Plečnik's plans and solutions for the Ljubljana Castle presented at the exhibition Plečnik Above the City
Between 25 May and 1 October 2017, the Ljubljana Castle is presenting the project Plečnik Above the City, which combines the exhibitions in the Casemate and at the castle’s Šance. Both exhibitions are a collaboration between Ljubljana Castle, Museum and Galleries of Ljubljana, Plečnik House and the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia.
Architect Jože Plečnik (1872–1957) had numerous visions and plans for the castle complex, as it represented the city's vertical axis and with it, a great challenge. He planned a complete renovation, modelled after the Prague Castle. The Ljubljana Castle was thus destined to become the Slovenian Acropolis, and later, the Slovenian Parliament.
The exhibition Plečnik Above the City, situated in the Casemate, presents ideas and plans that the maestro planned for the renovation of the castle complex and its surroundings. Photographs are also supplemented with various exhibits – a replica of Plečnik’s lamp, an original bench from the Žale Cemetery a model of the 1947 plan for the Slovenian Parliament, and select Plečnik chairs.
The second exhibition is situated along the tree-lined avenue, leading to the Šance promenade. Panels with photographs present Plečnik’s interventions at Šance. Construction works under his supervision were executed between 1934 and 1936.
The exhibitions’ author is Nina Bricelj, while Ana Porok is their curator. The project was a collaboration between Ljubljana Castle, Museum and Galleries of Ljubljana, Plečnik House and the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia. The exhibition in the Casemate will stay open for visitors every day from 25 May to 1 October, from 9.00 am to 9.00 pm (in May the exhibition closes at 8.00 pm). Entrance fee is € 3.00, or free with a castle ticket.
The booklet Šance and Jože Plečnik has also been published at the exhibitions’ opening. Its author is Irena Vesel, head conservator of the Ljubljana Castle at the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia.
Various activities will also be held within the framework of the exhibitions: expert guided tours with the curator and exhibition’s author (8 and 22 June and 7 September 2017), programmes for school groups, a cycle of lectures Between Prague and Ljubljana (Jože Plečnik and Ljubljana Castle, 1 June 2017; Jože Plečnik and the Prague Castle, 15 June 2017; Šance Interventions, 21 September 2017). As the project will come to its end, we will also hold a tea party with experts on Plečnik and his oeuvre from various fields. More information is available at the Ljubljana Castle website.
Benefits for Visitors
For the duration of Plečnik Above the City exhibition, all visitors to the Ljubljana Castle receive a 10% discount with a ticket from the Plečnik House. The discount is valid for the exhibition at the Ljubljana Castle and all of its accompanying events.
Furthermore, all visitors to the Plečnik House receive a 10% discount for the house with one of the following Ljubljana Castle tickets: general admission, Plečnik Above the City exhibition or a guided tour, Time Machine and Behind Bars guided tours, and with a ticket for the Plečnik and Prague Castle lecture.