Ljubljana - Vodnikov trg (Vodnik Square)

Ljubljana is a picturesque capital of Slovenia that attracts many local and foreign visitors. Among the biggest attractions are the Ljubljana Castle, the Triple Bridge, Preseren Square with the Preseren Monument, the Town Hall, Tivoli Park and more.

The Vodnik square represents the part of old Ljubljana that has changed the most in history. The present market was created after the earthquake, earlier, already in the 13th century, a Franciscan monastery with a church stood here. The monastery was leaned against the eastern city walls. It was named after the town gate between the town and the Poljansko suburb Franciscan or Cloister Gate. When the Franciscans moved outside the walls to the former Augustinian monastery in the present Preseren Square in the 18th century, a lyceum (gymnasium) and a college were settled in the monastery building. For this purpose, in 1787 the building was rebuilt according to the plans of Joseph Schemrl. The memory of this school is still preserved on the other side of the square, the Studentska Ulica Street, which leads to the Castle and a bronze monument to the Slovenian poet Valentin Vodnik, the work of Alojzije Gangl. The monument was erected in front of the main entrance of the school in 1888 and is still turning its back on the square today, when the Lyceum is gone. Opposite the monument is a walkway to the picturesque castle hill with Ljubljana Castle. In this building, Valentin Vodnik lived first as a Franciscan priest and later as a high school teacher. The earthquake damaged the Lyceum so badly that it was demolished in 1903 and a market was erected in its place. Now is here the central market in Ljubljana, which extends from the Dragon Bridge to Pogacar Square and the Triple Bridge. Along the river, on the lower side of the square are the famous Plecnik's Markets, monumental colonnade buildings that serve their original purpose.

In the area of Vodnikov Square there is also a popular restaurant Vodnikov hram, which offers old, good, home-made food, which used to pamper visitors to the Ljubljana Market in Vodnik times. In addition, they have a rich selection of classic dishes and sweets.