2023 RSA Annual Conference

All the below tours are currently full, please email nicola.pilling@regionalstudies.org to be added to a waiting list.

Walking Tour

Wednesday 14th June 2023 from 10.00 to 12.00 (two hours)

Professional Guide
£10.00 per person

On this guided tour through the historical city centre of Ljubljana you will explore all the major sights and get to know the city’s history, art, architecture, and way of life in the past and present. You will see a mixture of Medieval, Baroque, Art Nouveau buildings that form a beautiful old part of the town with lively cafe and restaurant scene along the river banks. Main sights of the tour are main square Prešernov trg square, dominated by the Franciscan Church and connected to the Triple Bridge by our architect Jože Plečnik. You will see Ljubljana’s central Market with its goodies. Next to it is the Cathedral, Town Hall, Cobblers’ Bridge, National and University Library and Kongresni trg square with  Zvezda park.

Meeting point: Tourist Information centre, Adamič Lundrovo nabrežje 2

This tour is fully booked, please contact nicola.pilling@regionalstudies.org to be added to the waiting list

Technical Tours

All technical tours are fully booked, please contact nicola.pilling@regionalstudies.org to be added to the waiting list.

Technical Tour 1 – Architectural Walking Tour of Ljubljana

Wednesday 14th June 2023 from 14:00 to 16:00

The famous architect Jože Plečnik (1872-1957) tried to model Ljubljana on ancient Athens. The multitude of his creations in the city referred to as a whole as “Plečnik’s Ljubljana”, is considered to be one of the 20th century’s most important total works of art. Plečnik left a lasting mark on three central European cities: Vienna, Prague and Ljubljana. According to Friedrich Achleitner, a renowned art critic from Vienna, Plečnik with his singular style may come to be considered an architect of the future. Upon his return from Vienna and Prague to Ljubljana in 1921, Plečnik accepted the post of professor at the newly established University of Ljubljana and focused all his creative energies to designing the city. The so-called Plečnik’s Ljubljana, a unique example of urban planning, is considered to be one of the 20th century’s most important total works of art. In designing today’s nation’s new capital, Plečnik tried to use modern approaches while modelling the city on ancient Athens. His unique style is characterized by the use of redesigned classical architectural elements combined in the master architect’s own special way. Plečnik redesigned Ljubljana with consideration to the city’s water and land axes. He undertook the building of several of Ljubljana’s key buildings and renovation of numerous existing ones. Plečnik’s best known works include the National and University Library building, the Ljubljanica river embankments and bridges, the most notable among the latter being the Triple Bridge and the Cobblers’ Bridge, the Central Market, the Križanke Summer Theatre, the Bežigrad Stadium, the funeral home at the Žale cemetery, and the Church of St. Michael in the Marshes. Plečnik left his own distinctive mark also on Ljubljana’s surrounding areas, where a number of buildings, monuments and churches were renovated in his signature style.

OUR TOUR: Our shortened tour will take us to the following works by Plačnik:

National and University Library building
Vegova street
Ljubljanica river embankments
Triple Bridge
Cobblers’ Bridge
Central Market
Križanke Summer Theatre

OUR TIMEFRAME: We will commence our tour depending on the weather on Wednesday 14th June 2023 from 14:00 to 16:00. For more information on this tour please see: Walking Tour of Ljubljana RSA_2h

Technical Tour 2 – Exploring Urban Culture in Ljubljana – A Discussion on the Move

Wednesday 14^th June 2023 from 14:00 to 16:00

Ljubljana in recent decades has been regarded as an important regional hub for alternative, subversive cultural activity. This session is designed as an exploration of Ljubljana’s urban culture and takes place on the move; delegates are invited to join us on a walking tour that emphasises places of that have played a key role in the development of the city’s cultural identity, including autonomous centres.

We set off at Slovenska street, discussing the ‘sleepy’ past of Ljubljana’s city centre and the attempts to instil urban life and revitalise the city. We then proceed to Prešeren square, a focal point in Ljubljana’s touristic offering, to introduce the topics of shared public space, urban mobility, touristification, and gentrification – a new entry in the vocabulary of Ljubljana’s residents. Traversing the increasingly popular Trubarjeva cesta, pedestrianised in order to accommodate the city’s expansive tourism intake, we will stop at the construction site of the new Center Rog, where Autonomous Rog used to stand. We will discuss the priorities in the provision of culture in the city, top-down versus bottom-up cultural initiatives, and emphasise the value of autonomous urban zones amidst a standardised urban offering. We will then visit the new art gallery Cukrarna to comment on cultural investment and the provision of creative spaces in the city, before moving to  Metelkova Mesto, Ljubljana’s most famous and successful squatting project, controversially home to numerous bars, clubs, independent ateliers and art galleries, as well as institutional museums and successful businesses. Whist we discuss the connections between political activism, cultural production and urban surpluses in a city in transition, we make our way to one of the city’s most recent squat PLAC, where we aim to meet some of the current space users and discuss challenges and priorities in the use of urban space.  At our last stop, we will draw conclusions on the history of squatting, activism and culture in Ljubljana, and we will open the floor to further questions and discussions.

This session will feature thematic talks off our Leverhulme funded research project: Making and Managing Ljubljana’s Urban Squats – Inclusive and Participatory Practices, which can be visited at the following link: https://autonomousljubljana.home.blog/

We recommend that we allow time for coffee at a nearby café after our tour has concluded, in order to engage in cross-pollination of ideas and networking.

No physical effort is required: this is a casual urban stroll that does not require any particular level of physical ability. Delegates are advised to bring water.

Timeframe: Wednesday 14^th June 2023 from 14:00 to 16:00. The tour will start from Slovenska Street.

Technical Tour 3 – The Sustainable Mobility Good Practices in Ljubljana Urban Region

Wednesday 14th June 2023 from 14.00 to 16.00

Meeting in front of City Hall, city walk through the old city of Ljubljana which is closed for traffic (presentation of closure process of city center – pedestrian zone), a short drive with Kavalir electric vehicles, presentations of Parking policy and parking facilities, system Bicikelj – city bike, E-Car sharing Avant2go and visiting Park and Ride (P+R) collection point.

Technical Tour 4 – Site Visit of a Non-Profit Library of Things

Friday 16th June 2023 from 16.30 – 18.00

First Library of things in Slovenia where its members can borrow various useful items instead of books. On the shelves are many useful things, such as tools for home repairs and garden work, various home appliances, cleaning tools, sports equipment, items for entertainment and leisure, aids for creative pursuits and things for children and even a wedding dress. The Library of things saves money through establishing the so called ‘sharing economy’, reduces production needs and hence has positive environmental effects, as well as fosters greater cohesion of the community. It enables individuals to use items they might otherwise not be able to afford or that would take too much space if owned.

Website: https://www.knjiznicareci.si/

All technical tours are free of charge, however they are fully booked.  Please contact nicola.pilling@regionalstudies.org to be added to the waiting list.

 

Saturday 17th June:

Click here to book bicycling, Paddleboarding, Lake Bled and Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle tours.

Saturday 17th June 2023

Exploring Ljubljana by bicycle
15:00 – 17.00 (2 hours)
Professional guide
Bicycle, helmet and snack included
33.00€ per person

Explore Slovenia’s capital city on two wheels with a guided cycling tour of Ljubljana. With special cycling lanes and car-free streets, Ljubljana is an incredibly bike friendly town. You’ll cycle past many of historic old town sights before heading out to explore the city’s green spaces and lesser visited locales taking breaks often to catch your breath and take photographs.

Minimum numbers 10 to run

Paddle-boarding tour of Ljubljana
15:00 – 17:00 (2 hours)
Introductory SUP course and SUP equipment
ASI certified SUP instructors
Photo memories from the tour
39.00€ per person

The Ljubljana SUP tour starts with a brief introductory stand-up paddle-boarding course. After you learn the basics and we help you stand on your own two feet, the FUN begins! Find yourself in the middle of pristine nature just after 5 min of paddling!

Minimum numbers 10 to run

Lake Bled and Alpine Pearl
13.30 – 20.30 (7 hours)
Transportation
English speaking guide
Sightseeing tour of Bled
59.00€ per person

This harmonious mix of beautiful nature, rich history and genuine hospitality has been attracting visitors for centuries. It was here that the Yugoslavia Royal Family once had a summer residence, later replaced by the summer residence of President Tito, which can still be seen by the lake.
After an enjoyable drive, we can board a traditional ‘pletna’ boat and smoothly glide over the lake to visit the only Slovenian island. Its top is crowned with a little church, and you will have an opportunity to ring the mysterious wishing bell. A scenic road takes us around the lake and to the medieval castle perched high on a cliff. Built over a thousand years ago, it was once an unconquered property of the Bishops of Brixen. Today, it attracts visitors with its museum, and demonstrations of old crafts and traditions, not to mention the breathtaking view of the surroundings. Before returning to Ljubljana, enjoy a stroll by the lake or treat yourself to the famous Bled cream-cake.

Optional Supplements: Bled Castle (11 €), ”Pletna” boat ride (14 €), Church of St. Mary Assumption (6 €), Vintgar Gorge (5 €)

Minimum numbers 20 to run

Sunday 18th June 2023

Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle
08.30 – 15:00
Transportation
English speaking guide
Entrance to Postojna Cave
Entrance to Predjama Castle
Audio-guide in Predjama Castle
89.00€ per person

It has taken millions of years for the clear waters of the River Pivka to create these 21 kilometers of underground labyrinth of passages, caverns and great halls, decorated with dripstones, translucent curtains and pillars of fascinating shapes and colors. After an unforgettable underground train ride to the heart of the cave system, experienced guides will accompany you on a walk through the subtly lit fairy-tale like underground world. You will glimpse a million years in one moment, admiring delicate spaghetti-like stalactites, massive pillars and other geological wonders. Back in the daylight, the trip will continue towards the astonishing castle of the robber knight Erasmus. For centuries dramatically hanging in over a 100-meter-high vertical cliff, it’s waiting for you to enter and discover its secrets, legends and myths. Driving through green scenery, we return to Ljubljana.

Minimum numbers 15 to run

Saturday 17th June:

Click here to book bicycling, Paddleboarding, Lake Bled and Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle tours.

Ljubljana Hotels

June is a very busy time of the year for Ljubljana, there is a lot happening in the city and therefore hotels are incredibly busy.  We have been in contact with a local travel operator who has secured hotel rooms across the city for our conference.  We highly recommend booking your accommodation early to avoid disappointment.