Bus from MARIBOR to FRANKFURT

Maribor is the second-largest city in Slovenia with about 95,500 inhabitants, it's also the largest city of the traditional region of Lower Styria and the seat of the City Municipality of Maribor.

Maribor was first mentioned as a market near the castle Castrum Marchburch ("March Castle") in 1204, and received town privileges in 1254. It began to grow rapidly after the victory of Rudolf I of the Habsburg dynasty over King Otakar II of Bohemia in 1278. Maribor withstood sieges by Matthias Corvinus in 1480/1481 and by the Ottoman Empire in 1532 and 1683.

Maribor has a humid continental climate, bordering on oceanic climate. Average temperatures hover around zero degrees Celsius during the winter. Summers are generally warm. Average temperatures during the city's warmest month (July) exceed 20 degrees Celsius, which is one of the main reasons for the Maribor wine tradition.

Many historical structures stand in Maribor. Of the remains of city walls surrounding the old downtown, the most prominent are the Judgement Tower, the Water Tower, and the Jewish Tower. Maribor Cathedral was built in the Gothic style in the 13th century. Maribor Synagogue was built in the 14th century, and is the second oldest synagogue of Europe. Today it serves as a centre for cultural activities. Other prominent Medieval buildings are Maribor Castle, Betnava Castle, and the ruins of Upper Maribor Castle on Pyramid Hill. Town Hall was constructed in the Renaissance style, and the Plague Column in the Baroque style.

The city hosts the University of Maribor, established in 1975, and many other schools.

Every June, the two-week Lent Festival (named after the waterfront district called Lent) is held, with hundreds of musical, theatrical and other events. Every year the festival attracts theatre, opera, ballet performers, classical, modern, and jazz musicians and dancers from all over the world, and of course many visitors. There is also mime, magic shows are being held and acrobats perform during the festival.

Maribor is known for wine and culinary specialities of international and Slovene. There are also many popular restaurants with Serbian cuisine. The Vinag Wine Cellar (Vinagova vinska klet), with the area of 20.000 m2 and the length of 2 kilometres, keeps 5,5 millions litres of wine. The house of the oldest grapevine in the world (Hiša stare trte) at Lent grows the world's oldest grapevine, which was in 2004 recorded in Guinness World Records. The grapevine of Žametovka is about 440 years old.

Frankfurt, the fifth largest city in Germany, has plenty to offer. A cosmopolitan city with historical and modern sights is waiting for you. The city is located southwest Germany in the most important economic area. Frankfurt is located at the northern end of the Upper Rhine Deep Plateau, one of the warmest regions in Germany.

If you want to visit Frankfurt, you should do the following:

Take a look at the city from the Main Tower - If you are coming to Frankfurt for the first time and want to orient yourself in the foreign city, than the Main Tower is the most highest place where you should start. The two observation platforms of the skyscraper make it possible to get an overview of all the districts and the surrounding area around Frankfurt.

Watch the colorful hustle and bustle at the Römerberg - The Römerberg as well as the city hall of Frankfurt, the Römer, are the most famous landmarks of the Mainmetropolis. Just because of the staircase-shaped three-peaked front of the Römer, countless tourists are flooding the historic town square. Located directly in the center of the old town, the Römerberg is the ideal starting point to start an exploration tour through Frankfurt.

Visit the Paulskirche in Frankfurt - German history comes to life in the Frankfurt's Paulskirche: on 18 May 1848 the first freely elected National Assembly met in the Paulskirche during the German Revolution. Today it represents  the foundation stone for democracy in Germany. Nowadays a permanent exhibition provides interesting information on the beginnings of democracy up to the development of German unity.

Relax in the exotic Palm garden - In order to escape the hustle and bustle for a few hours, a trip to the Palmengarten is an option. In the largest botanical garden in Germany everyone finds a quiet place. Surrounded by rare flowers and colorful plants, it is easy to come to rest and leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind.

Enjoy a delicious "Ebbelwoi" - This hessian national drink is, of course, also served in Frankfurt. If you want to taste the delicious specialty, you should make your way to Sachsenhausen. Many old restaurants and traditional cider vine stores are lined up in old Sachsenhausen. With cold "Ebbelwoi" Frankfurter usually order substantial amount of food, such as ribs with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes.

Climb on the Goethe Tower (Goetheturm) - After climbing 196 staircases, you have reached the observation tower built entirely of wood. Next to the view of the famous Frankfurt skyline from a height of 43 meters, an adjacent forest playground attracts families with children to the Goethe Tower.

Discover Frankfurt from the water - With a boat trip on the River Main you can experience Frankfurt from its most beautiful side. In a relaxed atmosphere, the ships sail along historic landmarks and pass through secluded landscapes or urban architecture. Even if you have already walked the sights on foot, you discover the Mainmetropole from a completely new perspective on the water.

Frankfurt is versatile – with business, trade fairs, shopping on one side, and culture, cosiness and traditions on the other, Frankfurt offers something for everyone.