The 1895 Ljubljana earthquake refers to an earthquake that struck the Ljubljana, the capital and largest city in Slovenia, on 14 April. A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck at 11:17 pm and shocks were felt as far away as Florence, Vienna, and Split.[1]
The city's population at the time of the earthquake was some 31,000, with around 1,400 buildings. About ten percent of the buildings were damaged or destroyed, although few people died in the destruction. On Vodnik Square an old monastery which contained a girls diocesan college and library was sufficiently damaged that it had to be razed, and the site eventually was turned into an outdoor market (Ljubljana Central Market, Osrednja tržnica), now an important site in the city.[2]
The morning after the quake, the Municipal Council adopted emergency measures to assist the worst-affected victims, to direct the police force in extra security measures, and to direct the police force to inspect the damaged houses. All the city's schools were temporarily closed, and some factories temporarily ceased operation. A few days after the earthquake emergency shelters were created for the homeless. Many citizens of Ljubljana left the city as refugees. Lack of food was quickly felt in the city, and five emergency kitchens were established, which were free or low cost and distributed several thousand hot meals each day. Other areas of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, especially Vienna, the Czech Lands and Croatia-Slavonia assisted in the aid. Among the individual members of the Municipal Council, the Liberal Nationalist Ivan Hribar showed particular organizing abilities in providing the aid; soon after the earthquake, he was elected mayor and organized the town's extensive reconstruction. The damage after the earthquake was substantial. Most houses were damaged on Hospice Street (Špitalska ulica, today Stritar Street, Stritarjeva ulica), where all houses were destroyed except for one, and the markets.
The earthquake brought about a wide expansion of the city and a widespread Art Nouveau architectural change which today is juxtaposed against the earlier Baroque style buildings that remain. Many buildings such as the Mladika building date from soon after the earthquake. The rebuilding period between 1896 and 1910 is referred to as the "revival of Ljubljana" not just because of these architectural changes from which a great deal of the city dates back to today, but for reform of urban administration, health, education and tourism that followed.
From 1895 to 1910 436 new buildings were created and hundreds of buildings were renovated or extended in the Art Nouveau style. Most of Ljubljana's bridges, monuments, parks, and main buildings date back to the post-earthquake development.