Facts about touring the city of Ljubljana

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Visitors to Europe usually have the Western European countries on their itinerary. However, the Eastern European countries are equally beautiful with interesting sites to visit. Slovenia is one such country to which visitors are flocking recently. With a rich culture that has been influenced by other countries of Europe, Slovenia has opened her doors to visitors around 20 years ago after gaining independence from Yugoslavia. Prior to independence, Slovenia was on the other side of the Iron Curtain and hence restricted entry of visitors.

Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and offers a number of picturesque places. It is one of the oldest cities of Europe. Initially under the occupation of the Romans by the name Emona, it was destroyed by the Huns. Later on, the Slavic tribes made it their settlement.
Some of the major interesting points on this city are:

Ljubljana is an ideal place as a weekend getaway, especially for tourists who are bored of visiting Rome, Barcelona and all the other popular destinations in Europe. Tourists interested in every nook and cranny will have to spare 3-4 days for touring Ljubljana.

The name Ljubljana possibly came from the German word ‘œLaibach’ which means marshland and Luwigana from the Slavic-Roman language. The modern day pronunciation is similar to the latter word. Other theories suggest that the name was borrowed from the name of the Slavic God, Laburus, or from the word ljubljena which means beloved.

Like other east European countries, Slovenia is quite cold. The maximum temperatures during the summer months of July and August are 25 degrees Celsius. During winters, the mercury can easily dip below zero degrees. Being located in a basin, the country experiences temperature inversion i.e. it may rain during winters.

The cobbled roads of Ljubljana and its roadside cafes along River Ljubljanica can remind one of Amsterdam and Paris. The Art deco buildings in Ljubljana resemble the buildings in Yugoslavia and other eastern European countries.

Food in Ljubljana is much influenced by its neighbours. Red meat steaks and stews form the staple food which shows the influence of Czech or Hungarian cuisine. The view of the Alps from the city is similar to that from the Austrian border.

For a tourist, the first stop should be the Ljubljanski Grad or the castle that was built in the 15th century. Although very little remains of the main structure, efforts have been put in to reconstructing the area. An interior courtyard has been made open to visitors for enjoying the view of the streets down below.

Although no entry fee is charged for entering the castle, to go up the main tower, a ticket worth 2 pounds needs to be purchased. Not only will it provide access to the upper tower but also an interactive museum with video show. The view of the Julian Alps is magnificent from here.

Jose Plecnik, the prodigal Slavic architect of the 20th century has left behind quite a few of his creations in the city. The most famous creation of his is the Tromostovje or the triple bridge which begins from the castle’s foot and goes to the centre of the town, over the Ljubljanica. The bridge is ornately decorated and awe-inspiring.

Couples visiting the city should not miss the romantic bar Makalonca, which has the central seating area cut into the Ljubljanica, along the Tromostovje.

Rooms are quite easily available in Ljubljana at affordable rates. For a double bed room, couples would have to pay at least £121.

Ljubljana has started attracting tourists from all over the world for its rich cultural heritage and scenic beauty which has led to the development of tourism in this city.

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