The Judgement Tower is one of the last standing guardians of Maribor's old city walls, marking the southwestern corner of what was once a fortified medieval town. It's a place where centuries of history are stacked one on top of another, quite literally, in stone and brick.

Walking through Maribor's old town, this sturdy tower is hard to miss. Originally built in the early 14th century, it has been rebuilt and extended many times over the centuries — Renaissance masonry up to the second-floor windows, a 17th-century extension above that, and four more floors added in the 19th century. The result is a fascinating architectural timeline you can read simply by looking up. Visiting the tower is a great excuse to wander Maribor's charming riverside old town, especially lovely in spring and autumn light.

How to get there

• Maribor city centre — on foot, approx. 5-10 minutes from the Old Bridge, easy walk
• Maribor railway station — approx. 20 minutes on foot through the town centre

Good to know

• The tower is one of the surviving remnants of Maribor's medieval city walls, alongside the Water Tower and the Jewish Tower
• It partially burned down in 1937 and was restored in the 1950s

Fun fact: the tower's original conical roof burned down back in the 17th century and was never rebuilt in its original form, leaving the structure with its distinctive layered look today.