There are many shattered happily-ever-afters. Nevertheless, the story of the Islamic mosque and cultural center, commonly known as the Ljubljana Mosque, isn’t one of those. It’s a story about victoriously emerging from the rubble after a long-drawn-out struggle (fourteen years to be exact), consequently offering a long-sought solution for the minority of Muslims who came to Slovenia from other Yugoslav republics during the sixties & seventies.

Why am I sharing this spot? Because it’s a refreshing architectural gem that breaks with the Baroque style that left an extensive trail of fancy façades in Ljubljana. Here, the Slovenian architect Matija Bevk infused traditional Islamic architecture with some elements of modernism. The poetically designed structures are a reflection of the best one can create with materials such as concrete, wood, steel, and glass. Let me reassure all of you architectural fans out there, it’s unlike any other building you’ll come across in Ljubljana. Walk around freely. Feast your eyes on the beauty of this jewel.

The location is nowhere near the tourist hordes that flood the city every summer. Hence, it’ll take you about 20 minutes to get to the very first mosque in Slovenia. The mosque itself is only open for a few hours per week to the general public. Nevertheless, there’s also a lovely area, near the restaurant that sells Bosnian delights, where you can relax and soak up some sun. On top of that, it’s also just a step away from one of the coolest urbex sites in town, a former railway facility.