Church of St Peter

The Church of St Peter stands on a rise above the Drava River in Malečnik, east of Maribor. A church was first recorded here in 1236, while the present Baroque building was consecrated in 1730. It was built farther from the riverbank because erosion threatened its predecessor. The bell tower survives from the earlier church and recalls the site's medieval roots.

Inside, stucco decoration and ceiling paintings accompany richly furnished Baroque altars. The main altar, completed in 1737, includes a painting by Franz Ignaz Flurer showing Christ handing the keys to St Peter. The side altars are associated with the Straub sculptors' workshop, while other works include paintings by Valentin Metzinger and Fortunat Bergant.

Beneath the church are catacombs dating to 1730, commissioned by parish priest Janez Sittich. The underground crypt contains burial niches, an altar and an ossuary, and can be visited by arrangement with the parish. The church remains an active place of worship and, together with the nearby historic parish house, preserves Malečnik's religious and artistic heritage.