Rooster Bridge

The Rooster Bridge^[1] (Slovene: Petelinji most, Petelinja brv, Petelinov most,^[2][3] Tenente^[4]) in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, is a footbridge crossing the Gradaščica River in the Trnovo District south of the downtown of Ljubljana. It stands between the Trnovo Bridge and the outflow of the Gradaščica into the Ljubljanica,^[5]: 127 and connects Gradaščica Street (Gradaška ulica) in the northern Krakovo neighbourhood (left bank) to Eipper Street (Eipprova ulica) in the southern Trnovo neighbourhood (right bank).^[6][7] These are the oldest Ljubljana suburbs, known for their market gardens and cultural events.^[8]

The Rooster Bridge (1931) connects Krakovo and Trnovo.

Name

The Rooster Bridge was named for a nearby inn (at 10 Gradaščica Street), known as Pri petelinu 'At the Rooster'.^[2] The alternate name Tenente is derived from the former Lieutenant's Inn (Pri Tenenteju).^[9][10]

History and design

A sketch of the Rooster Bridge by Plečnik (1928)

A wooden footbridge stood at the site until 1931.^[11] The current structure, which replaced it in November that year,^[11] was built by the constructor Matko Curk according to plans by the architect Jože Plečnik, who had designed it as part of his Water Axis along the Ljubljanica.^[5]: 12 It is a simple iron and concrete footbridge,^[10] supported by two horseshoe-like arches and a strong fence,^[12] which consists of concrete boundary markers, linked with a metal pipe.^[13] As Plečnik's heritage, it has been protected as cultural heritage of national significance since 2009.^[14]