Krizanke

Križanke is a large complex of buildings in the centre of Ljubljana, on the left bank of the Ljubljanica river, close to Congress Square and the Slovenian Philharmonic, and it is the city's principal venue for open-air performances. The name means the Crusaders, and refers to the Teutonic Order, a military and religious order of knights, known in Slovene as the Križniki, which settled in Ljubljana in the early thirteenth century and built a commandery here. The knights, who were closely tied to the Holy Roman Empire, held land and churches in many parts of Carniola, and their house in the city, which included a church, cloister and living quarters, was an important centre of power and administration for several centuries.

The Order left its mark on the city and then declined. Over time, the commandery was altered and rebuilt, in the Baroque period the church was given a new look, and the complex was used for different purposes after the order's influence waned. In the twentieth century, the buildings were in need of a new function, and it was the architect Jože Plečnik, who was then the leading figure in the architectural life of Ljubljana, who found one. Between the early 1950s and the middle of the decade, he adapted the old monastery to be a venue for cultural events, creating an open-air theatre in the courtyard and a new entrance and arcades that blend with the medieval structure. His work, one of the last of his career, is considered one of the finest examples of his approach, in which ancient stone, simple geometric forms and carefully chosen details combine.

Today, Križanke is the main venue of the Ljubljana Festival, held each summer, when concerts, opera, ballet and theatre take place in the courtyard under the open sky, and it is also used for other events throughout the season. The stage is set against the old walls, and the atmosphere on a warm evening, with the stone glowing in the light and the audience gathered under the stars, is memorable. During the day, the courtyards and passages can often be visited, and visitors can walk among Plečnik's columns, arches and fountain, and sit in the shade of the cloister. The programme and opening times vary with the season, so it is wise to check what is on and whether the courtyard is open.

The complex is in the middle of the city's main sights. The Butchers' Bridge and the Dragon Bridge are across the river, Ljubljana Castle overlooks the old town, and Ljubljana Cathedral, Congress Square, the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation, the City Museum of Ljubljana and the Ljubljana Central Market are within a few minutes' walk. The Free Walking Tour often passes through. Evening performances are the best way to see Križanke at its most atmospheric.