Cruising through the Drava region follows the path of a river that has shaped the trade routes of Europe for ages. Park your car in Maribor to visit the oldest vine in the world before driving into the rolling hills of **Slovenske Gorice**. The roads here are quiet and wind through a sea of vineyards toward **Ptuj**, the oldest town in the country, where Roman monuments are still tucked away in historic basements. The landscape is a mix of steep, sunlit slopes and flat river paths that are perfect for a relaxed driving pace with plenty of scenic overlooks. You will see traditional wind rattles called klopotec spinning in the fields to keep birds away from the ripening grapes. The terrain is gentle but the views are vast, especially from the hilltop churches that look out over the river valley toward the distant mountains. When you pull over, look for the thick green pumpkin seed oil, a local specialty often drizzled over fresh salads or even desserts. You can also find **kvasenica**, a traditional flatbread topped with sour cream and cottage cheese. Drava provides a rich mix of Roman history and rural hospitality that makes every stop along the river feel like a celebration.

Drava highlights

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Follow the routes that cross this destination

The Scenic Route

The Heritage Drive

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History of Drava

Life in the Drava region has always revolved around the steady flow of the river and the fertile soil of the surrounding hills. Roman legionnaires were the first to plant extensive vineyards here after they founded the settlement of **Ptuj** as a key military outpost. They left behind mysterious shrines dedicated to the god Mithras which you can still find hidden in the basements of historic houses today. In the medieval era the river became a highway for timber rafters who transported massive logs from the mountains down toward the Black Sea. This was a dangerous but lucrative trade that fueled the growth of wealthy trading towns along the banks. Meanwhile a single grapevine was planted in **Maribor** over four hundred years ago surviving fires and wars to become the oldest living productive vine on the planet. The region saw intense industrial growth during the era of the Austro Hungarian Empire with railways cutting through the wine hills to connect **Vienna** with the sea. This period brought a unique blend of German and Slavic culture that is still reflected in the local dialect and the grand architecture of the estates. It remains a land where the history of the river and the legacy of the vineyard are inseparable.

Drava

Drava highlights

Part of these road trips

History of Drava

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