 It is likely that the castle stood before 1164 because Bernard of Trixien, the count of the region, already used the title "Bernhard von Marchpurg" 'Bernard of Maribor' in 1124.The town began to grow rapidly after the victory of Rudolf I of the Habsburg dynasty over King Otakar II of Bohemia in 1278.The town built fortifications, and trade, viticulture, and crafts started to grow.