“We Were Served a Most Sumptuous Feast.” The Pubs of Škofja Loka in the 19th Century

21 May – 17 Aug 2025

Curators: Biljana Ristić, Anja Zver, Sara Šifrar Krajnik and Jože Štukl

The exhibition provides insight into the role the pubs of Škofja Loka played in the town’s social life in the 19th century. Individual chapters present the various types of drinking and dining establishments, pub life, i.e. typical pub grub and drinks, the role of pubs and inns for the development of tourism and leisure activities, typical patrons and the people in charge of supervising their day-to-day operation.

In addition to various social events, in the 19th century, the thing that made Škofja Loka a particularly lively town were a number of drinking and dining establishments. Although during the course of the century, their number varied – some closed after a few short years, while others had been in operation from the 18th century onwards – they differed from one another in terms of their special features, offerings and patrons. In Škofja Loka and its suburbs, there were several types of such establishments: taverns, pubs, inns, even a hotel, as well as two coffeehouses and a patisserie.

In the 19th century, alcoholic beverages were increasingly often drunk not only in private settings, i.e. the bourgeoisie’s parlours, but also in public drinking establishments. The most popular alcoholic drinks included wine, beer and brandy. In addition to drinks, some of these establishments also offered hot meals, such as sautéed liver, goulash, tripe, chicken paprikash etc.

In the second half of the19th century, however, the development of industry resulted in an increased importance of leisure and some people, men in particular, spent much of their free time in pubs. The pub regulars varied in both status and political beliefs. Some pubs were frequented only by highly educated people, such as scholars, while others lived mainly off the guests from rural areas or craftsmen and tradesmen. And much like elsewhere, artists were also regulars in Škofja Loka’s pubs. 

In the last few decades of the 19th century, Škofja Loka saw a more intense development of tourism, as part of which the local pubs, inns and the hotel played an important role. Tourists, which were locally known as “Sommerfrischers”, had various accommodation options to choose from – they could stay at the Prajerca, the Krona, the inns Pri Otetu, Pri Balantu, Pri Pepevnaku, Pri Cenetu and at the Štemarje Hotel, which was open only during the summertime.

Another thing that often took place in the local pubs and other drinking establishments were various pub brawls, knife fights and general public order offences. From 1866 onwards, security officers, nicknamed “kifeljci”, were in charge of ensuring the pubs’ smooth operation, making sure people observed the curfew and maintaining law and order.

Accompanying programme:

A guided tour with the curators: Wednesday, 2 July 2025, 19:00