Ljubljana is a city of contrasts: small yet vibrant, ancient yet modern, green yet urban. Its history spans Roman Emona, medieval Laibach, and modern Slovenia’s capital, with each era leaving landmarks like the Dragon Bridge, Ljubljana Castle, and Plečnik’s architectural masterpieces. Stories of dragons, singing fountains, and historical figures like Prešeren add charm, while its green initiatives and culinary scene make it a forward-looking destination.
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[Music] [Applause] Welcome to Sun Coast. This time, Bella and I are visiting Ljubljana, the beautiful capital of Slovenia. Thank you for joining us. [Music] We arrived in Ljubljana as a stop along my trip to visit my brother in Ferrara, Italy. Our trip originated in Brussia of Romania. We drove through Hungary and had a short stop at Lake Balaton. We crossed the border into Croatia and spent the night in Zagreb. After a short visit of Zagreb the next day, we continued to Ljubljana. Ljubjana, the capital of Slovenia is a city with a rich history, vibrant culture and fascinating stories. Ljubljana is located in central Slovenia in a natural depression surrounded by the Julian Alps along the Ljubljana River. The city serves as the economic, political, and cultural center of Slovenia. The city’s name, Ljubljana, is thought to translate to the loved one in Slovine, reflecting its welcoming atmosphere. With a population of approximately 280,000 to 300,000, it’s one of Europe’s smaller capital cities, offers the amenities of a larger metropolis while retaining a small town charm. Ljubljana was named the European green capital in 2016 for its environmental initiatives, including a pedestrianized city center, extensive cycling infrastructure, and waste management systems. Over 60% of Slovenia, including areas around Lj Ljubljana, is forested. The city integrates green spaces like the Tivoli City Park, the largest park in Ljubljana, designed in 1813. Here are some important architectural and historic landmarks. Ljubljana Castle, the 900year-old castle is spurged on a 1230 ft or 375 m. It’s a symbol of the city and offers panoramic views. The castle served as a fortress, penitentiary, and quarantine station and now host museums, restaurants, and events. The Dragon Bridge featuring four bronze dragons. This bridge is a city icon tied to the legend of a dragon slain by St. George or the Greek hero Jason. The dragon symbolizes power, courage, and greatness. The triple bridge. It has a unique set of three arches designed by architect Jose Plecnik connecting Preseren Square to the old town. Ljubljana Cathedral, St. Nicholas Church, Gothic turned Baroque cathedral from the 13th century known for its stained glass and ornate frescos. Nebo technic a skyscraper built in 1933. This 230 ft or 70.35 m art deco building was once Europe’s tallest residential structure, Preserin Square. The square was named after Slovenia’s national poet France Presserin and is a central gathering place with his statue and the triple bridge. Ljubljana is home to the University of Ljubljana, founded in 1919, one of central Europe’s oldest universities and the Slovenian philarmonic established in 1701, among the first outside Italy. [Music] The city has 12 museums, including the National Museum of Slovenia, the Slovenian Museum of Natural History, and the Gallery of Modern Art, all within close [Music] proximity. Metelova Mesto, a city area where squatting was common, is now an art district with a vibrant nightlife and cultural hub. [Music] The Slovenian language spoken in Ljubljana is one of the few Indo-Uropean languages to retain the dual grammatical form. That is to say that Slovenian has not just a singular and plural grammatical form, but also formed to describe two or a pair such as in one eye, two eyes, and more than two eyes. The city’s dialect is a blend of upper and lower carnolan influences that blends its rich historical influences of having been under the Holy Roman Empire, Austrian and Hapsburg [Music] rule. Ljubljana is undergoing a foodie revolution emphasizing local organic ingredients. traditional dishes including potika, a sweet bread with fillings like walnuts or poppy seed, strruuli, strudel, and cured meats. And here I have to excuse myself for mispronouncing so many words. I really don’t know how to say them. Evidently, I don’t speak Slovenian. Slovenia’s wine culture is prominent with Ljubljana offering wine tasting in proximity to vineyards, one for every 70 Slovenians. Here are some of the unique features found in Ljubljana. The Ljubljana River, which runs through the city, has seven names along its course. Ljubljana’s Parliament building is humorously noted for its facade, which some claim features phallic imagery possibly unique among global parliaments. The city has an automated milk machine at the central market dispensing raw unpasteurized milk reflecting Slovenia’s focus on health and sustainability. Cavalier electric vehicle provide free rides in a pedestrianized center emphasizing eco-friendly transport. Also some interesting historical artifacts found in Ljubljana. The Ljubljana Marshes Wheel found near the city is the oldest wooden wheel ever excavated, dating back over 5,000 years. The city’s Roman origins are evident in ruins of Iona, including walls and artifacts displayed at the National [Music] Museum. Here are some notes about Ljubljana sustainability and lifestyle. Ljubljana is cyclist friendly with extensive bike lanes and a bike sharing system. The city’s noted for its cleanliness with garbage bins separated for paper, plastic, and general waste. Slovenians in Ljubljana are described as active with 60% of the population exercising at least 3 hours weekly. [Music] Ljubljana’s history spans over 5,000 years shaped by its strategic location along trade routes between the Adriatic Sea and the Danube region. The area was settled by the Veneti Yrianss and Selts around a th00and BC. By the 1st century BC, Romans established a walled encampment called Amona. Ulia ammona. Ammona was a key point on the route to Panonia, but it was destroyed by Aila the Hun in the fifth century. Slavic tribes rebuilt the settlement in the 12th century with the first recorded mention of Ljubljana as Lieback in 1144 and Luvana in 1146. It gained city rights in 1220. In the late 13th century, the Habsburgs took control, making Ljubljana the capital of Carnola. In 1335, Ljubljana Castle, initially a wooden fortress owned by the Spanheim family, was developed into a stone structure. From 1461, Ljubljana was the seat of a bishop, enhancing its religious significance. Under the Habsburg rule, Ljubljana became a center of trade and culture. The 1511 earthquake destroyed many medieval buildings leading to Baroque reconstruction. In 1625, a law was mandated that waste be removed from the city and by 1784 pigs were required to be kept in sty making early sanitation efforts. The Slovenian filmonic was founded at 1701 and the University of Ljubljana origins traced to the 16th century. In 1809, Ljubljana was taken by the French and became the capital of the Yrian provinces until 1814. The 1821 Congress of Lieback Holy Alliance was held in Ljubljana, shaping European political geography. The Vienna Trieste Railway 1849 spurred economic growth and Ljubljana became a hub of Slovian nationalism. Industries like sugar refining and brewing emerged. The 1895 earthquake devastated the city leading to significant rebuilding efforts. After World War I, Ljubana joined the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Sloines, later Yugoslavia in 1918, ending the Hapsburg rule. During World War II, Ljubljana was occupied by Italian troops in 1941 to 1943 and then Nazi Germany 1943 to 1945. It was liberated by partisan forces in May 1945. Postwar Ljubljana was the capital of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia within Yugoslavia until 1991. On June 26, 1991, Slovenia declared independence at Republic Square in Ljubljana following a 10-day war. The city modernized post independence with an airport, road tunnel under Castle Hill, and integration into NATO and the EU in 2004, and it adopted the euro in [Music] 2007. During the modern day, Ljubljanes flores a cultural and green capital, hosting events like Ljubljana Festival and maintaining a pedestrianfriendly center. City’s development along the Lubiana River has created a vibrant riverside with cafes and markets. As you know from my past videos, I really enjoy stories about the places I visit. Here are some stories and legends of Ljubljana. The Ljubljana dragon. The dragon is Lupliana’s symbol featured on the dragon bridge and the city’s coat of arms. One legend ties it to Jason of Greek mythology who allegedly slew a dragon in the Lupana marshes. Another claim St. George defeated a dragon on the castle hill saving the city. The dragon represents power, courage, and greatness. The story of the dragon remind me of the uh stories that I heard in Krakow, Poland about the wavel dragon and king Krakus. Here’s another story. The green man. The statue in the old town, the green man is said to symbolize nature and fertility. Local lore suggests that touching his beard brings good luck. I haven’t tried touching the beard, but if you tried, please let me know if it brings you luck. The singing fountain. A legend tells of a fountain in Ljubljana that sang beautiful songs when approached by a young maiden, adding a mystical charm to the city’s folklore. And the last story is Sleman the elephant. In 1552, an elephant named Sleman, a wedding gift to Archduke Maxmleon II, was displayed at the site of the hotel Sloan. After a celebrated life, the elephant was stuffed, displayed, and later sold for shoe leather post World War II. I’m not sure about this story. It uh it sounds a little bizarre. And finally, here are some miscellaneous tidbits of information about the city. The Jose Plechnic legacy. Architect Jose Pllenik shaped modern lupiano with designs like the trickle bridge, national and university library and central market. His work earned UNESCO recognition and his vision transformed Ljubljana into a harmonious blend of nature and architecture. The Euroba Fountain, the iconic fountain outside city hall is a replica the original from the 18th centuries preserved in a national gallery to protect it from weather damage. Here are some literary connections with the city. Brazilian writer Paulo Coelloo said his novel Veronica decides to die in Ljubljana, capturing the city’s atmosphere and historical context around Slovenia’s independence. France Presserin, Slovenia’s national poet, is celebrated in Ljubljana with his poem Strava serving as a national anthem. I enjoyed my visit to Ljubljana. It’s a city of contrasts, small yet vibrant, ancient yet modern, green yet urban, and its history spans Romana, medieval libeck, and modern Slovenia’s capital. With each era leaving landmarks like the dragon bridge, Lupana Castle and Plenik’s architectural masterpieces, stories of dragons, singing fountains, and historical figures like presserin at charm, while its green initiatives and culinary scene make it a forward-looking destination. I recommend it. Thank you for watching. Please subscribe. [Music] [Music]