Best things to do in Ptuj

Rising on a hill along the riverbank and overlooking the town, Ptuj Castle houses a museum that exhibits art, furniture, costumes, tapestries, and everyday objects from the 16th to the 19th centuries. In the western forecourt, notice the tower--the only remaining part of the first fortification most likely built in the 9th century. Archbishop Konrad of Salzburg commissioned the construction of a new castle in the 12th century, but the structure gained its final appearance in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Explore the collection of musical instruments used by noblemen and wealthy citizens on the ground floor, and head to the second floor to see traditional masquerade costumes on display.

Terme Čatež features Roman-Irish baths and saunas, a gym, as well as a variety of outdoor and indoor pools, including wave surfing, speed slide, pirate bay, and Amazonian forest. The spa welcomes day visitors, but you may also choose to stay in the hotel here, or in a tent or mobile home. Amenities include a restaurant with a terrace, a bar in the hotel lobby, and a casino. Visitors note that it needs updating and there is little entertainment. Note that a price of a ticket covers one pool a day and that you need to bring your own towels and robes.

The Orpheus Monument is a Roman monument in Ptuj, Slovenia, an almost high and about wide stele, carved of white Pohorje marble. It is located at Slovene Square, the town's central square, in front of the Town Tower. It is the oldest public monument preserved in its original location in Slovenia, the largest discovered monument from the Roman province of the Pannonia Superior, and the symbol of Ptuj.
The monolith was originally a grave marker, erected in the 2nd century AD to honor the memory of Marcus Valerius Verus, the duumvir of Roman Poetovio. In the Middle Ages, it was used as a pillory. Criminals were tied to the iron rings attached to its lower part. Since March 2008, it has the status of a national cultural monument.
The central relief illustrates scenes from the myth of Orpheus, who plays the lyre while mourning his lost love Eurydice. Other reliefs depict the Greek-Egyptian god Serapis, who symbolizes the hope of resurrection. The corners each contain a prone lion gnawing on a ram's head. Beneath this, a relief in the tympanum depicts the Moon goddess Selene, leaning over her dead lover Endymion. All the reliefs and inscriptions are badly eroded.

It's not likely you'll miss Ptuj City Tower while visiting the city. The tower features a Baroque onion dome, unique in its structure, and clocks on three sides. The tower remains a town symbol and an important photo opp for anyone looking to snap memorable images of their visit.

A mighty walled castle towering over the city, Celje Castle is sure to leave you speechless. Its appearance dates back to the Counts of Celje, the most renowned and notable noble dynasty from the area in present-day Slovenia. During the summer, a live history program takes place there and offers an immersive experience as the visitors can take part in sword fights with knights, shoot with bows, and flirt with princesses. On the last Saturday in August, the the castle becomes a venue for a traditional medieval festival.

PULLUS. THE TASTE OF TRADITION.

Wine is one of the most important building blocks of the history of Ptuj, the oldest city in the country. It is no accident that the treasuries of Ptuj vintage wines boast the oldest archival wine in Slovenia - the Golden Vine from 1917. In the mysterious world of dusty walls the bottles of all the good vintages of the last two centuries sparkle. Ptuj wine archives boast the largest and the most famous collection of vintage wines in the region.

Wines have grown on the slopes of Slovenske gorice and Haloze even before the area of the town of Ptuj came under the Roman rule in years 15 and 16 B.C. Numerous archaeological finds of Roman amphorae and vessels testify to the fact that in these parts there has never been a lack of wine. Viticulture had been blooming throughout the empire until the Emperor Domitian, who ruled from 69 to 79, commanded clearing of vineyards on the outskirts of the Empire and banned the planting of vines, since he wanted to maintain the value of wine in the heart of the empire. Only two hundred years later emperor Probus annulled the command, which fortunately was not fully implemented, otherwise the viticulture would die away in many places. In the 2nd and 3rd century Poetovio with about 35,000 residents, reached its maximum size and became one of the greatest cities of Roman provinces. In year 103 it became a self-governing Roman unit COLONIA ULPIA TRAIANA POETOVIO. The Orpheus monument which still adorns Ptuj and reminds travelers of its glorious past, originates from this era.

In the 6th century, the Slavs settled here not yet accustomed to wine. Two hundred years later, the city was conquered by the Franks and viticulture in Ptuj slowly began to flourish again. Between 997 and 1555 the city and the vineyards were owned by the Salzburg bishops and provincial prince, who were wine lovers and skilled winemakers. In the 12th century, the bishops of Salzburg enfeoffed lords of Ptuj central and eastern Haloze, which resulted in the re-flourishing of viticulture. Town statute from the year 1376 bears witness to how important wine was for the city of Ptuj. Namely, the statute governed the viticulture with not less than seven articles that defined the wine trade, wine dimensions and other.

In 1430, when Ptuj lords had no more successors, they handed over their vineyards in care of Minorites. In the monastery complex they arranged a basement, which is nowadays considered the oldest preserved cellar in Ptuj. Minorites produced more wine than they needed, so they began trading in wine. Wine trade proved to be highly profitable and it also enabled an unprecedented bloom. However, around 1700 when Ptuj was destroyed several times by the fire, the progress of the city and viticulture stopped for a while. Only in the 19th century bourgeois merchants brought its glory back. Ptuj wine was selling well everywhere. At the Vienna court it was being sold by Adolf Hofler, Oseberger spread it across Europe and even to America. In 1873 a period of two major wine merchants began. Shortly thereafter, Ptuj wine archives were set up under the leadership of Joseph Orniga and remained until today a part of the treasure of Ptuj wine cellar.

Grapes for Pullus ripen on the famous locations of Haloze and Slovenske gorice. Winegrowers' care and respect for tradition, again and again every year, but always slightly differently, seals each vintage by careful manual harvesting of the best grapes of excellent, traditionally mostly white varieties. In Pullus the grand tradition is combined with the latest technology and expertise to ensure that our wines are among the healthiest on the market. In Ptuj wine cellar we are creating superior wine with taste ... and feelings it arouses.

Terroir where the vine which gives grapes for Pullus grows has a geologically diverse composition. Gravel and clay dominate, while lower layers are covered with marl. The region is characterized by subpannonian climate with distinct thermal inversion, the amount of annual rainfall averaging about 1000 mm/m2 and records about 2000 hours of sunshine per year. It is placed in the same climate zone as some of the best wine regions in the world. Thus, wines from Slovene Styria are geographically equal to Bordeaux and Northern California. The tops of the hills, where Pullus grows ripe, range up to 400 m above sea level.

In this region mostly white varieties are grown, such as Sauvignon, Welshriesling, Pinot Blanc, Furmint, Rhine Riesling, Traminer and Müller-Thurgau. From the red varieties mainly Blaufrankish and Pinot Noir are grown. There is also a famous wine sort Haložan, which consists of Welshriesling, Furmint, Müller-Thurgau, Sauvignon and other famous varieties.

PULLUS. THE TASTE OF FUTURE...

The modern story of Ptuj wine started at the end of the 20th century when Ptuj wine cellar became the property of the most successful food company in the region - Perutnina Ptuj Group. Pullus was born - youthful and trendy wine brand with respect to the tradition. Today Pullus sets trends creating a style of wine that impresses with its fresh taste, distinctive varieties and passion.

In designing the style of wine we first need a concept which is realized as a wine in a bottle, rounded off by its form, aroma and flavor. The style is influenced by various factors, among which are variable trends in the market, moments in life, such as happiness or sadness, and the evolution of tastes, lifestyles, eating habits, wine journeys through vine-growing countries, music, culture, seasons, sex and age, level of wine culture, drinker’s education on wine, worldview, ecology ...

PULLUS. THE TASTE OF SUCCESS...

Pullus wines are synonym for fresh, aromatic and healthy wines ranked in the highest class of quality, as evidenced by numerous awards from the world's largest wine competitions and their recognition. Pullus is among the leading wines in the world that have most often been best-rated at the world's biggest wine competitions in recent years.

Pullus is an indispensable companion to the daily way of life. It serves with expressive bouquet and flavor and impresses in the moment – and the impression lasts and lasts. It is a companion of food, conversation, reading, culture, and the small joys of life. Pullus G expresses a story of wine from Ptuj wine cellar and the whole world wants this story to recur indefinitely.

Tastes and moments of mature Pullus wine are suitable for various events. Mature Pullus wine is a suitable companion to the high cuisine of the complex composite dishes. Moreover, it is also suitable to enjoy it in the quiet evenings by the fireplace, when reading a good book or when we take time for a glass of good wine, as it gives us the experience and pleasure of wine, which can last several hours.

Sparkling wines in Ptuj wine cellar are produced in conventional way. Specially selected technologically ripe grapes from selected sites in harmony with the new technological means, such as protective technology, enable the production of fresh, fruity and varietally recognizable basic sorts of wine for the production of sparkling wine. Secondary fermentation of all sparkling wines of Ptuj wine cellar is carried out by the traditional method in the bottles. The result are sparkling wines which brought Ptuj wine cellar primacy among the cultivators of sparkling wines, since only in 2008 they won two titles of world champion and the title of national champion.

Predicate wines are precious treasures of a vine. These wines benefit from distinctive natural conditions and catch in their drops the unrepeated flavors to delight wine gourmets. Those are the wines of late and ice harvests and are suitable to sweeten special moments of life.

Dessert wines border on liqueurs because of the alcohol content and special flavors, and are therefore particularly suitable as an aperitif. They can also serve as wonderful overture in the culinary event where food is poured into harmony with a premium wine.

In the bottle of special bottlings are captured tastes of the best grapes from our vineyards, which are carefully selected according to the viticultural site. The wine has a distinctive taste, which alone or in combination spreads throughout all the senses.

Pullus is a journey. It is learning, and pampering. It is love. Passion. Idea. Work. Family. Friendship. Health. Joy. Wine and food. You and me. We. Cheers!

Dating from the 13th century, Dominican Monastery was renovated in 2014 and now serves as a cultural and congress center. The complex preserves examples of medieval and Baroque architecture from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Established in the 13th century, The Minorite Monastery of Saints Peter and Paul features a plague pillar from the 17th century. The main courtyard may be open for visits, but the rest of the complex is open for tours only, which you can request from the local tourist information center. Important part of the complex, a church on the northern side of the courtyard remains a noted example of Gothic architecture in Slovenia.