Maribor Stories: For Whom the Bell Tolls? tells the story of the watchkeepers at the bell tower of the Cathedral of St John the Baptist on Slomšek Square. In 1325, a watchtower was built beside the church to observe the surrounding area and warn of attacks. Bells were installed almost two centuries later, and the tower gradually became an important fire lookout.
Between the 14th and 18th centuries, Maribor suffered eleven major fires. Watchkeepers observed the city from above and alerted residents to danger. In 1792, the tower was rebuilt with a balcony and a small apartment for the watchkeeper. Living above the rooftops became part of the city's everyday fire protection.
In 1924, Antonia Weiss became Maribor's last tower watchkeeper. She had previously stood in for her father-in-law and was already familiar with the duties. Her position was abolished in 1933, and the city council granted her financial support because she lacked the service required for retirement. Today, the exhibition The Guardroom on the Tower preserves the history of the city's watchkeepers.