From Albania and North Macedonia, my summer travels continued to Slovenia which is one of the successor states of former Yugoslavia. Like its other Balkan neighbors, Slovenia had a storied past once being part of the Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Holy Roman Empire, Habsburg Monarchy, Austro-Hungarian Empire, etc until in 1918 it formed the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes with its neighbors. This was renamed Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II, Slovenia became a founding member of the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia, later renamed the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Slovenia was the first republic to split from Yugoslavia and became an independent nation in 1991. I flew into the capital and largest city of Slovenia, Ljubljana (pronounced Lyoob-lyah-nah). Ljubljana has become one of the latest rising stars as a tourist destination in Eastern Europe. I chose to base myself in the capital at the 2-year-old modern Intercontinental Hotel Ljubljana which is within walking distance to the Old Town and the main sights around. It is the tallest and first 5-star hotel in the city with a restaurant helmed by a Michelin Star chef.
Ljubljana is the perfect mix of a modern metropolis and a charming small town with the Ljubljanica river flowing through its center. The new modern part of the city lies to the west of the river while the old city and castle lie on the eastern side with most of the touristy sights sitting right along the river. Everywhere you walk, you will see the Ljubljana Dragon which represents courage and greatness and is the symbol of the city. It is depicted in the Ljubljana coat of arms and also in the flag at the top of Ljubljana Castle. Legend has it that the Greek Argonauts after taking the Golden Fleece came to this area where Jason killed a monster which is the dragon represented today. Other theories suggest that the dragon came from St George, the patron saint of the Ljubljana Castle, and his slaying of the dragon in the biblical stories. The main part of town is pedestrian-only with all cars banned from this once congested center. In the center of town is the oval shaped Preseren Square with the Preseren monument commemorating Slovenia’s greatest poet, France Preseren. It is a popular meeting place for the locals and also a place for concerts in the summer. The pink Franciscan Church of Annunciation built in the mid 1660s dominates Preseren Square with some beautiful frescoes inside. Other historical landmarks surrounding Preseren Square are the Viennnese Secession-style Hauptmann House and Palaca Urbanc House which housed Ljubljana’s first department store. Also here is the Italianate Central Pharmacy which was a cafe. At the southern edge of the square is Triple Bridge which is three bridges built next to each other that crosses Ljubljanica River. Originally only the central bridge existed replacing an old medieval wooden bridge in 1842. Then in 1929, the two bridges on the sides were added and were intended for pedestrians. The Triple Bridge leads from Preseren Square to the historical old town and to the left of the famous Dragon Bridge. Dragon Bridge with its four fierce dragon statues is one of the most photographed monuments in Ljubljana. It was built in 1900 to replace the previous wooden bridge destroyed by the 1895 earthquake and was Ljubljana’s first reinforced concrete structure and one of the largest ones built in Europe. Other than the four large dragons guarding the two ends of this Vienna Secession-style bridge, there are also 16 smaller dragons decorating its span. One of the many legends here is that when a virgin crosses the bridge, all the dragons will wag their tails.
Mix of the new and the old.
Near Preseren Square is Neboticnik which means skyscraper and was once the tallest building in Europe in the 1930s. It is a 13-storey building built in the Neoclassical and Art Deco style. The lower floors house shops and offices while the upper floors are residential apartments.
Kongresni Trg or Congress Square is one of the main squares in Ljubljana and saw many important historical events. It was used for ceremonial purposes during the Congress of Ljubljana and hence the name. It was a place of mass demonstrations such as during the 1918 independence from the Austrian-Hungarian Empire and in 1988 where the release of Slovene journalists from the Yugoslav army was demanded by the people which marked the beginning of the Slovenian spring that led to Slovenia’s independence in 1991.
Sitting on the Congress Square is one of the oldest buildings in Europe, the Slovenian Philharmonic building founded in 1701. Behind is the Ljubljana Castle.
Next to Congress Square is the Usruline Church of the Holy Trinity built in the 1700s.
Ursuline Church of the Holy Trinity
Heading towards Preseren Square
The pink Fransican Church of Annunciation on Preseren Square with the Triple Bridge on the right over the Ljubljanica River connecting Preseren Square to the historical old town.
The center of Ljubljana
Preseren monument commemorating Slovenia’s greatest poet, France Preseren.
At the southern edge of Preseren Square is the Triple Bridge.
Triple Bridge
Restaurants and cafes line the banks of the Ljubljanica River
Crossing the Triple Bridge and heading towards the historical Old Town.
Dragon Bridge with its four fierce dragon statues is one of the most photographed monuments in Ljubljana.
Dragon Bridge
One of the many legends here is that when a virgin crosses the bridge, all the dragons will wag their tails.
Dragon Bridge
In the small historic old town of Ljubljana are two squares, Mestni Trg or Town Square and Gornji Trg or Upper Square. Located in Town Square is the Town Hall built in 1484 originally in the Gothic style and then renovated in the Baroque style in 1717. There are many cafes and restaurants in the area and is great for a relaxing drink and people watching. Also in Town Square is the Robba Fountain by sculptor Francesco Robba and decorated with an obelisk with three figures symbolising the three chief rivers of Carniola. This fountain is actually a replica with the original one moved to the National Gallery. Next to Mestni Trg is the 13th century Ljubljana Cathedral, also called St Nicholas’s Cathedral. It has twin towers and a green dome with the interior covered in pink marble, white stucco, and baroque frescoes.
Mestni Trg or Town Square with the Town Hall on the left
Town Hall in old town Ljubljana
Robba Fountain by sculptor Francesco Robba and decorated with an obelisk with three figures symbolising the three chief rivers of Carniola.
Robba Fountain
Next to Mestni Trg is the 13th century Ljubljana Cathedral, also called St Nicholas’s Cathedral.
Beautiful door of Ljubljana Cathedral, also called St Nicholas’s Cathedral.
Cobbler’s Bridge which was originally a covered wooden bridge with cobblers’ workshops and hence its name. This bridge was also built by Joze Plecnik of the more famous Triple Bridge.
Cobbler’s Bridge was also built by Joze Plecnik of the more famous Triple Bridge. There are pillars topped with stone balls along the length of the bridge with the central two pillars supporting lamps. Many of the tourist boats frequent here as well as people of stand-up paddle board tours.
Perched on Castle Hill east of the historic Old Town is the medieval Ljubljana Castle originally built in the 12th century. It is a mix of Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance architectural styles because it was rebuilt in the 16th century after an earthquake and subsequently had parts added to it such as the watchtower in the 19th century. There is a funicular that takes you up to the castle from the main Open Market on Vodnikov Trg as well as an hourly tourist train. Otherwise it is quite a steep hike up along Ulica na Grad from Gornji Trg or Reber Ulica from Stari Trg. The watchtower provides magnificent panoramic views of the Old Town, the Sava River, all the way to the Kamnik Apls in the far distance. A guard used to live up in the watchtower to warn the citizens in the event of fire or invasion as well as announcing the arrival of important guests. Below the watchtower is the Chapel of St George which is the oldest surviving remains of the castle. The original chapel was built in 1489 in the Gothic style and was where the more important citizens of town took mass. In 1747, it was rebuilt in the Baroque style and what is interesting is that the coats-of-arms of the provincial governors were part of the frescoes decorating the ceiling. With the separation of church and state, it is extremely rare for religious buildings to be decorated with secular content. I didn’t do this but many people, especially those bringing children, participate in the Escape Castle escape room type game. The goal is to solve clues and complete several challenges taking you through the castle in order to save the dragon. There is also a 90-minute Time Machine tour here led by costumed guides.
No elaborate decoration here…just a mouse resting in the fountain
Funicular up to Ljubljana Castle
Ljubljana Castle Complex
Heading up to the watch tower for views of Ljubljana
Ljubljana Castle complex
Below the watchtower of Ljubljana Castle is the Chapel of St George which is the oldest surviving remains fo the castle. What is interesting is that the coats-of-arms of the provincial governors were part of the frescoes decorating the ceiling. With the separation of church and state, it is extremely rare for religious buildings to be decorated with secular content.
Parked myself here for a bit to capture daily Ljubljana life through this hole in a pedestrian tunnel. This little girl ran up to see what I was up to
For the next few days, I arranged to have landscape photographer Piotr Skrzypiec take me around Slovenia for some sightseeing as well as some landscape photography lessons at his favorite spots. Slovenia is great for photo lovers, from its beguiling capital to the fairy-tale-like Lake Bled to Venetian seaside towns to beautiful waterfalls and alps. Stay tuned!
Thanks for stopping by!
Click the “Follow” button to signup for email subscription or keep checking back for more blog posts to come.
Alternatively, get connected through
my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/beatricetravelsblog or follow me on Instagram @beatricetravels.
