Slovenia year 2013 stamps Architecture – Bridges full set MNH

The central bridge of the Three Bridges or ‘Tromostovje’ has connected both sides of the Ljubljanica river since 1842, having itself replaced an old medieval wooden bridge, which linked Central Europe and the Balkans.

In order to prevent it being a bottleneck, extensions where designed in 1929 by architect Jože Plečnik to run either side of the main bridge. Construction of the extensions began in 1931 and were completed and opened in 1932. Metal railings were removed from the central bridge and all three bridges were furnished with stone balustrades, some 642 in total.

Stairways from each of the side bridges lead to toilets and terraces below. The bridges were renovated in 1992. Vehicle traffic across the bridge stopped in 2007 when the area became pedestrian only; the asphalt surface being replaced by granite blocks.

The Dragon Bridge, adorned with famous dragon statues, appears in the most recognizable images of Ljubljana. If you haven’t been photographed next to a Dragon Bridge dragon, you can hardly claim that you have visited Ljubljana. The four dragon statues, which look slightly terrifying and almost real (if, of course, you believe that dragons might be real), are a masterpiece which has been exciting imagination since the bridge was built.

The attraction of the dragons aside, the bridge is a unique creation considered to be an extraordinary piece of technical heritage and a superb example of Art Nouveau architecture, which flourished at the turn of the 20th century. Constructed between 1900 and 1901, it was Ljubljana’s first reinforced concrete structure and one of the largest bridges of its kind to be built in Europe. At the time of its opening, it was called the Jubilee Bridge of Emperor Franz Joseph I. According to original designs, it was supposed to be adorned with winged lions instead of dragons. It was the first structure in Slovenia to be paved with asphalt. The construction plans for the bridge were prepared by Professor Josef Melan, a famous engineer specializing in reinforced concrete bridges and the father of the theory underlying static calculations for large suspension bridges.