Ljubljana

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[Ljubljana] ([Media helphelp]·[info]) (IPA: [ljub'ljʌna]) is the capital and largest city in Slovenia. It is situated in central Slovenia, between the Alps and the Mediterranean.

Name

Tromostovje and Prešeren Square

Laibach (/'lɑɪbax/) the German name for the city, may derive from Laubach (a lukewarm beck in German). The Italian name is Lubiana (/lʊb'jɑ:na/). These are important for historical reasons.

Geography and demography

In 2002, the city had a population of 265,881 (495,000 in the urban Ljubljana area).

History

Although the Roman settlement Emona (Colonia Emona (Aemona) Iulia tribu Claudia) was erected in 15 AD, the first records mentioning Ljubljana by its modern name date to 1144 (by its German name Laibach) and 1146 (by the name Luwigana).

Ljubljana skyline including Ljubljana Castle

The settlement received town rights in 1220, and in 1335 came under Austrian Habsburg rule, lasting until 1918. During this time Ljubljana was the capital of the duchy of Carniola. Ljubljana also became the seat of a diocese in 1461 and developed into a Slovenian cultural centre during the late Middle Ages. Ljubljana experienced a earthquake in 1511.

The Habsburg rule was shortly interrupted by the Napoleonic wars, and between 1809 and 1813 Ljubljana was the capital of the French Illyrian provinces. In 1821 the city hosted the Congress of Laibach. Once again an earthquake damaged large parts of the city in 1895 and the following reconstruction gave Ljubljana its new contemporary image.

With the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, Ljubljana became the provincial seat of the Drava Banovina within the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. In April 1941 it was occupied by Italy and on February 23 1942 Italians completely encircled it with 32 km of barbed wire. For the achievements during this time Josip Broz Tito awarded Ljubljana in 1955 with the title "Hero City" (not to be confused with the Soviet title of the same name).

After World War II it became the capital of the Yugoslav socialist republic of Slovenia. Ljubljana remained the capital city when Slovenia gained independence in 1991 after a ten day war against the Yugoslav National Army.

Architecture

Art

The National Gallery (Narodna galerija) and the Museum of Modern Art (Moderna galerija) are both situated in Ljubljana, showing the greatest Slovenian artists. There is also a large counterculture centre on Metelkova Street, in a former Yugoslav military complex. Metelkova hosts lectures, films and concerts of mainly alternative music (e.g., Laibach).

There are a number of music festivals with mainly classical music and jazz such as the Ljubljana Summer Festival (Ljubljanski poletni festival) and Druga Godba, a world music festival.

Education

Parliament (Državni zbor)

In 1693 the Scholar Society (Academia operosorum Labacensis) was established in Ljubljana. This fell into decline in 1801 but was a forerunner to the present Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts which opened in 1938. The city's only university, the University of Ljubljana, was established in 1919. The city also has the Philharmonic Society (Academia Philharmonicorum), established in 1701.

Twin cities

• , Zagreb (since 2001)
• , Bratislava (since 1967)
• , Chemnitz (since 1966)

• , Cleveland
• , Klagenfurt
• , Leverkusen
• , Wiesbaden
• , Nottingham
• , Moscow (since 2000)
• Serbia, Belgrade (since 2003)

Miscellaneous

Ljubljana hosted the 2006 International Mathematical Olympiad from July 6 to July 18, 2006.

It also hosted the 2006 World Saxophone Congress from July 5 to 9, 2006.

See also

• University of Ljubljana
• Prešeren Square
• Tromostovje
• Nama

Notes

Capital cities of the European Union