Through the allegories of the seasons depicted on the Baroque staircase and in the Knights’ Hall of Maribor Castle, visitors are introduced to the visual symbols and deeper meanings of the representations. They gain a deeper understanding of the architectural and artistic depictions of the allegories of the seasons through commentary and music, whilst actively experiencing the cuisine of the season and a specific historical period through smell, touch and taste.
Programme A tribute to the seasons It prompts visitors to reflect on the cyclical nature of time, on the eternal cycle of birth, death and rebirth, not only in nature but also in the life of the individual. It draws attention to the language of symbols, which we often unconsciously incorporate into our value system. It suggests the reasons why certain foods were regarded as precious during a particular historical period and explains the course of cultural development, which was also reflected at the dinner table.
Each season unfolds a different story and transports visitors to a different historical period. Spring is associated with the life of a nobleman in the 15th century, summer with a lavish aristocratic banquet in the 18th century, autumn with the rise of the middle classes in the 19th century, and winter with the life of a peasant at the start of the 20th century. Cuisine is just one way of gaining an insight into each period: the dishes and the ways in which they were served also reveal social changes, customs, habits, etiquette, attitudes towards food and animals, and the development of tableware.
The content is supplemented by interactive digital table in the Knights’ Hall, which showcases festive menus from the 15th to the 20th century. These offer visitors further insight into how eating habits, social customs and the appearance of the festive table have changed over time.
The ‘A Tribute to the Seasons’ programme takes place four times a year – in March, June, September and December – on the Baroque staircase and in the Knights’ Hall of Maribor Castle. The events are based on elements of surprise and enchantment, offering visitors the chance to actively participate and experience the past through all five senses.
Due to the limited number of participants, the following are required advance bookings at museum@museum-mb.si or to a telephone number 02 228 35 51. The programme is subject to a fee.
