Dragon Bridge, Ljubljana, Slovenia

The Dragon Bridge, Ljubljana, Slovenia

 Legend has it that the capital of Slovenia was founded by Jason of Argonauts fame. He, of course, with the help of Medea, stole the Golden Fleece from a dragon by putting the beast to sleep.

Later, Jason's adventures brought him up the Ljubljanic River where they came upon another dragon. Wanting to build a settlement, Jason had to kill the dragon. But, his sword couldn't penetrate the beast's leathery skin. So, again with the help of Medea, he put the dragon to sleep, bound his mouth with chains and filled the monster's nostrils with the bones of his victims. When the dragon awoke, he flew into the sky in a rage of confusion, trying to spout flames from his mouth and nose, but only managing wisps of smoke. The fire inside the dragon, unable to escape, eventually engulfed him, causing the flying lizard to explode in the sky.

Ljubljana Central Market, just south of the Dragon Bridge

Today, just north of the open-air central market in Ljubljana is the famous Dragon Bridge (Zmajski most). There has been a bridge at this spot, crossing the Ljubljanica River, for at least 200 years. 

The Dragon Bridge itself was completed in 1901 and was originally named The Jubilee Bridge of Emperor Franz Josef I (Franca Jožefa I. jubilejni most), after the Emperor of Austira. The Slovenes wisely renamed the bridge after Austria's defeat in WWI.

The bridge itself was designed and built by Austrians and is one of the first reinforced concrete bridges in Europe. So, why was such an important step forward in engineering built by the Austrian empire in a relative backwater like Ljubljana? Because, if the structure failed, it would be less embarrassing to the Austrian monarchy than if it were built in Vienna. Of course, the bridge stayed up, and today the Dragon Bridge is deservedly celebrated as an icon of the city with its four imposing monsters guarding the passage.

The Dragon Bridge, Ljubljana, Slovenia

The last legend of the bridge might be my favorite. It says that every time a virgin walks over the bridge, the dragon wags its tail.
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