Places of Interest - Slovenia

The old historic city:

The center of the capital "Ljubljana" is not too big and easy to discover on foot. Do not expect world-shattering museums, sights or monuments but rather a mix of "diversity". The multifaceted history of the city and earthquakes have set the face of the city in a very varied style. The "heart" of the city is formed by the "castle" which dominates the cityscape on the hill - it can be climbed but can also be reached by a rail lift. In front of the hill is the "real" old town with beautiful buildings in "Baroque" and "Art Nouveau" style. Behind it the main square of the city with the "three bridges" again designed by Slovenian architect "Plecnik" and the striking pink "Fransican" church. Over the "Ljubljana" river, that meanders through the whole old city, are several bridges that are worth a look - especially the "dragons" bridge. Along the river boulevards with mainly houses and buildings from the "Renaissance" time and numerous terraces. You can also visit the central market. Finally there are a number of "medieval" houses to discover, a few scarce remains of Roman times (when the city was called "Emona") and there are countless pedestrian-streets filled with (souvenir) shops, restaurants, hotels and cafes.

"Path of remembrance" and "Zale" cemetery:

If you want something different and want to escape from the center with all its tourists, maybe this is a good alternative. Around the city a walking path has been set out along the barbed wire fence, which the Nazis during WWII have built around the city - a so-called open city concentration camp. The entire course is 32 km long and you can choose to walk, jog or skate (parts) of it. Pay attention to the "Pot" signs that are placed along the route or ask for the "Pot Spominov" that you can pick up at the famous "AMZS headquarters" for example. You can take bus 6, 8 or 11 or just walk from the center (it is about 2.5 km). Along the way you come across an old bunker, among other things although most relics from that period are gone. A little further you arrive at the "Zale" cemetery, built by the highly acclaimed Slovenian architect "Joze Plecnik". This can be compared to the French "Pere Lachaise" or the English "Highgate" and is a masterpiece. 

Other attractions:

The church and former barracks of "Sveti Urh".

The city was founded by the Romans in the 1st century BC, then called "Emona" and was at that time an important trading place with 5000 inhabitants. It lay also central between the Roman provinces in the North and the conquered areas in the south of the city. Already during the 5th century the Roman city was attacked several times by barbaric tribes such as the "East Goths" and "Langobarden" - in 452 the city was totally destroyed by the Huns by their leader Atilla. In the 6th century the first Slavs settled here. During the Middle Ages, the city was inhabited and abandoned by many people. The last and longest rulers were the "Habsburgs" who took over the city in 1335 and would rule here until the end of WWI (1919). They called the city "Laibach" and the castle that was built on top of the mountain would keep the Turks, who frequently attacked in the 15th century, at a distance. Unfortunately, in the same century, "Laibach" was almost razed to the ground by an all-devastating earthquake - the city was built in a baroque style that gave the name "white city". Ljubljana had an important role with respect to Napoleon, when, between 1809 and 1813, it became the capital of the "Illyrian" provinces annexed to the French empire, which ensured that Austria-Hungary no longer had access to the Adriatic Sea. After the fall of Napoleon, the old situation was restored. 

In the years that followed, the rail link between the city and other major cities led to a rapid development of the city, which was adorned with many "Art Nouveau" buildings. This is because the city was hit hard for the second time by an earthquake (1895). WWI was the reason for the break with the "Habsburg" Empire - Slovenia joined the "Kingdom of the Serbs" (together with Croatia and Serbia). During WWII the country was divided - the capital of Slovenia came (together with the south of the country) under Italian rule. When Italy capitulated, the Nazis took over and sealed of the entire city with a barbed wire fence. After WWII, Slovenia became part of the Republic of Yugoslavia and became the capital of Slovenia after declaring independence in 1991.