Butchers' Bridge

Butchers' Bridge, in Slovene Mesarski most, is one of the newest crossings of the Ljubljanica in the centre of Ljubljana, and it has quickly become one of the most talked-about. It was opened in 2010, after many years of planning and delay, and it links the riverside market area on one bank with the quay on the other, giving pedestrians a direct way across between two lively parts of the old town. Unlike the neighbouring Triple Bridge and Dragon Bridge, which are built of stone and concrete in the early twentieth century, the Butchers' Bridge is a contemporary structure of steel and glass, and it makes a deliberate contrast with its old surroundings.

The name looks back to the Middle Ages. In earlier centuries, the riverside near the market was the place where butchers kept their stalls, and a bridge there was lined with meat stalls, so the district and the crossing took their name from the trade. The modern bridge honours that history in its name, though it bears no resemblance to the old one. Its design is the work of the Slovenian architect Jurij Kobe, and it has a light, slender profile that lets the river and the surrounding buildings stay in view. The bridge is also decorated with bronze sculptures by the artist Jakov Brdar, which are set on the pylons and the railing, and they depict biblical and mythological themes, among them figures such as Adam and Eve and Prometheus, and are at once playful and provocative. They have attracted admirers and critics, which is typical of public art that makes people think.

The bridge soon acquired another life. Couples began to fasten padlocks to the railings as a sign of love, in a custom seen in many European cities, and the weight of the locks eventually became a concern for the city, which has discouraged the practice. Whatever the fate of the padlocks, the bridge remains popular as a place to stand and look. From its deck you have views along the river to the Triple Bridge and the Franciscan Church, up the slope to Ljubljana Castle, and across to the Central Market and its colonnade, which was designed by Jože Plečnik. In the evening, the illumination adds a romantic touch, and the quays on either side fill with people in cafes and restaurants.

The bridge is open at all times and costs nothing to cross. It is part of the standard route of the Free Walking Tour, and it is close to Ljubljana Central Market, Dragon Bridge, Ljubljana Cathedral and the City Museum of Ljubljana, with Congress Square, Križanke and Cukrarna a little farther. The Franciscan Church of the Annunciation, the Cemetery For Slovenian Notables and the Abandoned Military Barracks (art Squat) show other sides of the city.

It suits photographers, couples and strollers. Visit at dusk. Opened in July 2010, Ljubljana’s newest river crossing has quickly become part of the city. The Ljubljanica River below is calm and green, and Slovenia’s capital rarely looks so modern; few bridges in Slovenia make such a statement.