In Ljubljana I stayed at the Elephant Hotel

Perhaps the oldest or one of the oldest hotels in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The hotel has since been renewed and under a new management.

The hotel back then with the castle in the background. Deutsch was the language then as Ljubljana was under the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The hotel nowadays. I forgot to take a picture of the whole building itself.

The Elephant Hotel

The main reason that I stayed at this hotel are the following:

1) Location – Very strategically located on the main street of the city. Just a block away from Preseren Square and the Three Bridges. When I am travelling alone I always look for hotels right in the smack of the busy town.

2) Parking – I came with my rental car and although I was eyeing two pretty boutique hotels in the old town, they did not have any parking facility. This hotel has valet parking.

I also found out that the hotel has an interesting history. I got the story from a plaque hanged on the wall of the hotel but it is also available on the website.

Slon means elephant in Slovenian. Elephants do not live in Europe, not until they were captured and put into zoos back in 1779 (Vienna) and London (1828). Having elephants and other exotic animals before are a symbol of wealth, power and aristocracy. Today, they are protected species.

History goes that in 1552, Maximillian II, the Archduke of Austria was about to become the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. He was 25 years old and had recently married Mary of Spain. On his way from Spain, he brought with him a wedding present he received: An elephant called Soliman. The Sultan, Soliman the Magnificent was at that time Austria’s archenemy. In the eyes of the aristocracy, domesticating such a powerful animal going by the name of their adversary is a significant milepost.

Well, to me it’s like naming your dog the name of your enemy. Some people feel good that their adversaries is at their beck and call, in this case in the representation of a dog, and well, an elephant. I guess ome kind of reverse psychology plus obsession going on here.

Anyway, Maximilian stopped at the best inn in Ljubljana with the elephant which tremendously impressed the population. Soliman the elephant gave such a strong impression that the inn was later renamed to Slon (Slovenian for elephant), and many years later as well on the same site of the inn, Hotel Slon was built (1856 and 1858).

The hotel during this period was renowned for its baths, which were visited by numerous wealthy citizens of Ljubljana. The hotel building lived on for 80 years; it survived even the powerful 1896 earthquake.

In 1937 the construction of the new Hotel Slon began, in accordance with the modernist architecture fashion of the 1930’s. When it was completed, the hotel was said to be the most beautiful and most modern hotel in Ljubljana. Best Western Group of Hotels now owns Hotel Slon.

An online version is also found on their website: Hotel Slon

As you can see there is a little grey elephant waiting for me on my bed. At first I thought it was very childish of the hotel, a stuffed toy in a business hotel. The hotel used to be a real luxury hotel back in the mid-19th century but nowadays due to its location, it serves primarily as a business hotel. Anyway, I later read the history of the hotel and learned to appreciate the elephant toy gesture.

The lift is small but it is pimped with high-technology. It speaks, it has a cool media screen and plays music.

They have a pillow menu. Pillows can make or break a sleep. The Dutchman for example has some pillow requirements. They also gave me a daily weather watch on paper. Cool.

My breakfast. Not a breakfast person but it is included in the rate so might as well eat.

Beside the lobby of the hotel is the silverware showcase. These silverware were used before in the old Hotel Slon in the mid-19th century.

It is nice that they have displayed these as it gives character to the hotel and soul to its rich history.

My room is small. They were quite full when I was there and they only had this room and a bigger luxurious one which I do not need. This room is actually for 1 person only but with a double bed. A double bed for me is important.

 The view from my window. The side street leading to the old centre.

Very typical hotel breakfast I guess.

The breakfast room. Most people there were business people but one morning I saw a group of retired American tourists. You'd know them quickly through their typical footwear attire and that you can hear them already from a distance =)

Travel Period: March 2014
Destination: Ljubljana, Slovenia

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