Ivan Hribar

Ivan Hribar, the builder mayor of Ljubljana

The Ljubljana audio-guided tour invites you to get to know Ivan Hribar, undoubtedly the most emblematic mayor of the city. He led it from 1896 to 1910, just after the terrible earthquake, and it is to him that we largely owe the modern face of the capital.

A visionary of urban planning

A visionary, Ivan Hribar doubled the size of Ljubljana in fourteen years and launched its very first urban plan. Under his term, the city acquired bridges and large Secession-style buildings, schools, hospitals and public baths, as well as a network of electric trams. He transformed a city wounded by the 1895 earthquake into a modern and ambitious capital, laying the foundations of the Ljubljana we know today.

What there is to see

A statue pays tribute to Ivan Hribar, near the banks of the Ljubljanica that he did so much to transform. Observing the surrounding city, you measure his legacy: bridges, elegant buildings and a modern layout still bear his mark. It is the occasion for a stop before going down to stroll by the water, on the banks he loved so much.

Practical information

The statue of Ivan Hribar is near the banks of the Ljubljanica, in the heart of Ljubljana. It can be contemplated freely at all hours and on the level, along the walk by the river.

Who was Ivan Hribar?

The most emblematic mayor of Ljubljana, who led the city from 1896 to 1910 and largely gave it its modern face after the 1895 earthquake.

What did he bring to the city?

The first urban plan, bridges, Secession buildings, schools, hospitals, public baths and a network of electric trams.