Preseren Square

The centre of Ljubljana's street life, Preseren Square houses the Preseren monument (named after Slovenia's most beloved poet) and several of the city's prime examples of art nouveau architecture. Developed on the sight of the main medieval crossroads in front of the city's medieval gate, Preseren Square was not paved until the mid-19th century after the city walls had been pulled down. Several bourgeoisie palaces were built on the square following a devastating earthquake in 1895, and in the early 20th century Hauptman House was redecorated in art nouveau style as the beautiful art nouveau Urbanc House was being built. Plecnik's celebrated Triple Bridge extends the square to the other side of the river.