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PLEČNIK’S LJUBLJANA

The hotel is located in the old city centre, close to the remains of the ancient Roman city of Emona, as evidenced by the name of the road on which the hotel stands. Only a few steps away, you will find archaeological excavations and remains from Roman times (Roman wall).

To the Ljubljanica River, which is the central and connecting line of the old town, head merely a few steps down the picturesque streets past the main festival space of Križanke with the Križevniška church, which is the work of the world-renowned Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik. The multitude of his creations in the city, referred to as a whole as “Plečnik’s Ljubljana” , is considered to be one of the 20th century’s most important total works of art. NUK, the National and University Library, which is also Plečnik’s work, is located only a few steps forward. When we reach the pleasantly settled embankment, we immediately find ourselves in a partially preserved medieval Ljubljana with striking alleys and squares with a multitude of picturesque bars and shops on the opposite bank of the Ljubljanica River, which is accessible via several stone bridges and wooden footbridges.

Hotel Mrak is a great place to stay in the centre of Ljubljana, since all important national and city sights and facilities are accessible by foot. In cooperation with our partner tourist agency, we have prepared an offer for guided city tours in small groups. Individual visits to the sites are subject to prior arrangement. The tour lasts for two hours and makes for a special way to get to know Ljubljana, the green capital of Europe in 2016.

Križanke

1 min walk

Križanke is a common name for the complex of the former monastery of the German Knight Order (“crosses”, after which they were named) in Ljubljana. They lie at the Square of the French Revolution, between Emonska Street, Zoisova Street and Gosposka Street.

Since 1952, the Ljubljana Public Institute has been hosted in Križanke. In the central part of the former Crusaders Monastery, it was formerly the Secondary School for Design and Photography. External spaces serve as spaces for cultural events.

NUK

2 min walk

The establishment of the library is connected with the decree of Empress Maria Theresa from 1774, with which she assigned 637 books, which were saved in the fire of the dissolved Jesuit College in Ljubljana, to the library founded with the Ljubljana Lyceum for general use. The University Library in Ljubljana acquired the library in 1938 based on the University Act and the General University Order. Architect Jože Plečnik created the plans for the new University Library between 1930 and 1931.

The library moved to the monumental building in the immediate vicinity of the university in the spring of 1941. Plečnik’s library is a cultural monument of the highest order.

iEmona

6 min walk

iEmona, located at the Congress Square, is an original museum presentation and, at the same time, an information point about the legacy of the former Roman city of Emona, which stood in the area of today’s city centre of Ljubljana. If you plan a tour of the circular archaeological trail of Roman Ljubljana, the iEmona visit is recommended as a starting point.

Information about the archaeological trail and the tickets for the tour are available at the City Museum of Ljubljana.

Dunja Wedam, fototeka Turizem Ljubljana

Vurnik house

10 min walk

Vurnik House, or the Cooperative Business Bank, is located in the Miklošičeva Street. It is one of Ljubljana’s most famous buildings. Despite being situated in a brightly coloured Art Nouveau quarter, its richly decorated façade makes it stand out from the surrounding buildings. Built in 1921 to a design by the architect Ivan Vurnik, it is considered one of the finest examples of Slovenian national style architecture. The building’s façade frescoes are the work of the architect Vurnik’s Viennese-born wife Helena, who had taken part in her husband’s research and design of distinctive Slovenian architecture.

Luka Esenko, fototeka Turizem Ljubljana

Dragon bridge

13 min walk

The Dragon Bridge, adorned with famous dragon statues, appears in the most recognisable images of Ljubljana. The four dragon statues, which look slightly terrifying and almost real, are a masterpiece that has been exciting the imagination since the bridge was built. The attraction of the dragons aside, the bridge is a unique creation. It is considered to be an extraordinary piece of technical heritage and a superb example of Art Nouveau architecture, which flourished at the turn of the 20th century. Constructed between 1900 and 1901, it was Ljubljana’s first reinforced concrete structure and one of the largest bridges of its kind to be built in Europe.

Dunja Wedam, fototeka Turizem Ljubljana

Prešernov trg square

8 min walk

Ljubljana is probably one of the few cities in the world whose central town square is adorned with a statue of a poet rather than some political or military hero. The poet, France Prešeren (1800–1849), who wrote mostly in Slovenian and is best known for his sonnets, was one of Europe’s great Romantic poets. The squares’ Prešeren Monument, designed by the architect Maks Fabiani and the sculptor Ivan Zajc, was unveiled in the autumn of 1905. It depicts the greatest Slovenian poet and the muse of poetry holding a spring of laurel above his head.

Prešernov Trg Square continues to the central pass over the Ljubljanica River – the Triple Bridge, a complex of three stone bridges, designed by the architect Jože Plečnik.

Dunja Wedam, fototeka Turizem Ljubljana

Robba fountain

8 min walk

The Robba Fountain, one of Ljubljana’s best-known Baroque monuments, also known as The Fountain of Three Carniolan Rivers, stands at the edge of the Mestni Trg Square. It was created between 1743 and 1751 by the Venetian-born sculptor and architect Francesco Robba, who spent most of his life in Ljubljana and is considered to be the city’s greatest Baroque master sculptor working in stone. 

The Robba Fountain is modelled on famous Roman fountains. The sculptures of three river gods adorning it are believed to represent three Carniolan rivers: the Sava, the Ljubljanica and the Krka.

Staderzen, fototeka Turizem Ljubljana

Ljubljana castle

21 min walk

The Ljubljana Castle is a medieval architectural landmark that stands on the Castle Hill. According to archaeological research, the presence of a person in the area of the castle complex has been uninterrupted since 1200 BC. In the 15th century it was enlarged (the walls were walled with pointed towers and two entrance towers through which the lift doors and the castle chapel were led). In the 16th and 17th centuries, other buildings gradually formed on the castle yard and form the present whole building complex. The castle is accessible also by funicular railway.

Arhiv MGML

The city museum of Ljubljana

1 min walk

The City Museum of Ljubljana is located in the immediate proximity of the hotel. Its collection comprises several millennia of the Ljubljana region’s cultural heritage. The Museum is located in the Auersperg Palace (Turjaška palača), a historic building once owned by the dukes of Carniola.

It preserves studies and promotes the historical and cultural heritage of Ljubljana. The Museum’s collection comprises over 10,000 museum objects. The two findings the Museum is especially proud of are the world’s oldest wooden wheel with a wooden axle and a wooden point around 40,000 years old.

Plečnik's house

7 min walk

Ljubljana born Jože Plečnik (1872–1957) is considered one of the most important pioneers of modern architecture in the world. His creative opus was marked by the image of three Central European cities: Vienna, Prague and, especially, his hometown Ljubljana. Plečnik’s house shows the architects’ home with all the original interior and exterior equipment and houses a permanent museum exhibition.

Museum of illusions

5 min walk

The Museum of Illusions is a museum of fun and educational experiences where you are testing the boundaries of your perception. Relativity is something that you experience literally. The illusions in it allow you a different experience of space and everything you believe that you already know.

National gallery of Slovenia

14 min walk

The National Gallery of Slovenia is the central gallery of Slovenian works of art. It was founded in 1918 and holds the largest collection of works of art that originated in Slovene territory during the Middle Ages and modernism.

Opera

10 min walk

The building of the Slovene National Theatre Opera and Ballet was built between 1890 and 1892 in a Neo-Renaissance style according to the plans of Czech architects Jan Vladimír Hráský and Anton Hruby. Initially, the building was dedicated to the Provincial Theatre, where theatre and opera performances were staged.

Since 1892, the Opera has had permanent conductors, soloists and a choir, and since 1908 members of the Slovene Philharmonic Orchestra established at that time have also performed on the Opera stage. They mainly performed French and Italian operas, some of them also Slavic. The ballet began performing in the spring of 1919.

The Slovene national theatre drama

4 min walk

On April 24, 1867, 12 learned and respectable men gathered in Ljubljana and founded the Dramatic Society. The Vienna architect Alexander Graf designed the building of today’s National Theatre in 1909. The Slovene National Theatre Drama Ljubljana is today the main drama theatre in Slovenia with the largest, most recognisable and most respected playing ensemble. The repertoire has a classical, contemporary and experimental theatre production.

Luka Esenko, fototeka Turizem Ljubljana

Central market

12 min walk

Ljubljana’s Central Market is more than just a place to shop. Traditionally, it has also been a place for the locals to meet and enjoy themselves together. The Central Market consists of an open-air market, a covered market situated between the Vodnikov trg and Pogačarjev trg squares, and the Plečnik’s Covered Market along the Ljubljanica River.

The famous architect Jože Plečnik designed the Covered Market, which was built between 1940 and 1941, as a series of two-storey market halls following the curve of the Ljubljanica River. On the side overlooking the river, the market halls have large semi-circular windows, while the street side is defined by a colonnade. The design of the complex reflects Renaissance influences.

Open kitchen (Odprta Kuh'na)

12 min walk

Open Kitchen is a unique and most popular culinary market, which has brought freshness and novelty to the Slovenian culinary scene since 2013. From the early spring until late autumn, the open part of the Ljubljana Market hosts numerous gourmands who enjoy a relaxing chat among its stands.

To date, more than 100 restaurants from all over Slovenia have been presented at the Open Kitchen stands, and visitors have been able to taste close to a thousand different Slovenian and international dishes and beverages.

Park Tivoli

15 min walk

The largest Ljubljana Park is ideal for relaxation and retreat from the city bustle. The park has many walking paths, flower arrangements, fountains and sculptures. The main points of the park are the three great chestnut trees and the Jakopič Avenue, which was enlarged and planned by Plečnik.

The park is often a gathering place for sports enthusiasts and street musicians.

ZOO

36 min walk

The ZOO is located in the natural forest and meadows and is part of the protected Tivoli, Rožnik and Šišenski hrib landscape parks. The ZOO covers almost 20 hectares and has 6.5 km of walking paths. More information about the types of animals, the schedule and prices can be found on the website.