The Water Tower is one of the renaissance defence towers that were built to strengthen the existing city defences against the Ottoman invasions. The name “Water Tower” is attributed to the tower’s proximity to the river and its role in defending Maribor against attacks that came from the water. At first, the city wall linked the Water Tower to the older Jewish Tower. Houses stood along the wall, and a gate called the Water Gate was erected as a new entrance to the city. Both the wall and the houses were torn down after the Second World War.
When dams began to be built on the River Drava, the water surface rose and threatened to damage the Water Tower. To prevent this, the whole tower was raised for over 2.5 metres, and new foundations were built. Today, the Water Tower houses a wine store and a bar. The first floor also doubles as a venue for different events.