Križanke

One of Jože Plečnik's last creations in Ljuljana was a renovation, in 1952, of a former monastery of an order of Teutonic knights into an outdoor concert venue. The complex included a small church, three monastic cloisters, a prior’s residence, and enclosed gardens. Ideally situated in the city center at the end of Vega Street—an area Plečnik had redesigned with the vision of making it an arts hub—it was a prime location. 

Plečnik converted the monastery’s vegetable garden into an outdoor theater. For the main performance space, he designed a stepped open-air seating arrangement inspired by ancient Greek theaters. However, unlike the steep, semi-circular seating of classical theaters, Križanke required a proscenium arch format with a gentler slope. He deliberately kept a low wall around the performance area and created a public garden beyond it, allowing those unable to afford tickets to still enjoy the music from outside.

One of his most inventive and striking designs at Križanke was a smaller, secluded space known as “The Devil’s Court.” Nestled between the presbytery and cloister walls, this area featured low benches running along the walls beneath four vertical rows of embedded lamps. During the day, these lights—resembling hooded drainpipes—are unassuming. But at night, when the interior lights are turned off and only the wall-embedded lamps are illuminated, the effect is mesmerizing. The walls seem to dissolve, replaced by a constellation of floating lights, transforming the space into something almost celestial.

Today, Križanke is a vibrant cultural venue, hosting numerous concerts and serving as the home of Festival Ljubljana, an annual event that brings world-class classical music to the city.