Triple Bridge (Driebruggen)

Orientation

Triple Bridge is the hinge between Prešeren Square on the northwestern bank and Ljubljana’s Old Town on the opposite side of the Ljubljanica. Its Slovene name, Tromostovje, means three bridges. The crossing is part of Ljubljana’s pedestrian zone, so it works best as the natural first step into the historic centre rather than as a stand-alone stop.

The square-facing end opens wide; the Old Town end feeds into Stritarjeva Street, while the Central Market begins along the river nearby.

Why there are three bridges

The central stone bridge dates from 1842 and replaced an older wooden crossing. When it became too narrow for the city’s traffic, architect Jože Plečnik did not demolish it. Instead, between 1929 and 1932 he added two angled pedestrian bridges, one on either side.

That decision is the point of the place: the three paths fan out from Prešeren Square, spreading foot traffic while making the crossing read as a public space rather than a piece of transport infrastructure. The ensemble is included in the UNESCO-listed works of Plečnik in Ljubljana.

Read the design

Walk across slowly and look for the elements that bind old and new into one composition:

• The middle span: the surviving 1842 stone bridge, originally designed by Giovanni Picco.
• The side spans: Plečnik’s slightly angled pedestrian additions.
• Balustrades and lamps: a continuous architectural edge across all three bridges.
• Riverside stairs: routes down from the side bridges to the lower embankment terraces.

For the clearest sense of the plan, stand back on Prešeren Square and look towards the Old Town: the bridges form a broad, shallow fan over the water.

How to use it

Allow 10–20 minutes for the bridge itself, or use it as the start of a riverside walk. Cross from Prešeren Square, then turn along the Ljubljanica toward the Central Market and Dragon Bridge; go the other way for the riverfront and Cobblers’ Bridge.

The main crossing is level and suited to wheels. The stairways to the lower river terraces are not step-free. As this is a heavily used public route, pause at the sides rather than stopping in the centre of a span.

Practical details

Access: public and free; no ticket or gate.

Best approach: arrive on foot through the car-free centre. The bridge sits at the immediate southern edge of Prešeren Square.

Photography: the most legible architectural view is from the riverbank or a nearby downstream bridge, where the three separate spans, balustrades and river-facing stairs are visible together.