Maribor Water Tower
Maribor Water Tower | |
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Slovenia | |
Coordinates | 46°33′25″N 15°38′42″E / 46.557°N 15.645°E |
Site history | |
Materials | Limestone |
The Maribor Water Tower (
History
Before the mid-16th century, the southern part of the Maribor
A site called Pristan ("quay") or Lent had earlier developed outside the walls, serving as the mercantile center of old Maribor. Until the construction of the Carinthian railway between Maribor and Klagenfurt in 1863, the Benetke port building saw annual eastward-bound traffic of up to 800 šajke (characteristic local barges) and 1200 rafts.
During the 1960s, the Drava was dammed at Melje for the Zlatoličje Hydroelectric Plant, causing the water levels to rise. Much of the old urban core of Maribor was due to be submerged in the resultant reservoir, including the Water Tower, which was originally slated for demolition so as not to pose a hazard to navigation.
Between 1966 and 1967, the Benetke Tower and many medieval houses on the riverbanks were torn down, but the position of the Water Tower made it a better prospect for salvageability. The tower was saved by the efforts of builder Jože Požauk (1908–1995), who directed a project to raise the 1500 t mass by 2.6 metres over seven months in 1967 and 1968.[3]
At present, the Water Tower houses a wine shop which specializes in top-quality