Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
one of the watchtowers and admire the whole of Ljubljana, which turns out to be a
little larger than it seems when you're caught up in the relaxed sybaritic ambience of
Old Town. A gondola-style funicular should be up and running to make trips up to
the castle more effortless; at the top, there's a lovely terrace cafe and a good souvenir
shop; the open courtyard plays host to many of the events during the Ljubljana Sum-
mer Festival. Disappointingly, the castle's
Virtual Museum,
which tells the city's story
by means of a plodding stereoscopically projected 3-D documentary, is virtually
unbearable; unfortunately, tickets to the
Outlook Tower
are combined with the
virtual show, so people feel forced to endure it, despite the patronizing tone.
Festival Ljubljana, Ljubljanski Grad.
&
01/232-9994.
www.festival-lj.si/virtualnimuzej. Castle entrance is free. Out-
look Tower and Virtual Museum: 3.30
€
($4.25) adults, 2.05
€
($2.75) seniors and students; 4.15
€
($5.25) family
ticket. Guided tours: 4.60
(5.75) adults start at 10am and 4pm daily June to mid-Sept; for private tours call
&
01/232-9994.
Castle hours: Oct-Apr 10am-10pm; May-Sept 9am-11pm. Outlook Tower and Virtual Museum:
Oct-Apr 10am-6pm; May-Sept 9am-9pm; Virtual Museum screenings start every half-hour.
Moderna Galerija
Ljubljana's Modern Art Gallery was designed by Ple
c
nik
disciple Edvard Ravnikar. It hosts a lively collection of Slovenian paintings, sculptures,
and installation pieces from no earlier than 1950. Standout works include the excel-
lent 1960s surrealist works of
S
tefan Planinc, and Jo
z
e Slak-Doka's graffiti-inspired
mixed-media assemblages from the 1980s. There's some eyebrow-raising conceptual
art definitely worth checking out, while the quality of temporary exhibitions that are
regularly hosted here varies considerably.
Tomsiceva 14.
&
01/241-6800.
www.mg-lj.si. 4.15
€
($5.25) adults, 2.95
€
($3.75) seniors and students, 2.10
€
($2.75) children. Free admission Sat afternoon. Tues-Sat 10am-6pm; Sun 10am-1pm.
€
Narodna Galerija
Housed in an interesting architectural juxtaposition of
two 19th-century buildings linked by a modern structure in glass and steel, the
National Gallery holds the country's largest collection of Slovenian paintings, which
are surprisingly good. Art enthusiasts will appreciate the thorough survey of the
nation's early modern artists, including work by Mihael Stoj (1803-71), Biedermeier
portraitist Joef Tominc (1790-1866), and the Slovene landscapes of Marko Pernhart
(1824-71) and Pavel Künl (1817-71). Look out for the interesting works of “realist-
Impressionist” Ferdo Vesel (1861-1946) and notable 19th-century painter Anton
A
z
be (1862-1905). Also here are works by the first internationally reputable female
Slovene artist, Ivana Kobilca (1861-1926), whose pale portraits are exquisitely ghost-
like. Ivan Grohar's (1867-1911) modernist techniques include excellent use of color,
and there are some striking canvases by Richard Jakopi
c
(1896-1943). Galleries of
older, classical works include 17th-century Hans Georg Gaiger a Gaigerfeld's
St.
George Slaying the Dragon
with a rather sci-fi-looking beast.
Presernova cesta 24.
&
01/241-5434.
www.ng-slo.si. 4.15
€
($5.25) adults, 2.95
€
($3.75) seniors and students,
2.10
($2.75) children. Free admission Sat afternoon. Guided tours: Tues and Thurs 11am. Tues-Sat 10am-6pm; Sun
10am-1pm.
National and University Library
Perhaps the most important of Ple
z
nik's
achievements, the nation's main library is remarkable for the unusual and fascinating
design of its exterior walls; part brick, part concrete, and part stone, the red-brick walls
are dotted with ancient Roman rocks that appear to be sliding toward the sky. Besides
its intriguing design elements, the building is notable for the symbolism of the layout;
apparently, the main stairway (as you enter) represents a journey into the light of
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