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Bridges and Dragons self guided tour of Ljubljana

4.8

( 25 reviews )

$6.99

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Discover Ljubljana on a short self-guided walk through riverside promenades, dragon-guarded bridges, and a charming capital where Baroque elegance meets a relaxed, creative spirit.

Highlights


  • Stand where a bishop banned his own clergy from crossing the square, furious at a half naked statue that's still standing today

  • Follow architect Jože Plečnik's fingerprints across the city: a library built from Roman ruins, three bridges where one used to stand, a crusader ruin turned open air theatre

  • Hear the legend of Urška, danced into the river by the Water Man, and meet the heartbroken poet who turned it into Slovenia's most famous ballad

  • Cross a bridge guarded by four bronze dragons that, locals swear, wag their tails when a virgin walks past

  • Finish at the Central Market for Carniolan sausage, štruklji dumplings, and raw milk straight from a vending machine

Preview Stop

The Dragon Bridge
00:00 / 01:04
Welcome to the Dragon Bridge. I am sure you have already seen its images on several postcards, mugs, tourist brochures, and souvenirs. On this bridge stand four dragons, one at each corner, sitting on stone plinths, baring their teeth, with bronze wings spread wide. The bridge was built just over a hundred years ago, in honour of the fortieth year on the throne of the Habsburg Emperor Franz Joseph. It was originally called the Jubilee Bridge in his honour. But the city renamed it the Dragon Bridge after the empire ended, and the new name stuck. Now, for the big question. Why are there dragons on a Ljubljana bridge? And you can also see it on the city's coat of arms, its flag, and local license plates. The reason is a legend that goes back a very long way. According to the old story, the Greek hero Jason, sailing home from his quest for the Golden Fleece with his Argonauts, sailed up the Ljubljanica all the way to the marshes near here. There, at the source of the river, he encountered and killed a fearsome dragon. The dragon became the city's symbol. Whether or not the Argonauts actually sailed up this river is mythology. But the legend was already being written down in chronicles hundreds of years ago, with the river always credited as the dragon's home. There is one more story I have to tell you. According to a beloved local legend, the dragons on this bridge wag their tails whenever a virgin walks across it. This has earned the bridge the joking local nickname ""the Mother-in-Law Bridge,"" because the dragons supposedly do not wag much when mothers-in-law are crossing. You can check the legend yourself. Now walk to the middle of the bridge, where we’ll conclude this tour.
About this activity 



Free Cancellation 

  • Cancel up to 2 hours in advance for a full refund 

Valid 365 days 

  • Tour is valid for 1 year and can be used multiple times 

Language Options  

  • English | French | German | Spanish | Italian | Dutch | Polish | Russian | Portuguese

Duration  

  • 1 hour and 30 minutes

Starting point


Prešeren Square -   Google Maps

Full Description
Ljubljana is small enough to cross in fifteen minutes, yet its river has carried Roman traders, drowned a heartbroken mayor, and inspired Slovenia's most famous poem. Walk the old town at your own pace on this twenty stop audio tour and find out why.
Important Information 


  • Instructions with link to app and how to access the tour will be sent to your email post checkout  

  • You can gain instant access to the tour by downloading the app and buying the tour on the app

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Download app for instant tour access

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