Exploring the Older Town

The Triple Bridge (Tromostovje) defines the grace and style of the city. Designed by Plecnik, the picturesque crossovers provided enough room for traffic without having to create a huge artery running through one of the most charming parts of the city.

Ljubljana's riverside market is a must see. It’s a beautiful space put to very practical use. Built by Plecnik between 1940 and 1944 it has a large central open area. On the side overlooking the river the market halls have large semi-circular windows – beautiful from the river. The side overlooking the street are designed as a colonnade, classically lovely.

Bread, cured meats, cheese, fruit, and flowers, baskets, and more are for sale inside and out. The smells of roasting chestnuts bring me back to my childhood in NYC where every corner seemed to have grills of these nuts. There’s the delicious smell of baking bread from the market. I walk further and discover sauerkraut. Like much of the city, this is a locals market with few signs in English, but much of the population speaks a second language, often English, in addition to the native Slovene.

Also on that side of the Ljubljanica river is the oldest section of Old Ljubljana. The famous Roba Fountain is in front of the city hall. This is actually a copy of the Fountain of the Three Carniolan Rivers. The original is in the National Gallery.

I wander down Il Mestni Trg, the biggest of the tiny streets, strolling and exploring shops, until I start smelling something sweet and roasted. A confectionary store is selling delicious roasted almonds, actually roasting them outside the store. Business is brisk and at a. 1.77 Euros for 50 grams -- I continue to walk along the cobblestone streets, now munching on the treat. It’s a delightful area to explore, complete with medieval houses, shops, and cafes.

Because the city has grown on both sides of the river, there are additional bridges each adding even more charm. The Cobblers' Bridge is another thoroughfare connecting Mestni trg (Town Square) -- the oldest part -- and Novi trg (New Square) -- the merely older part. The original “Cobblers' Bridge” featured space for cobblers' workshops but as I walked back across it was filled with booksellers.

Another popular bridge is the Dragon Bridge, guarded by four dragon statues, the symbol of the city. The dragon bridge is located at the end of the Ljubljana Open Market. Some say that the bridge came first, and then the city adopted the dragon symbol. But the use of the dragon motif had to come from somewhere.

Legend has it that Ljubljana was founded by the Greek mythological hero Jason and his companions, the Argonauts, who had stolen the golden fleece from King Aetes and fled from him across the Black Sea and up the Danube, Sava and Ljubljanica rivers.

They stopped at a large lake in the marsh near the source of the Ljubljanica, where they disassembled their ship to be able to carry it to the Adriatic Sea, put it together again, and return to Greece. The lake where they made a stop was the dwelling place of a monster. Jason fought the monster, defeated it and killed it. The monster, now referred to as the Ljubljana Dragon, found its place atop the castle tower on the Ljubljana coat of arms. Source: City of Ljubljana

Ljubljana Castle is another major attraction. Although it’s possible to walk up the steep hill, we used the Funicular Railway. Both the funicular and the castle itself offer wonderful views of the city. If you decide to walk, the path called Ulica na Grad (Street to the Castle) is said to lovely and well-maintained. Once up at the castle, there’s the Virtual Museum presenting the history of the city. Entrance to the castle courtyard and chapel is free, but there is a charge for tours and access to the tower.

Ljubljana also has a full collection of museums ranging from architecture to history, modern art and more. The history of the city is fascinating and well-worth exploring, as is the architecture. Guided tours are available through Ljubljana Tourist Information Centre (TIC)

For more information visit Slovenia.info

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