Ljubljana Cathedral

Ljubljana Cathedral tickets: which one to buy

Ljubljana Cathedral, dedicated to Saint Nicholas, stands beside the central market in the old town, a few steps from the Dragon Bridge and the Triple Bridge, and its green dome and twin towers are a landmark of the city centre. Entry is free, though the cathedral closes for a period in the middle of the day and during services. Walking tours of Ljubljana always pass it, usually together with the market arcades designed by Joze Plecnik, the town hall and the funicular up to the castle, and the old town is small enough to see in a few hours.

The bronze doors of the cathedral are worth looking at closely even if the church is closed. Organ concerts are held occasionally. The market outside is busiest on Saturday mornings, and in summer an open-air food market sets up on Fridays nearby. The side door on the market square is often open when the main bronze doors are closed.

Visiting Ljubljana Cathedral: what to see

A church has stood on this site since the thirteenth century, and the present baroque cathedral was built between 1701 and 1706, based on a design by Andrea Pozzo, the Jesuit architect and painter. The interior is richly decorated with frescoes by the Italian painter Giulio Quaglio, whose ceiling paintings depict the life of Saint Nicholas and create illusions of height, and with stucco, marble altars and carved pews. The dome was added in the nineteenth century.

The most striking modern features are the two bronze doors made for the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1996: the main door shows fourteen centuries of Christianity in Slovenia, and the side door shows the faces of the bishops of Ljubljana gazing up at Christ. The cathedral also contains the tombs of bishops and a chapel with a painted ceiling of great quality. The organ, placed in the gallery above the entrance, was rebuilt in the twentieth century inside its older case and is used for concerts.

Ljubljana Cathedral opening hours and the best time to go

The cathedral is open daily with a break around lunchtime. Mornings are good for combining a visit with the market. Ljubljana is lively and pleasant from spring to autumn, when cafes line the river and the summer festival brings concerts to the old town. December brings Christmas lights and markets along the river, and the city is charming in winter snow. August is busy with visitors.

The castle funicular is a few minutes' walk away and gives a view down over the cathedral dome. Allow about twenty minutes for the cathedral, and walk across the Triple Bridge and along the river to Preseren Square afterwards. A small cathedral treasury is shown occasionally on guided visits that include the painted chapels and the bishop's palace courtyard. Ljubljana's old town is car-free, and the cathedral is easy to reach on foot from every hotel in the centre.