Stari Trg (Old Square), Ljubljana

Old Square is one of the oldest parts of the historic centre. Developed beneath Castle Hill in the 12th and 13th centuries, it is a long medieval street lined with closely spaced townhouses. Before the 1511 earthquake, many buildings here were constructed from wood, but the destruction led to their reconstruction in stone and brick, giving the neighbourhood much of its present character.

Many houses have narrow façades and extend deep into the hillside, a design linked to taxes based on street frontage. The Schweiger House is especially notable for its Baroque façade and balcony, which is supported by a statue of Atlas. According to local tradition, Atlas presses a finger to his lips as a playful reminder to keep quiet—a subtle reference to neighbourhood gossip. Old Square is also the birthplace of the 17th-century scholar Janez Vajkard Valvasor, whose writings about the Slovenian lands earned him membership in the Royal Society of London.

Today, Old Square combines its historic atmosphere with independent shops, galleries, cafés, and restaurants. At its southern end stands the Hercules Fountain, a modern replica marking the site of a 17th-century Baroque fountain that once supplied fresh water to local residents. The nearby Škuc Gallery has been an important centre for contemporary and alternative art since the late 1970s, while seasonal markets and cultural events continue to bring life to one of Ljubljana's oldest neighbourhoods.