Triple Bridge

The Triple Bridge, Tromostovje in Slovene, crosses the Ljubljanica in the centre of Ljubljana, and it links the old town on the east side of the river with Prešeren Square, the city's main meeting place, on the west. It is not one bridge but three, set side by side, and it is the work of the architect Jože Plečnik, who reshaped much of the capital in the first half of the twentieth century. For visitors, it is the natural starting point for a walk through the city, and for residents, it is the place where many routes cross and where people arrange to meet.

The story of the bridge is one of gradual widening. For centuries, a wooden bridge crossed the river at this point, and in the nineteenth century it was replaced by a stone bridge with a single arch, completed in the early 1840s, which was known as the Hospital Bridge. As the city grew and traffic increased, the old bridge became too narrow, and in the late 1920s and early 1930s, Plečnik proposed a solution that kept the existing bridge and added two new pedestrian bridges, one on either side, so that the three together formed a broad fan opening toward the square. The side bridges are slender, with balustrades of artificial stone and rows of small columns, and lamps that glow in the evening, and the arrangement has a gentle grace that has become one of the symbols of the city. The result is both practical and elegant, since it provided the extra capacity and a more welcoming approach to the old town.

Standing on the bridge, a visitor sees some of the best views in Ljubljana. To the east, the river bends past the market colonnades, and the hill of the castle rises behind the roofs, while to the west, the pink facade of the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation closes the end of Prešeren Square, where the statue of the poet France Prešeren stands. Cafes and shops line the quays on both sides, and in summer, tables extend to the water's edge. The bridge is open to pedestrians and cyclists at all hours and costs nothing, and it is busy during the day and in the evening, when people gather to talk, listen to street musicians and watch the lights.

The Triple Bridge makes a good start for a tour of the old town. The Dragon Bridge, the Butchers' Bridge and the Cathedral are a short walk away, Ljubljana Castle can be reached by the funicular, and the Free Walking Tour often starts here. The City Museum, Congress Square, Križanke and Cukrarna are within easy reach, and the Ljubljana Central Market is next to the river. Early morning is quiet and good for photographs.