Congress Square

Congress Square, Kongresni trg in Slovene, is one of the main squares of Ljubljana, a rectangle of lawns, paths and tall trees set between some of the city's most important buildings, just a few minutes' walk from the river and the old town. It takes its name from the Congress of Laibach, held in 1821, when the monarchs and ministers of the Holy Alliance, the conservative union of Austria, Russia and Prussia, met in the town, then called Laibach, to decide on a response to uprisings in Italy. The city was prepared for the event with new streets and a new square, and the gathering put the little provincial capital on the European map for a few weeks. Today the square is a calm green space in the middle of the city, used for strolling, sitting and public events.

The square is framed by monumental buildings that tell something about the city's history. On one side stands the main building of the University of Ljubljana, formerly the seat of the provincial estates of Carniola and built in the nineteenth century, and it now holds the rectorate of the university, which gives the square a scholarly air. The Casino building, a neoclassical block of the 1830s, stands on the northern side and was used as a social club and meeting house. The Slovenian Philharmonic, one of the oldest musical societies in Europe, whose roots go back to the early eighteenth century and which counted Haydn and Beethoven among its honorary members, has its concert hall close to the square, and the Ursuline Church of the Holy Trinity, a Baroque building with a finely sculpted altar, completes the picture. Together the buildings span the Baroque, neoclassical and later eclectic styles.

In the middle lies Zvezda Park, the Star Park, whose name comes from the star-shaped arrangement of its paths. The park has benches, flower beds, old trees and a music pavilion, and it holds several monuments. Some recall the Napoleonic period, when Ljubljana was the capital of the Illyrian Provinces of the French Empire from 1809 to 1813, a short episode that left lasting traces, including the introduction of Slovene into schools. A replica of a Roman statue links the square to the ancient town of Emona, and a monument connected with the Holy Trinity column recalls older traditions.

The square hosts open-air concerts, festivals and public celebrations, and on warm days students and office workers sit on the lawns. It lies at the edge of the old town and makes a convenient starting point for walks toward Prešeren Square, the market and the castle, and the City Museum of Ljubljana is only a few steps away.

The square suits visitors who like a pause between sights, history lovers and anyone who enjoys people-watching. It is open and free at all hours, and early evening, when the light is soft, is especially pleasant.