Ljubljana Castle
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
Ljubljana Castle is a medieval castle complex overlooking Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Located on Castle Hill, the dominant feature of the city skyline, it dates from the 11th century, although archaeologists believe the site was settled as far back as 1200 BC.
[edit] Design and construction
The original castle was believed to have been a wooden and stone fortification used for defensive purposes. In the 13th century, this was replaced with a stone fort and renamed Sponheim Castle.
In the 15th century, the castle structures were almost completely demolished and rebuilt. A new wall and towers were constructed at the entrance, along with a drawbridge. The chapel was also built at this time.
All the main buildings of the surviving castle were built or rebuilt in the 16th and 17th centuries after a devastating earthquake. The exception is the outer wall of the Chapel of St. George.
Expanding on its role as a defensive structure against Ottoman invasion as well as peasant revolt, the castle was used as an arsenal.
From 1815 to 1895, during which time Slovenia was part of the Austrian Empire, the castle was used as a prison; a role it resumed temporarily during the Second World War. The viewing tower was constructed in 1848, replacing the wooden tower, and completing the architectural structure of the castle.
[edit] Renovation
Towards the end of the 19th century, the castle began to fall into serious disrepair. This was, in part, because of its age, but also because maintenance work had been neglected over the years as it gradually lost its importance as either a home of a nobleman or a fortification.
In the 1930s, the famous Slovenian architect Joe Plenik proposed building a new conical parliament to replace the castle. However, his work was only realised in relation to the redesigned remains of the fortifications.
In the late-1960s, extensive renovation works began which were to last more than 35 years. Architects oversaw the construction of a new and steeper roof, a higher watchtower, new access routes, and a defensive corridor around the perimeter of the former fortified walls, which linked the renovated structures together.
In the 1990s, the castle found a new use as a place for weddings and cultural events. In 2006, as the castle grew in popularity, it was connected with the historic city centre by a funicular railway.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
IHBC NewsBlog
Drone Surveying a London Landmark
Uninhabited Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have been used to undertake a survey of the Lloyd’s building’s external façade in the heart of the City of London.
Green Party calls for no VAT on refurbishment in new Parliamentary petition
The petition calls on the government to remove VAT on refurbishment projects and raise VAT on non-Passivhaus new-build construction to 20 per cent. Retrofitting is carbon-efficient but the current VAT regime privileges new build over refurbishment.
Conservation Professionals Concerned about Future Planning Policy
Directors of the IHBC and the Victorian Society are among those whose opinions are featured in the RICS in-house publication Modus as it explores heritage impacts in England’s planning proposals.
Learn all about the Professions in Building Conservation at upcoming Conference
Glasgow City Heritage Trust (GCHT) 3-day online conference aimed at anyone working, or interested in working, within the building and heritage sectors.
New use for abandoned oil rigs: Offshore reefs!
One way in which these old rigs can be remarkably useful is that the subsurface rig can provide the ideal skeleton for coral reefs, allowing the remarkable ecosystems beneath the waves come into their own.
Birnbeck Pier, in Weston-super-Mare, to undergo Restoration
A new company – Birnbeck Holdings Limited – has now been set up by CNM Estates which has purchased Birnbeck Island and the historic pier.
Ecclesiastical Heritage Risk Barometer 2020 Published
The publication offers research to help answer the question: ‘How can the heritage sector adapt and thrive in the digital age’?
Victorian Bath House dug up from under a Manchester Car Park
A stunning Victorian Bath House has been uncovered during works on creating the city’s first public park in over 100 years.
APPG on ‘Conservation, Places and People’ Opens first Parliamentary Inquiry
The Inquiry is into ‘21st Century Places – Values & Benefits‘
Historic Photographer of the Year 2020 Winners Announced
The awards showcase the very best historic places and cultural sites from across the globe.