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Ljubljana (IPA: ) is the capital and largest city in Slovenia. It is situated in central Slovenia, between the Alps and the Mediterranean.

Name

Historians disagree as to where the name Ljubljana comes from. It may originate from the Slovenian word ljubljena (a feminine form of beloved), but this is not known for certain. The name may just as well have evolved from the Latin term for a flooding river, alluviana. Some also believe the source of the present-day name is Laburus, an old Slavonic deity and supposed patron of the original settlement. Other linguists reconstruct an earlier *Lablana, rejecting both a Latin or Slavonic source, but without settling on an etymology .

Laibach (/'lɑɪbax/) the German name for the city, may derive from Laubach (a lukewarm beck in German). The Italian name is Lubiana (/lʊb'jɑ:na/). These are important for historical reasons.

Geography and demography

Ljubljana is located at 46.03°N, 14.30°E on the outfall of the river Ljubljanica into the Sava. It lies at an altitude of 298 meters AMSL. The temperature varies between 0°C (32 °F) in December and 21.9°C (71.4 °F) in July. Annual rainfall is 1350 mm (53.2 inches).

In 2002, the city had a population of 265,881 (495,000 in the urban Ljubljana area).

History

Although the Roman settlement Emona (Colonia Emona (Aemona) Iulia tribu Claudia) was erected in 15 AD, the first records mentioning Ljubljana by its modern name date to 1144 (by its German name Laibach) and 1146 (by the name Luwigana).

The settlement received town rights in 1220, and in 1335 came under Austrian Habsburg rule, lasting until 1918. During this time Ljubljana was the capital of the duchy of Carniola. Ljubljana also became the seat of a diocese in 1461 and developed into a Slovenian cultural centre during the late Middle Ages. The Habsburg rule was shortly interrupted by the Napoleonic wars, and between 1809 and 1813 Ljubljana was the capital of the French Illyrian provinces. In 1821 the city hosted the Congress of Laibach. With the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, Ljubljana became the provincial seat of the Drava Banovina within the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. In April 1941 it was occupied by Italy and on February 23 1942 Italians completely encircled it with 32 km of barbed wire. For the achievements during this time Josip Broz Tito awarded Ljubljana in 1955 with the title "Hero City" (not to be confused with the Soviet title of the same name).

After World War II it became the capital of the Yugoslav socialist republic of Slovenia. Ljubljana remained the capital city when Slovenia gained independence in 1991 after a ten day war against the Yugoslav National Army.

Architecture

Ljubljana has a strong Austrian\Alpine feeling to it and the architecture underlines this impression. Ljubljana was devastated by earthquakes several times. After an earthquake in 1511, Ljubljana was rebuilt in the Renaissance style, and after an earthquake in 1895 severely damaged the city, the city was rebuilt in Neo-Classicist and Secession (Austrian Art Nouveau) styles. There are also a number of churches and cathedrales in Austrian Baroque style. One of the main features of the city, the castle, which dates back to prehistory, is undergoing renovation. Large areas of the city built in the early 20th century feature the work of native architect Jože Plečnik, including several bridges.

Art

The National Gallery (Narodna galerija) and the Museum of Modern Art (Moderna galerija) are both situated in Ljubljana, showing the greatest Slovenian artists. There is also a large counterculture centre on Metelkova Street, in a former Yugoslav military complex. Metelkova hosts lectures, films and concerts of mainly alternative music (e.g., Laibach).

There are a number of music festivals with mainly classical music and jazz such as the Ljubljana Summer Festival (Ljubljanski poletni festival) and Druga Godba, a world music festival.

Education

In 1693 the Scholar Society (Academia operosorum Labacensis) was established in Ljubljana. This fell into decline in 1801 but was a forerunner to the present Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts which opened in 1938. The city's only university, the University of Ljubljana, was established in 1919. The city also has the Philharmonic Society (Academia Philharmonicorum), established in 1701.

Twin cities

•  Croatia, Zagreb (since 2001)
•  Slovakia, Bratislava (since 1967)
•  Germany, Chemnitz (since 1966)
•  People's Republic of China, Chengdu (since 1981)
•  United States, Cleveland
•  Austria, Klagenfurt
•  Germany, Leverkusen
•  Germany, Wiesbaden
•  United Kingdom, Nottingham
•  Russia, Moscow (since 2000)

See also

• Prešeren Square
• Tromostovje
• Nama
• Medvesek Pusnik

Notes

• Paliga, Sorin. Pre-Slavic place-names. 2002.

External links

• Official site of the municipality
• Official tourist site
• Metelkova mesto
• University of Ljubljana

• Capitals in Europe
• Ljubljana