The industrial heritage of Maribor, former Yugoslavia’s second largest industrial town, is immensely rich and diverse, as the beginnings of industry in Maribor date back to the 19th century. The town was home to (almost) all branches of industry and the industrial buildings, nowadays deserted or rebuilt to accommodate different types of industry, still carry an air of the past. Little has been done to preserve the memory of the former glory, technological innovation, planned audacity and capable production that made Maribor and its products known across the globe. A lot of time has passed since the town’s conveyor belts saw the birth of the first car, crane, laundry machine or computer network in the former country, yet the location remained the same. Nowadays, the memories of the industrial development are preserved only in part. Most of them have become a part of non-material heritage, coming alive only in stories or accompanying us as we walk the marked paths along the former industry giants: from the Maribor Automotive Factory TAM, to Metalna in Tezno, across the Railway Colony in Tabor or along the deserted trails of the textile industry complex in Melje.
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