They used to splash water on Špica (photo)

It seems that even this summer, swimming will not be possible in Ljubljana, where there was a swimming pool on the island of Spica at the beginning of the last century. The forecasts of the Ljubljana Municipality are optimistic, as they stick to their plans. Currently, several measures have been taken to improve the water quality. The biggest contribution is due to the construction of the missing sewer system, and the situation is expected to improve when the sewer system of the wider area south of Ljubljana and the sewer system of the municipality of Logg-Dragomo are completed, which has been arranged.

The first public bath

On August 25, 1948, a Slovenian journalist wrote about how the city people’s committee had set itself the task of increasing the number of city parks, arranging children’s playgrounds, and building or renovating open swimming pools in the five-year plan. Some parks and plantations were already arranged in accordance with this plan. “On August 18, the first public bathhouse in Ljubljana opened, where the working people who are advancing the socialist construction of our country with unremitting efforts will enjoy it,” we read in the Slovenian Correspondent. “By building and arranging new bathhouses, our people’s government has shown concern and understanding for the needs of the working people, thereby improving their living standards.”

The new bathing area on the Ljubljanica River stretches from the confluence of the Ljubljanica River and the Grubarjeva Trench to the Prule Bridge: “The Ljubljanica River is dammed for 300 meters in this section. It is about one meter deep. The new swimming pool will be able to accommodate more than 2,000 swimmers. The volunteers from Ljubljana have once again demonstrated what they can achieve in volunteer work in a relatively short period of time. Not long ago, the bank of the Ljubljanica River, where there is now a swimming pool, was neglected and overgrown with weeds, but now small wooden huts stand there, the shore is lined with rubble, the paths have been covered with fine sand, and volleyball and bocce courts have been prepared.”

The newspaper described the arrangement of the bathhouse in more detail: “All this work required a lot of volunteer hours. To tidy up the embankment, 860 square meters of rubble had to be removed and repaved. 1950 square meters of new roads were built, and 300 square meters of beds were built. 3084 different flowers were planted on them. They also made 94 decorative boxes, in which 350 flowers were planted. They brought 1000-2000 cubic meters of various materials, sand, soil, compost, etc. This material saved more than 100,000 dinars, because it was brought directly from the construction site.”

A scene from the film Vesna, shot on Špica. Photo: Slovenian Film Centre

The most famous Ljubljana beach in photos: Primož Hieng

They used to sunbathe on these steps. Photo: Primož Hieng

In this work, the staff of the municipal horticulture department performed excellently by regularly participating in voluntary work, completing 466 hours of voluntary service. “Through joint efforts, through tireless and conscious work, the working people built a beautiful and spacious swimming pool, where they will be able to find recreation, knowing that it is their pool, as they built and arranged it themselves,” concluded the Slovenian journalist.

On the other hand, the Spica City Baths in Ljubljana was built in 1906 in connection with the Livada Affair. The baths there were occupied by an elite club with a bathing area and a boathouse, mainly for the use of the people of the city. The cream of the crop, favored by the Austrians.

In 1927, the Slovenian Championship swimming competition was held for the first time in Špica, and two years later the competition was moved to the new Ilirija pool. Water polo and rowing competitions were also held in the city pool. In that period, less skilled swimmers used to swim in Gradaščica.

During the hottest summer months, the Ljubljanica swimming pools are bustling. Many residents of Ljubljana seek refreshment and recreation in the nearby rivers, Ljubljanica, Sava and Sora. The most convenient is the Ljubljana, which hugs Ljubljana in a large arc. Otherwise it is cold, but it allows everyone to experience swimming and boating. A ski jump is set up on Špica for the bravest. Families and children can also use the nearby carousel to pass the time.

Supanja in Ljubljana Photo by Primož Hieng

Spica from the air: Primož Hieng

Although the Ljubljana Municipality is working to build a swimming pool in Spica, microbiological analysis results show that the water quality in Ljubljana still does not meet the criteria for obtaining bathing water status. Although the chemical state of the river is good according to the estimates of the Environmental Agency, microbiological parameters show exceedances, which hinder safe swimming.