Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
badluck,thiswastheonlybuildingintowndamagedinWorldWarII,whenaplanecrashed
into it. But the people didn't want to see their books go up in flames—so hundreds of locals
formed a human chain, risking life and limb to save the topic from the burning building.
• Directly behind the library is a mellow square with an obelisk in the middle. This is...
Ple
č
nikdesignedthe
obelisk
inthemiddleofthesquaretocommemorateNapoleon'sshort-
lived decision to make Ljubljana the capital of his Illyrian Provinces. It's rare to find any-
thing honoring Napoleon outside of Paris, but he was good to Ljubljana. Under his rule,
Slovenian culture flourished, the Slovene language became widely recognized and respec-
ted for the first time, schools were established, and roads and infrastructure were improved.
The monument contains ashes of the unknown French soldiers who died in 1813, when the
region went from French to Austrian control.
The Teutonic Knights of the Cross established the nearby
monastery
(Križanke, ivy-
capped wall and gate, free entry) in 1230. The adaptation of these monastery buildings into
the Ljubljana Summer Theatre was Ple
č
nik's last major work (1950-1956).
• From here, it's a scenic 10-minute walk to the next sight. From the obelisk, walk down
Emonska toward the twin-spired church. You'll pass (on the left) the delightful Krakovo
district—a patch of green countryside in downtown Ljubljana. Many of the veggies you
see in the riverside market come from these carefully tended gardens. When you reach the
Gradaš
č
ica stream, head over the bridge (also designed by Ple
č
nik) and go around the left
side of the church to find the house.
Jože Plečnik House (Plečnikova Zbirka)
OneofLjubljana'smostinterestingsightsisthehouseofthearchitectwhoredesignedmuch
of the city. Unfortunately, the house is closed for renovation, likely until the spring of 2015;
ask the TI or check online. If it's open, it's well worth a visit.
