The Franciscan Church of the Annunciation is the pink-red Baroque church on Prešeren Square (Prešernov trg), Ljubljana's central square, facing the Triple Bridge. It was built in 1646–1660 for Augustinian friars and has belonged to the Franciscans since the 1780s. On top of the façade stands a copper statue of the Virgin Mary almost four metres tall, the largest statue of Mary in the city.
The Franciscan Church at a glance
- Where: Prešernov trg, on the left bank of the Ljubljanica, at the end of the Triple Bridge opposite the Old Town.
- Built: 1646–1660; the façade was completed around 1700, and the church took on its present appearance after the earthquake of 1895.
- By: the high altar is by the sculptor Francesco Robba; the ceiling frescoes are by the painter Matej Sternen.
- What it is today: a working parish church run by the Franciscans, next to their monastery, whose library holds about 70,000 items.
- Time needed: 15–20 minutes inside, plus time on the square outside.
From Augustinian friars to Franciscans
The church was built between 1646 and 1660 for the Augustinian friars, whose monastery stood next to it, and its façade was finished around 1700. In the 1780s, during Emperor Joseph II's reforms of the monasteries, the Augustinians left and the Franciscans moved in; their own older monastery across the river was closed in 1784 and later became a school. In the middle of the 18th century the Venetian-born sculptor Francesco Robba, who worked in Ljubljana, made the monumental high altar, and in the 19th century the painter Matevž Langus decorated the interior.
In 1858 the church received its crowning statue of the Virgin, made of cold-hammered copper to a design by Franz Kurz zum Thurn und Goldenstein. The great Ljubljana earthquake of 1895 damaged the church, and the repairs gave it its present look; the monastery's library was rebuilt afterwards to a design by an architect from Linz. In 1935–1936 Matej Sternen painted the ceiling frescoes you see today. The façade was last renovated in 1993.
What to look for
- The copper Madonna on top of the façade: almost four metres tall and weighing 448 kg, it is the largest statue of the Virgin Mary in Ljubljana.
- The façade: three niches with Baroque figures, above the broad steps where people sit and wait for friends.
- Robba's high altar: the monumental marble altar at the end of the nave, from the mid-18th century.
- The ceiling: Matej Sternen's frescoes of 1935–1936 over the nave; look up as soon as you come in.
- The side chapel with a cross designed by Jože Plečnik, the architect who reshaped much of 20th-century Ljubljana.
The poet, the muse and the square
The church shares the square with Ljubljana's best-known monument. The bronze statue of France Prešeren, Slovenia's national poet, was unveiled here on 10 September 1905 in front of more than 20,000 people. It is by Ivan Zajec, on a pedestal designed by Max Fabiani, and above the poet sits a half-naked muse holding a laurel branch. The muse caused a stir at the time, and the Bishop of Ljubljana, Anton Bonaventura Jeglič, was among her critics. Prešeren looks across the square towards a house in Wolfova ulica, where a bust of Julija Primic, the woman his love poems were written for, looks back at him.
Tips for your visit
- It is a working church: visit outside Mass times, dress respectfully and keep your voice down.
- For a photo of the whole façade with the Madonna, stand at the far end of the Triple Bridge or by the Prešeren Monument.
- Come back after dark: the façade is lit up and the square is one of the liveliest places in town.
- Combine the church with a walk along the river: the Triple Bridge, the Central Market and the Dragon Bridge are all a few minutes away.
Nearby
- Triple Bridge (Tromostovje): the stone bridge of 1842 to which Jože Plečnik added two side footbridges in 1929–1932, leading into the Old Town.
- Urbanc House: the Art Nouveau department store of 1903 on the corner of the square, one of the buildings put up after the 1895 earthquake.
- Central Market: the open-air market and Plečnik's long riverside colonnade, across the river and a short walk downstream.
- Dragon Bridge: the 1901 bridge over the Ljubljanica guarded by four bronze dragons, the symbol of the city.
See Ljubljana with World City Trail
Our Ljubljana scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around 2 hours, with about 27 minutes of walking. The Franciscan Church is one of the stops, along with the Dragon Bridge and the Ursuline Church.
If you prefer a different format, there is also a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game in Ljubljana.
Play the Ljubljana scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Ljubljana →
Play the outdoor escape game in Ljubljana →
Facts checked in October 2026.