Ljutomer's history of trailblazing

Set in the heart of the Prlekija region, the town of Ljutomer is most known for three things, namely harness racing, film and wine. »Lotmerk«, as locals call it, boasts rich cultural heritage and some trailblazing events. Some of them that will go down as the most significant in the country's history took place in this very town. The first mass rally (»tabor«) in support of a United Slovenia that was held in Ljutomer in 1868, the first motion-picture films in Slovenia were made here, the first dedicated harness racing club in the country was formed in Ljutomer, and last but not least, the first Slovenian self-serve grocery store of a kind was opened downtown some 60 odd years ago.

Many significant figures hailing from the region left their mark on the pages of history both locally and abroad, including men of letters such as Franc Miklošič and Cvetko Golar, filmmaking pioneer, Dr. Karol Grossman, academic painter, Ante Trstenjak, and many more.

Quite some of the top attractions are well worth visiting here, among them a local pottery, a family-run operation that spans generations, or the church of St John the Baptist perched just a bit above the Town Hall that is home to The Ante Trstenjak Art Gallery and The Ljutomer Museum with three permanent collections on display. Not far away from the center you will find couple more museums, namely the Trotter Museum and the Ljutomer Puch Museum. In summer you can dip in one of the pools at the swimming pool area, while in winter there is a lot of fun waiting for you downtown as you glide on your skates at the ice rink. For sports enthusiasts many indoor and outdoor activities with recreation facilities are available, such as tennis courts, playgrounds for children, and the cutting edge ŠIC sports hall with a variety of sports and recreational facilities on hand, such as fitness center, professional climbing wall, basketball court, and more.