Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
whose brother was a priest here. Look up over the nave to enjoy the recently restored, gor-
geous ceiling fresco.
▲
Dragon Bridge (Zmajski Most)
The dragon has been the symbol of Ljubljana for centuries, ever since Jason (of Argonauts
and Golden Fleece fame) supposedly slew one in a nearby swamp. This is one of the few
notablebitsofLjubljanaarchitecturenotbyPle
č
nik(butbyJurijZaninovi
ć
,afellowstudent
of Vienna architect Otto Wagner). While the dragon is the star of this very photogenic Art
Nouveau bridge, the bridge itself was officially dedicated to the 40th anniversary of Habs-
burg Emperor Franz Josef's reign (see the dates on the side: 1848-1888). Tapping into the
emp's vanity got new projects funded—vital as the city rebuilt after the 1895 earthquake.
But the Franz Josef name never stuck; those dragons are just too darn memorable.
From the Dragon Bridge, it's an easy funicular ride or steep hike up to Ljubljana Castle
(described later). Or you can head back through the market to reach the Town Square and
Old Town (see next), where I've narrated a self-guided shopping tour.
