• Home
  • About
    • In The Media
    • Contact Me
  • Where I’ve Been
    • UNESCO World Heritage Sites
    • Bucket List
  • Travel Resources

Pack Me To

Part time traveler, full time explorer

  • Destinations
    • Asia
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Japan
      • Myanmar
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Bulgaria
      • Croatia
      • Czech Republic
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Hungary
      • Slovenia
    • North America
      • Canada
        • Alberta
        • British Columbia
        • Manitoba
        • Ontario
      • USA
        • California
        • Illinois
        • Massachusetts
        • New York
        • Oregon
        • Washington
        • Wisconsin
  • Tasty Bites
  • Living Abroad
  • Travel Tips
  • Reviews
    • Accommodation
    • Gear
    • Tours
  • Inspiration
You are here: Home / Destinations / The Beautiful and Fantastic Bridges of Ljubljana

The Beautiful and Fantastic Bridges of Ljubljana

06/03/14 | Destinations, Europe, Slovenia


Some posts on this site contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). You can read my full disclosure policy here.

Wandering about Ljubljana, you’d be immediately struck by how many bridges there are connecting parts of the inner city. You’d probably think that there is nothing special about the bridges – they just connect medieval Ljubljana to modern Ljubljana, more a means to an end. However, if you look closely, you can easily tell them apart. Each of them have unique features and have their own stories to tell.

Triple Bridge

The Triple Bridge - The Bridges of Ljubljana | packmeto.com

Crossing the river from Ljubljana’s main square, Prešeren Square, is the famous Triple Bridge. Originally only one bridge stood here. With increasing traffic over the bridge, plans were made to add two additional pedestrian-only bridges on either side.

Triple Bridge - The Bridges of Ljubljana | packmeto.com

Now, the whole area is a pedestrian only area. At night, these bridges are all lit up with lights, making for a very pretty scene – and in many ways looks Italian. An icon of Ljubljana, you can see a version of this bridge Mini-Europe in Brussels.

Butchers’ Bridge

Butchers'Bridge - The Bridges of Ljubljana | packmeto.com

Butchers’ Bridge, connects the Ljubljana market with the other side of the Ljubljanica river. This bridge was originally planned to be installed in the late 1930s, but with the start of World War II, the plans for the bridge were never fulfilled. Nearly fifty years later, the plans were revisited, and the bridge built. Originally the bridge was to be covered and be a part of the market, but now its a pedestrian-only crossing.

Prometheus @ Butchers' Bridge - The Bridges of Ljubljana | packmeto.com

There are a couple of sculptures on the bridge, most noticeable is the running and disemboweled figure of Prometheus who was being punished for giving knowledge of fire to mankind. There are also a number of grotesque sculptures of frogs and shellfish decorating the top of the bridge fence which are really strange.

Locks of Love @ Butchers' Bridge - The Bridges of Ljubljana | packmeto.com

Creepy looking fish on the Butchers’ Bridge

Despite its name, many local and foreign couples have chosen this bridge to be one of the world’s ‘love bridges.” Dotted along the steel cables, are padlocks with initials and names etched in. Couples come and place their lock on the bridge, throwing their key into the river, symbolizing their undying and forever love. This practice of latching padlocks engraved with the names of couples in love isn’t unique to the Butchers’ Bridge in Ljubljana and the most famous display is probably the Pont des Arts in Paris.

Dragon Bridge

The Dragon Bridge - The Bridges of Ljubljana | packmeto.comMy favourite bridge of the bunch because of the beautiful dragons that decorate it. This bridge connects to the other end of the Ljubljana market. Originally it was named after Franz Josef I, but was renamed shortly after as the Dragon Bridge due to the 4 dragons that perch on the four corners of the bridge. The Dragon, is actually a common motif found around Ljubljana; it can be found on the coat of arms for Ljubljana.

Where does this dragon come from? According to legend:

Greek hero Jason and his Argonaut comrades stole a golden fleece, the coat of a golden ram, from the King of Colchis on the Black Sea. On board the Argo they fled their pursuers and found themselves at the mouth of the River Danube instead of going south towards the Aegean Sea and their Greek homeland. There was no way back, so they went on, up the Danube and then along the River Ljubljanica. They had to stop at the source of the Ljubljanica and overwintered here. They then took the Argo apart and in the spring carried it on their shoulders to the Adriatic coast, where they put it back together again and went on their way. According to the legend, on their arrival between what is now Vrhnika and Ljubljana, the Argonauts came across a large lake with a marsh alongside. Here lived a terrible marsh dragon that Jason killed after a heroic struggle. The monster would have been the Ljubljana dragon. It is said that Jason should have been the first real Ljubljana citizen. (source)

The Dragon Bridge - The Bridges of Ljubljana | packmeto.comEverywhere you go in the there is this dragon motif. I even picked up a magnet of the city complete with dragon on it.

The Cobbler’s Bridge

Cobbler's Bridge at Night

Photo: Zack Lee

The oldest bridge of medieval Ljubljana, it dates back to at least the 13th century. Originally a wooden bridge, and most likely a drawbridge, many shoemakers set up their workshops on the bridge which is why it is called the Shoemaker’s or Cobbler’s Bridge. The six pillars that rise up from the bridge on either side were remnants of a planned roof.

Shoes at Cobbler's Bridge - The Bridges of Ljubljana | packmeto.com

Today while there are no more shoemaker stalls, if you look up, you might spot a few individuals playing homage to the bridge’s name by slinging their old and worn shoes onto power lines nearby.

There are plenty of other bridges in the city, but these are the ones with the most interesting stories. When exploring Ljubljana, think about all the history that these bridges have seen and how many people have wandered over them.

If you’re new to Pack Me To, welcome!
Stay on top of my travel and food adventures by liking me on Facebook and following me on Twitter & Instagram.

Sign up to receive monthly updates and exclusive giveaways:

« 7 Free Things To Do in Ljubljana
A Strange Night Out in Metelkova, Slovenia »

Comments

  1. Corinne says

    June 3, 2014 at 11:06 AM

    Adelina, I have to agree with you. I love the dragon bridge.

    • Adelina says

      June 3, 2014 at 11:07 PM

      It’s such a cool looking bridge! I wish Vancouver had bridges that looked like that.

  2. Andrew says

    June 3, 2014 at 2:04 PM

    Bridges! What a great idea for a blog post! Great stuff, lovely city!

    • Adelina says

      June 3, 2014 at 11:07 PM

      Thanks Andrew! It seems like such a strange topic for a post, but these bridges in Ljubljana are definitely worth talking about.

  3. Caitlyn says

    June 3, 2014 at 7:37 PM

    Lovely! Ljubljana is such a lovely city. Did you hear that a local nickname for the Dragon Bridge is the ‘Mother in Law Bridge’? Love it!

    • Adelina says

      June 3, 2014 at 11:05 PM

      No I didn’t! Or maybe I did and I missed hearing it properly. So funny though 🙂

  4. Aussie in France says

    June 3, 2014 at 9:44 PM

    I loved Ljubljana and I loved the bridges. Thank you for this excellent review. I am going to include it in my Weekly Blogger Round-Up if I may. We cycled right round the city and out into the country. Wonderful experience!

    • Adelina says

      June 3, 2014 at 11:05 PM

      Thanks for including me! I wish I had gone around by bike. Ljubljana seemed like a very bike friendly place.

  5. Carolyn says

    June 4, 2014 at 12:31 AM

    Thanks for your timely post, Adelina. I’m heading to Ljubljana shortly and will definitely be keeping an eye out for all the bridges you’ve mentioned. I’ve heard about the Triple Bridge before but now I’m keen to see the Dragon Bridge, too.

    • Adelina says

      June 4, 2014 at 5:51 PM

      Thanks Carolyn! I hope you enjoy your time in Ljubljana!

  6. Rachel M says

    June 4, 2014 at 8:43 AM

    Beautiful bridges and also interesting story behind some of the sculptures and symbols that dot the bridges.

    • Adelina says

      June 4, 2014 at 5:50 PM

      Definitely! And its all things that you wouldn’t think twice about usually when walking past.

  7. Shikha (whywasteannualleave) says

    June 4, 2014 at 11:30 AM

    I just love that beautiful night time shot you’ve taken of Cobbler’s bridge! I tried to take a few like that myself when I was there but none of them came out like that! They’re all so beautiful and easy and close to walk around, which is lovely 🙂

    • Adelina says

      June 4, 2014 at 5:49 PM

      I wish I could say I took that photo, but I borrowed it off of Creative Commons. Mine were terrible photos as well. Definitely, all the bridges in the city are gorgeous.

  8. Mary {The World Is A Book} says

    June 6, 2014 at 6:03 AM

    Ljubljana looks so picturesque. I love looking at and crossing bridges and these are a wonderful set. I’m partial to the Dragon Bridge but I like the history behind all of them. The Prometheus and fish ones were quite disturbing but it’s these unique characteristics that make these bridges memorable.

    • Adelina says

      June 6, 2014 at 6:57 PM

      Definitely! I completely agree with you. I think I like the dragon bridge just because of the myth and cool looking sculptures of the dragons.

  9. Elena says

    June 15, 2014 at 6:10 PM

    Ljubljana started being on my travel radar just recently as actually quite a few people blog about the city. But the more pics I see and things I read about the city – the more I wanna visit!

    Your photos look absolutely inspiring!

Trackbacks

  1. Weekly Blogger Round-Up: Food shopping in Europe – Bridges of Ljubljana | Aussie in France says:
    June 4, 2014 at 7:53 AM

    […] Wandering about Ljubljana, you’d be immediately struck by how many bridges there are connecting parts of the inner city. You’d probably think that there is nothing special about the bridges – they just connect medieval Ljubljana to modern Ljubljana, more a means to an end. However, if you look closely, you can easily tell them apart. Each of them have unique features and have their own stories to tell. Read more […]

  2. The Best Things to Do in Ljubljana, Slovenia | StefanRTW says:
    May 10, 2016 at 9:03 PM

    […] Crossing the Ljubljanica River is the Triple Bridge, the most famous pedestrian bridge in the city. […]

Welcome to Pack Me To!

Adelina is a part time traveler, exploring the world despite having a full-time job. Pack Me To is a collection of stories from her travels and adventures around the world as she packs you to destinations around the world with her.

Adelina has been traveling for as long as she can remember and has lived abroad in the Netherlands and Hungary. She loves telling stories, and eating and exploring her way around the world. Come along for the ride. Read More…

Let’s connect!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Popular Destinations

Sign up to receive monthly updates and exclusive giveaways:

Recent Posts

  • 7 Destinations to Experience Game of Thrones in Real Life
  • My Date with a Dinosaur in Drumheller, Alberta
  • Inside the Agra Fort: Highlights from the Red Fort of Agra
  • Finding Peace and Hope in Hiroshima
  • The Hostel Chains of Japan In Review

Privacy & Disclosure

Pack Me To is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Read the site’s full Privacy and Disclosure policy here.

Copyright © 2023

Copyright © 2023 · Tasteful Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in