Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Enteringthedoortotherightofthetower,you'llfirstfindthesmall
penitentiary
exhibit,
recallingthepost-Napoleonicera,whenthecastlewasconvertedtoaprison.Itsawthemost
action during World War I, when it housed political prisoners (including the beloved Slove-
nianwriterIvanCankar)andPOWs.Modestexhibitsinsideactual,formercellsdescribethe
history and list the names of past inmates.
If you head downstairs from the entrance, you'll find a Gothic
chapel
with Baroque
paintingsofSt.George(Ljubljana'spatronsaint,thedragon-slayer)andcoatsofarmsofthe
various aristocratic families that have called this castle home.
Heading up the stairs, you'll find the informative, entertaining, and nicely animated
“Virtual Castle” film,
in which Ljubljana's mascot dragon describes this hill's layers of
history (12 minutes, plays all day on the half-hour; often in English, but otherwise borrow
English headset).
Finally, climb the 92 spiral steps up to the
castle tower,
with one of the best views in
town.
Eating:
Combine your visit to the castle with a meal at the recommended
Gostilna na
Gradu,
with the best traditional Slovenian food in town (in the castle courtyard; described
later, under “Eating in Ljubljana”).
Strelec
restaurant is pricey and pretentious, with an
overly complicated theme and menu (a hard-to-pin-down muddle of traditional Slovenian,
ancient Roman, and contemporary international); unless you're trying to impress someone,
I'd stick with Gostilna na Gradu.
The Prešeren Square (west) side of the river is the heart of modern Ljubljana, and home to
several prominent squares and fine museums. These sights are listed roughly in order from
Prešeren Square and can be linked to make an interesting walk.
• Leave Prešeren Square in the direction the poet is looking, bear to your left (up Wolfova,
by the picture of Julija), and walk a block to...
This grassy, tree-lined square hosts big events. It's ringed by some of Ljubljana's most im-
portant buildings: the University headquarters, the Baroque Ursuline Church of the Holy
Trinity, a classical mansion called the Kazina, and the Philharmonic Hall. Once clogged
withtraffic,theareaaroundthesquarewasrecentlypedestrianized,includingthebroadstrip
alongthefarside.Thegreenbeltattheheartofthesquare,calledParkZvezda(“StarPark”)
for its radiating paths, is fronted by several inviting cafés and restaurants; the aptly named
and recommended
Zvezda
is a top spot for its local cakes.
