Ljubljana, as the capital city, is expanding—including towards the south, reaching the edge of the Ljubljana Marshes Regional Park, a treasure trove of UNESCO heritage from the pile-dwelling era. The boundary stream between the marshland and the city was the river Gradaščica, or, as it was once called, the Great Ljubljanica. Trnovo and Krakovo were long considered villages of gardeners, supplying the city’s marketplace with fresh vegetables. Today, this area represents the city’s outskirts, offering residents an environmentally friendly lifestyle within the capital. The revitalization of degraded areas is part of the Carbon-Neutral European Cities 2030 project. Ljubljana, together with Kranj and Velenje, is one of 100 European cities committed to transforming urban life.
We invite you to an educational tour “Up and Down along the Gradaščica stream”. This unique guided walk introduces you to how this once-degraded suburban area has become an open-air classroom for environmental awareness. You will explore the historical changes of the river and engage with the urban vision for the capital city.
Tour route and key topics:
What are we going to experience?
- We meet at uniqueTrnovo Church of St. John the Baptist
- Visit the beehive of the Ljubljana Beekeepers’ Association, followed by an introduction to invasive plant species along Barjanska Road
- A walk through the gardens on Gradaška Street, passing by the riverbank where miller Peter once worked—a site even visited by Russian Tsar Alexander I
- Return along the stream passing the former residence of Fran Saleški Finžgar to the park on Gradaška, where we will learn about the self-sufficient house of the 21st century, the importance of insect hotels, and urban biodiversity
- Continue via Trnovo Bridge to the edge of the Gradaščica, where the Gregorčki paper boats tradition takes place
- Pass by Plečnik’s Petelin Bridge and historical washhouses, following the protected Eipprova Street to the confluence of the Gradaščica and Ljubljanica rivers
- At the end of the tour, we may be greeted by a grey heron, and if we’re lucky, we might even spot a kingfisher
Will you join me?
