Cherie's Place

The Cobbler’s Bridge was probably the oldest bridge of medieval Ljubljana. It connected the banks of the Ljubljanica between Tranča and the present Jurčičev trg (Jurčič square). The old wooden bridge, which was probably partly a drawbridge, was set up in the 13th century. Soon shacks were set up on it. As shoemakers had their workshops by the bridge, it got the popular name the Shoemaker’s or Cobbler’s Bridge. In 1867 the wooden bridge was replaced by one of cast-iron, an exceptional product of the ironworks from Dvor pri Žužemberku. The arch bridged the Ljubljanica for 65 years. The iron bridge, not distinguished enough and too narrow for the town core, was moved to the edge of the hospital between the wars.

A wide concrete platform grew above the Ljubljanica according to the designs of Jože Plečnik in the years 1931-1932. The architect designed a square above the water and protected it by enclosures with cylindric balustrades. Above them rise six pairs of pillars, which are the remains of the originally planned roof. The middle of the bridge is accentuated by two candelabras above the bearing of the bridge.

The viewing square rests on a single bearing in the riverbed. The architect had the banks filled in, so that the former stairs from the bridge to the embankment could be avoided. The surface of the bridge pours over to the banks in a paved carpet. Between the Shoemaker’s Bridge and the Three Bridges (Tromostovje), Plečnik arranged a lower terrace and intermediate “washboards”, where symbolic washerwomen, the weeping willows, bend over to the water.

In 1991 the severely damaged and corroded concrete enclosures were replaced by new ones according to Plečnik’s original plans. The pillars unfortunately do not have as refined adornments of the capitals as the originals, which were transported to the Architectural Museum. The bridge was statically reinforced, the upper surface was re-asphalted, while the accesses were paved with blocks. On the bridge one can often encounter street vendors, and in the summer sometimes even comedians.

Tags: Cobbler's Bridge, Ljubljana, Shoemaker's Bridge, Slovenia, Vacation