Ljubljana: Plečnik’s Legacy, Markets and Green Paths

Plečnik and the city’s history

Plečnik’s World Heritage in Ljubljana includes public spaces and public institutions integrated into the existing urban, natural and cultural context. The outdoor areas of the World Heritage components are open to the public. Those wishing to explore the architectural heritage in greater depth can do so in different ways at Plečnik House and along the Plečnik Route: the route links Plečnik’s architectural legacy in Ljubljana and starts and ends at his former home in Trnovo.

Emona represents an older historical layer: more than 2,000 years ago, the Roman city stood on the site of present-day Ljubljana. At Emona Archaeopark, the Early Christian Centre includes a baptistery and mosaics. The Emona House was built in the 1st century AD and covered approximately 500 square metres. A hypocaust heating system in the winter room and a black-and-white mosaic floor characteristic of the 4th and 5th centuries have been preserved there. Metelkova’s history as a cultural centre also goes back a long way: it began in 1993 with the occupation of former military barracks.

Ljubljana Castle stands on a hill above the city, offering views of the city and housing museum exhibitions. The Dragon Bridge, with its statues of dragons, is among the city’s well-known symbols. Riverside promenades and paths follow the Ljubljanica through the city’s bridges; sightseeing boat trips are also available.

Green spaces and paths

Tivoli–Rožnik–Šišenski hrib Landscape Park covers about 460 hectares, 74 percent of which is forested. Rožnik is a natural area in Ljubljana suited to walking and running, criss-crossed by paths and running trails. The walk to Cankarjev vrh on Rožnik starts at Tivoli Castle, at the end of Jakopič Promenade. For longer outings, the Path of Remembrance and Comradeship encircles Ljubljana for around 33 kilometres and is intended for walkers and cyclists. The stated length may vary slightly depending on how it is measured.

The Ljubljana Botanical Garden has been in continuous operation since 1810 and contains more than 4,500 plant species, subspecies and forms. Its tropical greenhouse displays more than 380 plant species from tropical regions. This makes its botanical collections very different from the extensive forest areas of the landscape park: here, the focus is on plant diversity, while there, it is on the forested landscape.

Cyclists also have a range of options. Ljubljana has about 230 kilometres of designated cycle paths. Bicycles are permitted in the pedestrian area of the city centre; cyclists must ride slowly and give way to pedestrians. The Forest Route runs along the edge of Rožnik between Tivoli Park and Mostec. The Golovec–Krim–Lake Below circular route is suitable for experienced touring cyclists; it crosses the eastern edge of Ljubljansko barje Landscape Park.

Golovec, markets and excursions

Golovec is densely forested and criss-crossed by marked, well-maintained paths. Activities there include walking, hiking, running and cycling. For mountain bikers, Golovec Trails offers a trail park with nine marked routes of all difficulty levels, from green to black, with a total length of 8 kilometres. Guided tours, courses and children’s training sessions are available; an enduro competition is also held each year as part of Ljubljana MTB Weekend. The programme may change, so it is worth checking the latest information in advance.

Ljubljana Central Market comprises an open-air market, a covered market and Plečnik’s covered market halls along the riverbank. In the central section, local farmers sell fresh Slovenian fruit and vegetables, flowers, seedlings and cured meat products. An organic market is held at Pogačarjev trg on Saturdays. Odprta kuhna is a food market in the centre, held on sunny Fridays from March to November; dates and opening hours may change. The November Gourmet Ljubljana programme includes tastings and cooking workshops.

Ljubljana’s compact layout and green surroundings, which extend right into the city centre, make it well suited to walking, cycling and leisure activities. There are good road and rail connections for getting there, and Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, Slovenia’s main airport, is also located near the city. Specific connections may change. Ljubljana can also serve as a base for exploring Central Slovenia and the rest of the country, including lakes, caves, castles, historic towns, villages, wine regions, hills and natural attractions.

Discover more destinations: Ljubljana, Škofljica, Ig, Horjul, Smlednik, Preserje, Rakitna, Skaručna, Gabrje, Mački, Medno, Rob, Gradišče, Medvode.

For the overview of the wider region: Slovenia.