Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital and largest city of about 300,000 is a very pedestrian friendly city with the majority of the city center blocked off for vehicles. It’s known for its university population and green spaces, including expansive Tivoli Park. The curving Ljubljanica River is lined with outdoor cafes. The covered market place is reconstructed where the old city walls once were.
Some lovely art deco style buildings.
Loved this apartment building with planters built in!
Ljubljana castle sits high on a hill overlooking the city and has origins dating back to the 11th century, however over the years the functions have changed. During the 14th and 15th century it was a fortress against the Ottoman attacks. One of the oldest preserved parts of the castle is St. George’s Chapel dating from 15th century. In the mid 17th century the Castle lost its function as a fortress and residence. Between 1793 and 1796, the administration in Vienna believed it would be the best to pull down the castle and sell the building materials. Local committees were against it; they wanted to preserve the castle. In the spring of 1797 the French occupied Ljubljana for the first time and then again in 1809. During the Napoleon’s Illyrian Provinces (1809-13) the castle was used as barracks and military hospital.
After the return of the Austrians in 1815, the castle building was turned into a penitentiary. During this period, it underwent a great deal of reconstruction and adaptation. The central courtyard, planted with chestnuts, was used by prisoners for everyday recreation. During the First World War, the penitentiary first served as a prison for political prisoners (in 1914, the Slovenian writer Ivan Cankar found himself imprisoned in the castle as a dangerous political opponent of Austria-Hungary), and between 1915 and 1918 it served as a quarantine station for Italian prisoners of war. During the Second World War, the castle was first an Italian prison, but after the capitulation of Italy it was operated by the Germans.
Instead of the old defense tower a new Viewing Tower with the clock was built; it was renovated in 1980. The castle can now be reached by funicular and is a venue for musical events, and houses a Michelin restaurant
We’ve had some wonderful meals here. We shared this house made pasta with beef tenderloin and truffle dish with this wonderful salad tossed with pumpkin seed oil at Restaurant Most
Traditional potato stuffed dumplings with a beef stew and pork loin stuffed with ham and a cream sauce at Slovenska hisa Ljubljancanka.
Chicken cutlet with truffle and cream sauce and pork tenderloin with bacon and plums also with the traditional Ljubljana cream sauce at Tartuf restaurant. Excellent.
The market had the most amazing array of fresh greens. No wonder the salads are so good here. Oh! And the flowers!
We drove to Lake Bled – about an hour – with fabulous views of snow capped mountains. Medieval Bled Castle overlooks the lake, and Bled Island – with the 17th century church dedicated to the Assumption of Mary – sits looking like something from a fairy tale.
