The Pekrska Gorca Hill
Only a few inhabitants of Maribor know that not so long ago there were two hills in the city that were called Kalvarija. Most of the people are familiar with the hill rising above the city park where a St. Barbara and St. Rosalia church was built in 1683 by the townspeople as a sign of gratitude for the end of plague epidemic. Until the collapse of the old Austrian Empire the hill was called “Nemška Kalvarija (the German Calvary)” while the Pekrska gorca hill was called “Slovenska Kalvarija (the Slovenian Calvary)”.
When travelling from Maribor towards Limbuš you can see a solitary hill under the lush green Pohorje. On top of that hill there is a small church, dedicated to the Queen of Heaven. As soon as you set your eyes on the hill it starts to tempt you and should the time and circumstances permit it, do climb the hill. Your will be repaid for your efforts with a marvellous view of the Dravsko polje field and the whole city spreading before you surrounded with green hills. This hill is called “Slovenska Kalvarija” but the locals call it Pekrska gorca and they have the following story about it:
It was in the old times that the wealthy people of Maribor became pretentious and succumbed to debauchery. God warned and cautioned people but since the stubborn people remain deaf to the well-meaning warnings and ignore even the stern cautions the Maker of Heaven and Earth put the fate of the sinful city in the hands of the Devil. The ruler of Hell jumped with joy; his only concern was not to let a single soul escape so he swiftly dashed and flew to Pohorje and broke off its peak.
The night was dark and scary night. With lightning and thunder it seemed like the judgement day was drawing near. The Devil put the piece of the mountain on his back and rushed towards the miserable city talking to himself: “Quickly, quickly, I have to fling this mound into the Drava river before the clock strikes midnight; I shall close its riverbed and force it to overflow the walls with its waves killing all my sinful darlings.”
Breathing heavily he reached the valley, but his strength was drained and he had to rest a bit. Once he set down the heavy burden, a white magnificent beauty approached him and asked him what his intentions were. The ruler of Hell immediately recognised the Mother of God standing in front of him. Startled by the heavenly patroness he was too stunned to move or speak. But as the clock of the bell tower struck twelve the devil dropped everything and fled trembling. This abandoned “mound” is our “Slovenska Kalvarija” where the inhabitants later erected a white chapel honouring the Mother of God. And where the Devil ripped off the peak of Pohorje a lake called Črno jezero (Black Lake) formed.
Valentina Varl, Dušan Tomažič, Sašo Radovanovič: Mariborske zgodbe (Stories of Maribor) (1977: 11)
The text was collected and edited by: Eva Mataln
Translation: Maja Miklavc & Miha Oda
Photos: Igor Unuk
Sources:
- BEVC VARL, Valentina, TOMAŽIČ, Dušan in RADOVANOVIČ, Sašo. 1997. Mariborske zgodbe. Maribor: Kapital 1997 (Maribor: Dravska tiskarna)
