Rectorate of the University of Maribor

The Rectorate of the University of Maribor stands on Slomšek Square, opposite the Cathedral of St John the Baptist. Built between 1884 and 1886 to designs by Maribor architect Adolf Baltzer, the monumental Neo-Renaissance palace originally housed a savings bank in its southern wing and a girls’ school in the northern wing. Its decorated façade, towers and domed roof remain distinctive features of the square.

After the Second World War, the building housed several schools. It was later assigned to the University of Maribor, founded in 1975. During its restoration in the 1990s, architect Boris Podrecca brought contemporary design into the historic building. He transformed the inner courtyard into an atrium and created the Aula Magna, a large hall illuminated by daylight from above.

Since 2000, the palace has served as the university’s central administrative headquarters. Alongside the rectorate offices, it contains ceremonial rooms and halls. Its architecture connects Maribor’s 19th-century urban development with the academic life of the city today.