Sightseeing platform and short history of Ptuj
On the bottom part of the castel building you can see sightseeing platform, from where you have a great view above the hole old town. On that spot you can see the most of cultural sights, which you already have visited or you will.
When you will step on the sightseeing platform and see the city from above it is a perfect time return for approximately 2000 years back in the history where the history of Ptuj has started. It is a perfect time to "learn" something about rich history of Ptuj and its old town.
First inhabitants already on the end of Stone Age
Clay dishes and stone axes found on the castle hill on the region where high school is located today proofs, that the area was populated already on the end of the Stone Age (ca. 2100-1750 BC). Much later - already in early Iron Age the area was populated by the Celtic, who later participate at the foundation of Noricum. Through time Ptuj's settlement get's a nowadays structure and its first urban appearance. In year 15 BC the Romans started to populated the area - first on the right riverbank (where today Terme Ptuj are located) and afterward also on the link riverbank. The Celtic settlement comes with arrival of Romans under the Roman authority.
First official mention of Ptuj
City Poetovia became famous because of one important event. In year 69 AC in camp of XIII. legion Gemine military leaders discussed about supporting Vespazijan in his efforts for emperor title. Marcus Antonius Primus has inspired and convinced undefined with his fiery speech and latter on lead the army on the victorious march to the Rome. Emperor Vespazijan didn't award him for his self-sacrifice but "brush him off" with just an medal and took his command position and push him out of politics. About all this happening in Ptuj Kornelij Tacit wrote an note. That was the first official mention of Ptuj in an official documents.
Ptuj becomes a colony
Between years 103 - 106 Ptuj was elevated into a colony. City gets civil administration and self-management by the wealthy population strata. A very important role had military veterans. Ptuj also gets a new name: Colonia Ulpia Traiana Poetovio.
European importance of Ptuj
In the 3. century Ptuj become the largest and most important Roman town on the Slovenian territory, greater even than Wien and London.
Slavs populated the city
Because the traditional city name still had very strong meaning and traces of city structure was very recognized in year In year 568 - on the beginning of settlement the Slavs took over the name of an ancient city and their new settlement called Ptuj.
City Rights
In year 1250 Ptuj gets its city rights and surround itself with a wall. The oldest known city stamp with a figure of St. Jurij on a horse (patron of Ptuj)origins from year 1273 and belongs among the oldest city stamps in Slovenia. In year 1376 Ptuj gets it first statute, which is nowadays the oldest statute on today's continental part of Slovenia. Statute has a 195 articles and stipulate about rights and duties of citizens and explain also about the fair order and judiciary.
The Jewish community on Ptuje
The Jewish community lived on Ptuj since year 1286 and had a powerful role. It had its own street, synagogue, cemetery, school and even its own judge. In year 1494 emparor Maksimilijan I. deport them from Ptuj forever.
Ptuj gentleman
As the altar servers of Archbishop of Salzburg Ptuj's gentlemen reign on the castle until year 1438 in dependence of feudal owner. Unfortunately they became extinct in year 1438. Their extinction represent a tragically lost for Ptuj. In following decades Ptuj was in the middle of severe economical crisis. Future of Ptuj was followed by the number of Turkish looting and Hungarian conquests. The attendance of Ptuj gentlemen is still noticeable through several important buildings like Dominican and Minorite monastery and church on Ptujska Gora (Ptuj hill).
First hospital in Ptuj
First so called city hospital (mestni špital) city gets in 1315. The hospital was located almost on the river bank - on the location where today a musical school is located.
City coat of arms
City Ptuj gets it first coat of arms in year 1551 - it is compound out of red cross (from st. Jurij) and a silver background. City coat of arms was made out of city stamp, which change it figure several time between year 1273 and 1400. A red cross symbol origins out of a legend about St. Jurij. According to the legend St. Jurij defeated all opponents and surmount all ordeals with which he was faced with during torture.
Fire-fighting in Ptuj
In year 1869 Ptuj gets it first Fire-fighting association - at that time called Volunteer fire Association of Ptuj.
Kurents carnival
City Ptuj is in Europe also very known because of traditional Kurent carnival. The first carnival procession on the streets of Ptuj happened on Tuesday 25th of February 1873. 20 horseman, 4 horse waggon took part in this first carnival procession. The origin of Carnival is still unknown. Perhaps it was brought in Ptuj in 6. century by Slavs. Perhaps that Carnival is a remaining of folk tradition of Uskoks which lived in Ptuj in 15. and 16. century. You are able to find the oldest Kurent mask in Ptuj - on Jadranska street. Until 2nd World war just boys from Ptuj participated on the carnival dressed in mask. They were dressed in the maske just on carnivals Shrove Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. At that time the authority persecute them because of the violence - some fights also end up with a tragic ending. Nowadays it is completely different.
Spa in Ptuj
During the researches in 1969 a suitable water for spa was found in Ptuj.
Ptuj today
In comparison with Ptuj in Roman times is nowadays city much smaller as it was. In Roman times Ptuj was approximately 3,5 km long and had between 30 and 40.000 inhabitants. Nowadays Ptuj has 66,7 km2, a little bit more than 24.000 inhabitants and 5533 houses.
The next thing you will visit is the castle itself and the castle courtyard with a well which is located in the "heart" of a courtyard.
On the bottom part of the castel building you can see sightseeing platform, from where you have a great view above the hole old town. On that spot you can see the most of cultural sights, which you already have visited or you will.
When you will step on the sightseeing platform and see the city from above it is a perfect time return for approximately 2000 years back in the history where the history of Ptuj has started. It is a perfect time to "learn" something about rich history of Ptuj and its old town.
First inhabitants already on the end of Stone Age
Clay dishes and stone axes found on the castle hill on the region where high school is located today proofs, that the area was populated already on the end of the Stone Age (ca. 2100-1750 BC). Much later - already in early Iron Age the area was populated by the Celtic, who later participate at the foundation of Noricum. Through time Ptuj's settlement get's a nowadays structure and its first urban appearance. In year 15 BC the Romans started to populated the area - first on the right riverbank (where today Terme Ptuj are located) and afterward also on the link riverbank. The Celtic settlement comes with arrival of Romans under the Roman authority.
First official mention of Ptuj
City Poetovia became famous because of one important event. In year 69 AC in camp of XIII. legion Gemine military leaders discussed about supporting Vespazijan in his efforts for emperor title. Marcus Antonius Primus has inspired and convinced undefined with his fiery speech and latter on lead the army on the victorious march to the Rome. Emperor Vespazijan didn't award him for his self-sacrifice but "brush him off" with just an medal and took his command position and push him out of politics. About all this happening in Ptuj Kornelij Tacit wrote an note. That was the first official mention of Ptuj in an official documents.
Ptuj becomes a colony
Between years 103 - 106 Ptuj was elevated into a colony. City gets civil administration and self-management by the wealthy population strata. A very important role had military veterans. Ptuj also gets a new name: Colonia Ulpia Traiana Poetovio.
European importance of Ptuj
In the 3. century Ptuj become the largest and most important Roman town on the Slovenian territory, greater even than Wien and London.
Slavs populated the city
Because the traditional city name still had very strong meaning and traces of city structure was very recognized in year In year 568 - on the beginning of settlement the Slavs took over the name of an ancient city and their new settlement called Ptuj.
City Rights
In year 1250 Ptuj gets its city rights and surround itself with a wall. The oldest known city stamp with a figure of St. Jurij on a horse (patron of Ptuj)origins from year 1273 and belongs among the oldest city stamps in Slovenia. In year 1376 Ptuj gets it first statute, which is nowadays the oldest statute on today's continental part of Slovenia. Statute has a 195 articles and stipulate about rights and duties of citizens and explain also about the fair order and judiciary.
The Jewish community on Ptuje
The Jewish community lived on Ptuj since year 1286 and had a powerful role. It had its own street, synagogue, cemetery, school and even its own judge. In year 1494 emparor Maksimilijan I. deport them from Ptuj forever.
Ptuj gentleman
As the altar servers of Archbishop of Salzburg Ptuj's gentlemen reign on the castle until year 1438 in dependence of feudal owner. Unfortunately they became extinct in year 1438. Their extinction represent a tragically lost for Ptuj. In following decades Ptuj was in the middle of severe economical crisis. Future of Ptuj was followed by the number of Turkish looting and Hungarian conquests. The attendance of Ptuj gentlemen is still noticeable through several important buildings like Dominican and Minorite monastery and church on Ptujska Gora (Ptuj hill).
First hospital in Ptuj
First so called city hospital (mestni špital) city gets in 1315. The hospital was located almost on the river bank - on the location where today a musical school is located.
City coat of arms
City Ptuj gets it first coat of arms in year 1551 - it is compound out of red cross (from st. Jurij) and a silver background. City coat of arms was made out of city stamp, which change it figure several time between year 1273 and 1400. A red cross symbol origins out of a legend about St. Jurij. According to the legend St. Jurij defeated all opponents and surmount all ordeals with which he was faced with during torture.
Fire-fighting in Ptuj
In year 1869 Ptuj gets it first Fire-fighting association - at that time called Volunteer fire Association of Ptuj.
Kurents carnival
City Ptuj is in Europe also very known because of traditional Kurent carnival. The first carnival procession on the streets of Ptuj happened on Tuesday 25th of February 1873. 20 horseman, 4 horse waggon took part in this first carnival procession. The origin of Carnival is still unknown. Perhaps it was brought in Ptuj in 6. century by Slavs. Perhaps that Carnival is a remaining of folk tradition of Uskoks which lived in Ptuj in 15. and 16. century. You are able to find the oldest Kurent mask in Ptuj - on Jadranska street. Until 2nd World war just boys from Ptuj participated on the carnival dressed in mask. They were dressed in the maske just on carnivals Shrove Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. At that time the authority persecute them because of the violence - some fights also end up with a tragic ending. Nowadays it is completely different.
Spa in Ptuj
During the researches in 1969 a suitable water for spa was found in Ptuj.
Ptuj today
In comparison with Ptuj in Roman times is nowadays city much smaller as it was. In Roman times Ptuj was approximately 3,5 km long and had between 30 and 40.000 inhabitants. Nowadays Ptuj has 66,7 km2, a little bit more than 24.000 inhabitants and 5533 houses.
The next thing you will visit is the castle itself and the castle courtyard with a well which is located in the "heart" of a courtyard.
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