The Triple Bridge (Tromostovje) crosses the Ljubljanica river between Prešeren Square and Ljubljana's medieval Old Town. It is really three bridges: a stone bridge of 1842 in the middle and two footbridges that the architect Jože Plečnik added on either side in 1931–1932, set at an angle so that together they fan out like a funnel from the square into the old streets.
The Triple Bridge at a glance
- Where: over the Ljubljanica, linking Prešernov trg on the left bank with Stritarjeva ulica and the Old Town on the right bank.
- Built: central stone bridge opened on 25 September 1842; side footbridges built 1931–1932 and opened in April 1932.
- By: Giovanni Picco (central bridge); Jože Plečnik (extension and design of the whole).
- What it is today: a pedestrian crossing at the centre of the city and, since 2021, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Plečnik's works in Ljubljana.
- Time needed: 10–15 minutes, longer if you go down the steps to the riverbank.
From a wooden bridge to Plečnik's triple crossing
A bridge has stood here since at least 1280. The early wooden bridge was called the Old or Lower Bridge, and also the Špital Bridge after a poorhouse nearby; after a fire it was rebuilt in 1657. In 1842 it was replaced by a two-arch stone bridge designed by the Italian architect Giovanni Picco and named Franz's Bridge after Archduke Franz Karl of Austria. It was the main link between the old town and the growing city on the left bank, and by the 1920s it had become a bottleneck for traffic.
In 1929 Jože Plečnik, the Ljubljana-born architect who reshaped much of his home city between the wars, proposed keeping the old bridge and adding a footbridge on each side instead of building a wider one. The plans were drawn up in his studio, the work took place from 1931 to the spring of 1932, and Plečnik also designed the new balustrades, lamps and stairs. The bridge was renovated in 1992, the asphalt was replaced with granite paving in 2010, and since 2007 all three bridges have been part of the pedestrian zone.
What to look for
- The angle of the footbridges: stand on Prešeren Square and notice how the two side bridges are not parallel to the central one but open out towards you, drawing you into the Old Town.
- The balustrades: 642 white balusters run along the three bridges, all of artificial stone, giving the crossing its light, almost Venetian look.
- The lamps: Plečnik's lamp posts with round glass globes, which make the bridge glow at night.
- The stairs to the river: two flights lead from the footbridges down to the riverside terraces, where you can walk along the water below the bridge.
- The central bridge: compare its stone arches of 1842, built partly of local Glinica limestone, with Plečnik's concrete side spans.
Plečnik's Ljubljana
The Triple Bridge is one piece of a bigger plan. Between the two world wars Plečnik redesigned the banks of the Ljubljanica, squares, parks and bridges to give his city the feel of a classical capital. Nearby you can see more of it: the colonnade of the Central Market along the river and Cobblers' Bridge a little upstream. In 2021 UNESCO listed a group of these works, the Triple Bridge among them, as a World Heritage site for their human-centred urban design.
Tips for your visit
- Come after dark, when the lamps are lit and the Franciscan Church and the riverside cafés are illuminated: it is the classic Ljubljana evening view.
- For a photo of all three bridges at once, go down to the riverbank or look from the embankment a little upstream or downstream.
- The bridge is busy all day and street musicians often play here; early morning is the quietest time.
Nearby
- Prešeren Square and the Prešeren Monument: the city's main square, with the 1905 bronze statue of Slovenia's national poet by Ivan Zajec, right at the end of the bridge.
- Franciscan Church of the Annunciation: the pink Baroque church facing the bridge across the square.
- Central Market: the open-air market and Plečnik's long riverside colonnade, a short walk downstream.
- Dragon Bridge: the 1901 bridge guarded by four bronze dragons, the symbol of the city, a few minutes further on.
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. It includes the Franciscan Church, 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.