Freedom Square (Trg svobode) lies beside Maribor Castle, between the old town and General Maister Square. It took shape in the 19th century on the site of the former castle moat and gardens. Originally named Sophienplatz after Countess Sophie Brandis, it received its present name after the First World War. Today, it is an open public space that brings together city history and everyday life.
Its best-known landmark is the bronze National Liberation Monument, created by sculptor Slavko Tihec in 1975. Locals call it Kojak because its form recalls the bald television detective. The monument includes reproductions of wartime notices announcing executions of hostages, as well as a farewell letter written by Jože Fluks, who was sentenced to death during the Second World War.
Beneath the square stretches the historic Vinag Wine Cellar, while Maribor Castle, home to the Maribor Regional Museum, stands alongside it. Markets, cultural events and gatherings regularly bring activity to the square. To the north, views extend towards General Maister Square and Piramida Hill.
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2000 Maribor