From top, left to right: Bridge over Bistrica river into town, Bistrica Castle, St. Joseph's Church, Convent of School Sisters of St. Francis, Former Hotel, Town center houses
The town was established in the 13th century on the trade road between Maribor and Celje, and was granted market rights in 1313. It was originally called just "Bistrica", a common toponym for rapid-flowing streams and rivers in South Slavic languages; the present name of Slovenska Bistrica (German: Windisch-Feistritz) first appears in records dating from 1565.[2]
Before 1918, the town had a German-speaking majority (in the last Austrian census of 1910, 57.7% of the inhabitants declared German as their language of daily communication), while the surrounding countryside was almost exclusively Slovene-speaking.[3]
Demographics
The town has a population of 8,016 (in 2018). Many locals commute to Maribor for work, less than an hour's drive away.
Landmarks
The town offers several interesting sights, including Bistrica Castle, churches, a Roman road, and the Ancient Roman fort of Ančnik. It serves as a starting point for hiking excursions to nearby Mount Boč.