- Address: Resljeva cesta 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
- Discovery: 1901;
- Beginning of construction: July 1, 1900;
- Architectural style: Modern.
The Dragon Bridge is a symbol of Ljubljana , it received such a loud status because of the four dragons that guard it. The mythical animal is depicted on the flag and the coat of arms of the city, and the bridge with its guards is, as it were, an integral part of these attributes. Until now, the true history of the bridge is unknown, there are several versions. And all because of the fact that the modern concrete bridge was built on the basis of the destroyed wooden one. But the more riddles there are, the more interesting it is.
History of the bridge
In 1819 a wooden bridge was erected across the Ljubljanica River. Despite the fact that by the standards of historians it happened not so long ago, to this day there are no papers that could tell anything about the architecture of the bridge. It is known that in 1895 an earthquake destroyed the bridge. It was very important for the city, so the design of the new structure was created quite quickly. The construction was completed in 1901 and timed to the 40th anniversary of the reign of Franz Josef I. Because of this, the bridge was named "Jubilee". Large sculptures of green dragons were very expressive and the local called the construction of the Dragon Bridge. Soon it was renamed.
The construction of the new bridge was led by the engineer Josef Melan, who can only be reproached for the selected material for the building - reinforced concrete, and not stone. But this was done for the sake of economy, since the budget was very small.
Bridge architecture
The exterior of the bridge is quite laconic. On his facade figures adorned symbolize the years of the reign of Franz Josef I. Despite the modest budget and time limits, the Austrougrians did not want to lag behind the world trends, so the engineer had to work hard. The result of his efforts was the arch of the bridge, which at that time was the third largest in the world. In addition, the Dragon Bridge was the first in the territory of modern Slovenia , covered with asphalt.
On the bridge are eight lanterns with four lamps, which perfectly illuminate it in the dark. By the way, lanterns as well as dragons are painted in green.
How to get there?
You can get to the Bridge of Dragons by city bus: itineraries # 13 and # 20. For this it is necessary to get off at the stop "Zmajski most". If you want to walk along the old streets and embankment, before you get on the bridge, then it is recommended to take bus number 5 and get off at the station "Ilirska". From it you need to go down the street Vidovdanska cesta down to the embankment of Petkovskovo street and turn right. After 250 m you will find yourself at the bridge.