The Stone Bridge or the Capuchin Bridge, historically also the Franc-Joseph Bridge, is a medieval bridge from a stone that bridges Selška Sora on the north side of the old town center Škofja Loka in the direction of Stara Loka. At the edge of the bridge, the bridge extends a pair of metal brackets on which a fenced fence is embroidered, while on the half of the range stands the Statue of St. John the Baptist. Janez Nepomuk on the base with the coat of arms of the Škofja Loka.
The bridge was built in the middle of the 14th century and is one of the oldest preserved examples of this type of construction in Central Europe and the oldest preserved bridge in Slovenia. Metal parts and a statue in the middle of the bridge were added at the extension at the end of the 19th century.
In the Middle Ages, the Bridge was built by the then Freising Bishop Leopold, because there was no real transition at that time across the river. According to the tradition, the construction of the bridge caused a lot of disagreement among the oppressed, because they had to build it, and after that, they also paid for the bridge. Along with the defensive tower, the bridge was part of the city's defense system at the northern gate. At the later visit, the bishop crossed the bridge when he fainted during a stormy horse and fell along the ride into a rising river where the bishop drowned. In the original image, it is shown among other things by Valvasor's depictions from the 17th century.
After the construction of the railway station in the second half of the 19th century, traffic over the bridge increased significantly, as the only reliable crossing of the river was. The offer was extended by the owner and construction entrepreneur Anton Lončarič with the tender of the municipality, and the plans were made by the engineer Anton Žužek. Despite the financial difficulties and complications of preparatory work, the extension was completed in 1888, at the price of 3300 goldinars. At that time, the bridge was named after the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph, later, in 1892, with the voluntary gifts of the locals, a statue of St. Janez Nepomuk. In 1901 wooden pedestrian corridors were enclosed.
During the First and Second World War, the bridge was not damaged by retaining its old design. In 1974 it was added to the metal plate and restored the pavements.
1. On the front side of the statue St. John of Nepomuk there is a short note (P…….. …… ….), that you can send to us throuht one of the usual communication channels. Don’t send us photos of the note.
2. Publish at least one of your photographs of the bridge in the log.
IMPORTANT: All logs that won’t fulfill the tasks will be deleted without further notice