Prešeren Square

Prešeren Square, the heart of Ljubljana

The Ljubljana audio-guided tour takes you to Prešeren Square, entirely pedestrian and one of the great meeting places of the city. All around unfolds a fine ensemble of monuments, dominated by the statue of the poet who gave it his name.

The national poet France Prešeren

The square bears the name of the national poet France Prešeren, and he is no ordinary poet: the Slovenian national anthem is one of his poems, published in 1848. Entitled A Toast, this text celebrates freedom, friendship between peoples and the unity of nations, a very progressive message for its time. In 1989, as Slovenia was approaching independence, a stanza of this poem was chosen as the country's official anthem.

What there is to see

The square brings together the statue of Prešeren, the Emporium gallery and its Art Nouveau, the pink Franciscan Church of the Annunciation and the Triple Bridge that sets off from it towards the old town. It is the convergence point of Ljubljana, lively day and night, where inhabitants and visitors cross paths. An ideal place to begin the discovery of the historic centre.

Practical information

Prešeren Square is in the heart of Ljubljana, at the foot of the Triple Bridge and the old town. Entirely pedestrian, it is freely accessible at all hours and on the level. It is one of the main meeting points of the capital.

Who was France Prešeren?

The Slovenian national poet, whose poem published in 1848, A Toast, provided the words of the country's national anthem.

What can you see on Prešeren Square?

The statue of the poet, the Emporium gallery, the pink Franciscan church and the Triple Bridge leading to the old town.