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Home Page > Travelogues > Slovenia > Ljubljana
Click here for a special story about my experience at Slovenia's World Cup 2002 qualifying playoff match against Romania, played in Ljubljana during my trip! Ljubljana (lyoo-blee-YANN-uh, also loo- or lib-) has
been around since ancient times -- first as the Roman city of Emona over 3000
years ago. Situated around a tight bend in the Ljubljanica River and nea The Frančiškansa cerkev, the bright red Franciscan church,
is the most prominent feature in the center of the city. It stands over
Prešernov Trg (PRESH-er-noff Prešernov Trg is a major junction of pedestrian shopping streets and a bus and taxi station. The statue of Prešeren is seen facing the circle with a muse holding a wreath over his head. Across the river is the Stolnica (stohl-NEET-suh), or Cathedral, looking over the marketplace. The row building on the river is the Galleria, a beautifully-columned Romanesque building where one can buy his daily supplement of bread, meat, and cheese. Outside were numerous souvenir stands, all temporary.
Ljubljana also has many great sights. The below picture shows the Ljubljanski Grad (Castle) overlooking the Filharmonija (Philharmonic building). The trees on the left marked an X-shaped park built during Napoleon's rule over the city, and hidden to the right is the main University building.
Ljubljana has a lot of bars and cafés, but not a tremendous number of restaurants -- probably because the students dominate the nightlife. On the western side of the city, one comes upon Tivolski Grad
and Tivoli Park, a massive park bordered by the southern borough of Vič and
the Pivovarska Union (Union Brewery) to the north. Several of the city's
grander buildings are on the Tivolska cesta crossing the face of the park.
Though I was greatly impressed by the city. Its people are friendly, its streets are mostly clean, and its a great city to look at. I have places it on my short list of places to return to some day. Click here for a special story about my experience at Slovenia's World Cup 2002 qualifying playoff match against Romania, played in Ljubljana during my trip! Trip taken 10 November 2001 -- Page last updated 01 September 2006 -- (C) 2001 Tom Galvin Useful Links:
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its junction with the Sava, Ljubljana sat at the crossroads of the ancient
north-south passages to the Alps and Balkans and the east-west route to the
Adriatic. Thus, as the territory now owned by Slovenia has changed hands
continuously over the years, Ljubljana has always figured prominently in the
region. With Slovenia's newfound independence, Ljubljana was the obvious
choice to be her capital.
TERG), named after a famous Slovene author (see
below), and the Tromostovje (troe-moe-STOVE-yuh), or the three bridges leading
to the main marketplace.
The permanent market across the street ranks among the largest
I've ever seen, (but as far as I could tell, Ljubljana has not yet developed
grocery stores of the types seen in western Europe or America). This was
where all the fresh vegetables and fruits were sold, along with most clothing
(shirts, shoes, etc.). This was taken on a Saturday morning, and the crowd
easily numbered in the hundreds, scattered over several blocks.
To be sure, Ljubljana has developed a main street that carries
western Europe fashions, and it was common to see Ljubljana University students
wearing the latest and greatest. Old Ljubljana, which is the western bend
of the river, has most of these shops.
The Grad is a wonderful City Museum. For only a couple
dollars, you not only can wander through the castle and enjoy a great view of
the city from the tower, you can also take a 'virtual' tour through Ljubljana's
history. In a 3-D theater, you are shown an educational animated video
that presents the history behind many of the city's prominent buildings and
squares. Highly recommended.
empty on this cold November day, one can imagine this park being filled
with sun-worshippers in the summer. Further south, on Mirje cesta, look
for a section of the wall that once surrounded Emona. It's amazing that
after 3000 years so much of its remains.
