–Ormož Regional Museum, which preserves remarkable collections: from musical instruments, weapons, and furniture to the famous collection of carnival masks, one of the richest in Europe. The castle is not only an architectural gem but also a key to understanding the historical development of the town.
The heart of old Ptuj is Slovenski trg (Slovene Square), where the parish church of St. George stands—one of the most important Gothic churches in Slovenia. Its tall towers and richly decorated interior testify to the power and influence of the medieval ecclesiastical community. On the same square stands the Orpheus Monument, the largest Roman tombstone carved from a single block of stone in Central Europe. In the Middle Ages it served as a pillory, while today it is one of the most recognisable symbols of ancient Poetovio and a precious reminder of the town’s Roman heritage.
Ptuj is not only a town of history but also a vibrant cultural centre that builds its identity on a rich ethnographic tradition. The most recognisable event is the traditional Kurentovanje carnival, which every winter attracts thousands of visitors from Slovenia and abroad. The Kurenti—with their bells, sheepskins, masks, and ritual dances—represent one of the oldest and most archaic carnival figures in Europe. Their role is to chase away winter and evil spirits and to summon spring, fertility, and new life energy. Today, Kurentovanje is an internationally renowned festival and is inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
In addition to Kurentovanje, the town hosts numerous other cultural events: music festivals, exhibitions, literary evenings, and traditional fairs that keep the old town centre lively throughout the year. Ptuj is also an important wine region, as the surrounding hills of the Slovenske gorice and Haloze are covered with vineyards, giving the town additional gastronomic and tourist appeal.
Modern Ptuj combines a heritage of several millennia with the rhythm of contemporary life. Its streets, squares, and architectural monuments tell the story of a town that has always been open, dynamic, and connected with the wider European space. At the same time, Ptuj remains a town of people who proudly preserve their customs, nurture cultural heritage, and create new content that shapes its modern identity.
Today, Ptuj has approximately 18,000 inhabitants in the town itself, while the entire municipality is home to around 23,000 to 24,000 people. The Municipality of Ptuj comprises ten settlements and is the largest municipality in the Spodnje Podravje region. As an administrative, economic, transport, educational, and cultural centre of the Drava and Ptuj Plains, the Haloze Hills, and the southern part of the Slovenske gorice, Ptuj plays a distinctly regional role that extends far beyond its formal municipal boundaries. Demographically, it is a mature town with a relatively high average age of residents, similar to many smaller European urban centres.
Ptuj’s economy is based on a combination of small and medium-sized enterprises, service activities, and the public sector. A significant part of development is driven by numerous local companies, while tourism draws on the town’s rich cultural heritage, wine tradition, thermal springs, and ethnographic events such as Kurentovanje. Ptuj is also an important commercial and service centre for the wider area—the inhabitants of the Ptuj and Drava Plains, the Haloze region, and parts of the Slovenske gorice. Its historical function as a transport hub—defined by the crossing over the Drava and connections toward Maribor, Ormož, and beyond—is today reflected in its role as a regional centre of employment and services.
As an educational centre of the Spodnje Podravje region, Ptuj hosts primary and secondary schools, a music school, and other educational institutions that attract students from the wider area. As the seat of the administrative unit and the municipal government, the town has a well-developed network of public services and institutions that support the further development of education, culture, and research. In this way, Ptuj preserves its historical role as a place of knowledge and administration—a role it already held in antiquity and the Middle Ages—while today this tradition is expressed through modern pedagogical, cultural, and social practices.
Ptuj is thus a place where past and present intertwine into a harmonious whole—a town worth exploring, understanding, and experiencing in all its historical depth and cultural richness. |
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