LJUBLJANA ROUTE
Length
12.4
Length 12.4 km ​
Time needed
04:00
Time needed 04:00 ​
Največja strmina vzpona[%]
31
Greatest slope of the ascent: 31 %
Greatest slope of the descent: 13 %
Average slope of the ascent: 9 %
Length of ascents above 5%: 2.30 km
The lowest point of the route: 389 m
The highest point of the route: 287 m
Difference in altitude: 367 m
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Poraba kalorij
3919
Consumption of energy for men: 3919 kJ (936 kcal)
Consumption of energy for women: 3215 kJ (768 kcal)
​
Difficulty
Difficulty: Easy ​
Quality of the surface
Quality of the surface: Mixture
Primerna obutev: Hiking boots
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Short description

The route is extremely easy as it runs along the Ljubljana streets and ascends only twice – to Rožnik and to Ljubljana Castle. Nature which connects with the city, newly arranged banks of the Rivers Gradaščica and Ljubljanica and numerous sights in the centre of the city give a special charm to the route.

Course

Tivoli – Rožnik– Živalski vrt – Rožna dolina - Mirje – Trnovo – Ljubljanski grad– Tromostovje – Tivoli

Start in Tivoli
Leave your car at the car park in Tivoli and set out to the tree-lined alley. There is an information board with important data at the beginning of Jesenkova pot Trail. Along the well-marked Jesenkova pot Trail, different kinds of trees are also labelled. Tivoli, Rožnik and Šišenski hrib Hill were proclaimed a landscape park in 1984. Jesenkova pot Trail leads to the crossroads where you head to Mostec. On the right is the jump tower (nowadays closed) of the former ski jump in Šiška, built from red bricks. When you descend to the valley, you can see three ski jumps of different heights. On the right is Mostec where there is an inn with a nicely arranged surrounding and children playground, suitable for a rest, refreshment and games, but do not stop there, instead turn left to Koseze Pond. After a few metres, turn sharply left to the direction of ski jumps, parallel with the stream. At the top of the inrun, join the main road and turn right. At the crossroads, you come near Drenikov vrh Hill and set out for Cankarjev vrh Hill (at Rožnik). You won't visit Koseze Pond this time as you will go over Rožnik. Some other time maybe, because this is one of rear stagnant waters in Ljubljana , .

Over Rožnik, past the zoo and Rožna dolina to Vič
You can visit the Church of Visitation of Mary at Rožnik and a memorial room of the Slovenian writer Ivan Cankar who spent his last years there. In Rožnik Inn you can order drinks and food and admire a beautiful view of Ljubljana. Return to the path where you came from and turn left at the crossroads. Along an iron (and later wooden) fence, you approach the zoo and get to the road where you turn left to the car park at the zoo. Cross the road opposite the zoo entrance . Follow the asphalted cycle line and cross the Glinščica Stream. Walk along Jamnikarjeva Street, then turn left to Kokaljeva Street, continue to the end of the street and turn right at the stream – you are still in Kokaljeva Street. At the beginning of Bizjakova Street, you'll notice the bridge on the left, cross it and you will get to Rožna dolina, cesta VI Road. Turn right to Rožna dolina, cesta XVII Road.
When you get to the traffic lights, cross the railroad and descend along Gregorinova ulica Street, past Vič Grammar School to Tržaška cesta Road, cross it and continue to Zavetiška Street. Be careful not to go astray to the dead end of Zavetiška Street, where a street sign points, so turn slightly right immediately after crossing Tržaška cesta Road.
At the end of Zavetiška Street, cross Jamova cesta Road and the Gradaščica River , then continue diagonally through the park and left to Mencingerjeva ulica Street along the Gradaščica River [S 21]. Walk to the end of the long Mencingerjeva ulica Street, turn left and cross the bridge.

Through Trnovo to the centre
After crossing the bridge, two options arise:
1) you can turn right at the traffic lights and then immediately turn left to Murnikova Street. At the end of Murnikova Street, go right to Mirje. Along the Roman walls , continue to Emonska cesta Road where you turn right to the Church of St. John the Baptist in Trnovo .
2) or you can continue the walk along the Gradaščica River and a renovated park and under a new bridge in Trnovo . You get to Emonska ulica Street and over the old bridge in Trnovo to the church in Trnovo.
From the church, continue your way on Eipprova ulica Street to the Ljubljanica River, then turn left to the city centre. You can walk along the left embankment – Krakovski nasip – , or the right one – Grudnovo nabrežje . Both embankments were renovated with urban equipment and arranged for pedestrians in 2011. Krakovski nasip and Grudnovo nabrežje Embankments are connected by the Hradeckega most Bridge since 2011. The latter is known by the people of Ljubljana under the name of the Mortuary Bridge (it was relocated there from Moste) , . Continue along Karlovška cesta Road past the Grubar Palace where Ljubljana Historical Archive is, to the Church of St. Jacob at Levstikov trg Square , where you turn left to Rožna ulica Street.

Up to Ljubljana Castle
The ascent to Ljubljana Castle up Ulica na Grad Street starts soon. Stick to the right at the crossroads and turn to the macadam road with a steep staircase that leads to the top of the hill or the castle plateau . You can take a rest there and visit the wedding hall, castle gallery, multi-purpose hall, observation tower , chapel, defensive moat , pentagonal tower or just take a break and enjoy the view of Ljubljana . Right from the entrance into the castle, the winding macadam road leads you back to the city centre.

Through the centre back to Tivoli
You are at Na Stolbi Street. Turn left to Streliška Street where, at the tunnel, take the right turn to Kopitarjeva Street. Before the bridge continue left to Adamič-Lundrovo nabrežje Embankment, cross Tromostovje (Triple Bridge) and walk to Prešernov trg Square. The route goes along Čopova Street to Slovenska cesta Road and ahead to Cankarjeva ulica Street, past the National Gallery and Museum of Modern Art to Tivoli. When you come out from the underpass, turn right to Hala Tivoli to the starting point. If there is an exhibition at Jakopičevo sprehajališče Promenade you can view it on the way .

Landscape Park Tivoli, Rožnik, Šišenski hrib Hill ,
The area, proclaimed as the landscape park in 1984, encompasses the city park Tivoli and woody Rožnik and Šišenski hrib Hills. The landscape park, which is an inseparable part of the identity of Ljubljana, measures 500 hectares. This is a protected area in which natural and cultural space elements are preserved and its social and recreational functions are equally important. On the western side of Šišenski hrib Hill, on the area of a former clay pit, a water surface, Koseze Pond, emerged which is an important habitat for some rare and endangered animal species and is one of rare stagnant waters in Ljubljana. On the eastern embankment, a wooden platform for sitting and enjoying beside the water is arranged.

The Church of Visitation of Mary at Rožnik
The Church of Visitation of Mary is located at the top of Rožnik, at Cankarjev vrh Hill. It is seen from the southern side of Ljubljana and the Ljubljana Marshes already from the distance, because of its position, its red façade and the lightning during the night.
The church was built already in the 16th century and got its today Baroque image in the 18th century (by the architect Candido Zulliani).

Rožnik Inn
In 1747, a first small inn called Pri Matiji, was built below the church. A huge land with meadows, orchards and a garden belonged to the inn. A new inn opened its door to the guests in 1869 and is known today as Rožnik Inn.
In 1905, Carinthian Slovenian, Karel Bergman, bought the inn and five years later, writer Ivan Cankar settled and lived there until his death in 1917. The present owners and managers take care of the cultural heritage of the house and its surrounding. Slovenian cuisine is served at the inn.

Cankar's memorial room and a monument
Of the three important life stops of Slovenian writer Ivan Cankar, namely Vrhnika, Vienna and Ljubljana, the latter represents a special place. In the years between 1910 and 1917, Cankar found his second home at Rožnik. He enjoyed the hospitality of the Francotove family, the owners of the inn who had a special bond with Cankar since his student years. At first, he lived in the outbuilding opposite the inn, moreover, in a small house located right from the present Cankar's room, with a view of his birthplace, Vrhnika. He later moved to the first floor of the inn, with the view of the church at Rožnik. Numerous admirers of his work came to Rožnik in order to meet him in person and his fellow colleagues visited him as well.
In 1948, on the thirtieth anniversary of Cankar's death, the City Museum of Ljubljana opened Cankar's memorial room at Rožnik. It was decorated with some of the writer's personal belongings, cultural and historic documents and furniture which reflect the spirit of the beginning of the 20th century, with Cankar's first printings and translations of his works in other languages as well as with his selected works. The present room with a white chrysanthemum pattern on the green walls reminds the visitors of Cankar's literary masterpiece Bela krizantema (White Chrysanthemum).
In 1948, on the thirtieth anniversary of Cankar's death, the City Museum had the monument erected at Rožnik (made by Frančišek Smerdu). On this occasion, Rožnik was renamed into Cankarjev vrh Peak.

Trnovo Bridge
Emonska cesta Road and Trnovo Bridge used to be the only land connection of Trnovo and Krakovo with the inner city surrounded by wall. At the embankment of the Ljubljanica, Zoisov graben Ditch separated them from the city. The predecessors of the current bridge were wooden and narrow footbridges. In 1932 a new, reinforced concrete bridge was built, which has been preserved until today. It is 20 metres broad, coated with Podpeč limestone and equipped with four low pyramids at the end of the planks. The middle of the eastern plank is decorated with a tall obelisk and opposite is the statue of St. John the Baptist, made by the sculptor Nikolaj Pirnat. Birch-lined alley planted at the bridge represents an urban peculiarity on European and global scale.

Triple Bridge
The medieval Ljubljana citizens had already crossed the Ljubljanica River at the same spot where Triple Bridge is located today. The Old Bridge at the meander of the river was mentioned in the document from 1280, and was the first bridge located in Ljubljana after antiquity. The bridge was destroyed in the 1657 fire. It was replaced by a new wooden bridge. In 1842, the old wooden bridge became too dangerous to use, so a stone Špitalski most Bridge (by the architect Giovanni Picco) was built there and was officially named Frančev most Bridge, after the then archduke Franz Karl. After the devastating earthquake in 1895, Ljubljana received substantial financial support for the reconstruction of the city. It was then decided that the capacity of Špitalski most Bridge, which lasted the earthquake, was to be increased. Work did not start until the end of World War I. The project was assigned to architect Plečnik, who managed to keep the old bridge and ordered the building of two new bridges, one on the left side of the old bridge, and the second one on the right side, both intended for pedestrians only. All three bridges were designed in the same fashion, decorated with massive pillar fencing from artificial stone and connected with the lower regulation above the level of the Ljubljanica River. The three bridges were named Triple Bridge. In 1992, the Triple Bridge was thoroughly renovated.

Prešernov trg Square
Prešernov trg Square emerged from medieval crossroads in front of the city gates. It began acquiring its present image in the 17th century when the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation of Mary was built. The square was originally called Marijin trg (Mary's Square). Renovation of the square followed later. It was paved only in the middle of the 19th century, after city walls were demolished (also the nearby Špitale vrata Gates). Another important factor in the development of the square was the earthquake in 1895 which damaged medieval houses. City mansions were built there: Frisch House, Seunig House, Central Pharmacy, Urbanc Shop, Hauptmann House and Mayer Palace. In the first decade of the 20th century, Hauptmann House was renovated in Secession style. The same style was used for Urbanc House or former Centromerkur, the first supermarket in Ljubljana. Emporium shop is nowadays there. The central position at the square is occupied by Prešeren Monument, the work of Ivan Zajc, which was unveiled on 10 September 1905.

Rožnik Inn
Type: inn. Gastronomic offer: homemade dishes, delicious potica (walnut roll) and tea. Distinguishing features: the inn is well-frequented; it has a nice garden and a playground.

After you cross Tržaška cesta Road and turn to Zavetiška ulica Street, be careful not to end up at the dead end of Zavetiška ulica Street. After crossing the road, immediately turn slightly to the right and not straightforward as indicated by the signpost.