favourite part of the city was the Metelkova district – which is the more arty “alternative” district in Ljubljana. It’s here that the city’s two Green hotels are located: Hostel Celica and the Hotel Park Ljubljana.
Hostel Celica for some of my time in Ljubljana—a former prison during the Yugoslavian war, the building is now owned by the city of Ljubljana and managed as an upscale hostel. On their website they state “it’s the only place you’ll pay to stay behind bars” and they’ve got that right!
Built in 1882 by the Austro-Hungarian army to serve as military barracks, Hostel Celica served as a prison for over 100 years, before being abandoned by Yugoslav forces in 1993. In the early ’00’s a project was begun to restore the building and the area of the city. Hostel Celica was created and designed by city artists, with creativity poured into the project to transform the building from a symbol of oppression, to a symbol of freedom, inviting for travellers. Energy and positive spirit has been poured into the details: a prayer and meditation room now sits above where the solitary confinement cells once were, and on different nights of the week the hostel plays host to different artists and musicians who perform there. Opened in 2003, the hostel now serves as a community hub and social centre as much as it does as a hostel.
The hostel has two floors, the first offering accommodation in former cells—either on a shared or sole occupancy basis. The cells are all unique as each was designed individually by different artists. Wooden beams, raised beds (bunks, twins or doubles) and creative wall murals are all the flavour of the day here. The second floor, newly built for the hostel opening, has dorm rooms. These are (unsurprisingly) more modern than the cells, but lack the historic feel.
Staying at Hostel Celica is experiencing a bit of history, and I was lucky enough to get to hear a concert on my second night from a gospel choir. This place definitely has soul.
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