Show menu

Majlont

Aerial view of Majlont. Photo: Postojna municipal archives
Aerial view of Majlont. Photo: Postojna municipal archives
Majlont is the name given to the old town centre of Postojna at the foot of Sovič. It is recognisable by its narrow streets and closely huddled buildings

Destroyed by fire several times over the course of history (in part because of the nature of its construction), the town centre has always been rebuilt. Between 2011 and 2012, Majlont underwent a complete programme of renovation. 

Despite the renovations, the old town centre has remained the most picturesque and colourful part of Postojna. 

The people of Postojna still know where to find "Borojević's Path" – where the famous Austro-Hungarian field marshal took his daily walks to the top of Sovič during his posting in Postojna. 

The locals say that every house and every street in Majlont has its own story – listen to them.

Did you know...


...that according to oral tradition the name Majlont has its origin in the 19th century, when Austria began building the Südbahn (the railway connecting Vienna to Trieste)? 

During construction of the railway, a large number of Italian workers from Milan moved to Postojna and began to refer to the old part of the town, where they lived, as "Milano". 

The town's German-speakers translated this as "Mailand" (the German name for Milan). Another version of the story has the railway workers referring to the district as "mein Land", meaning "my country". Whichever theory is correct, the resulting expression "Majland" has survived in a number of variants to the present day. 

Most local people say "Majlond" rather than "Majland", while others refer to the district as "Majlont".
Majlont at night. Photo: Postojna municipal archives
Majlont at night. Photo: Postojna municipal archives
Majlont by day. Photo: Zavod Znanje archives
Majlont by day. Photo: Zavod Znanje archives

See also