Laibach

Laibach, capital of the Austrian crown-land of Carniola, and formerly of the kingdom of Illyria, lies in an extensive plain on the river Laibach, 7 miles above its junction with the Save, and 92 by rail NE. of Trieste. The streets of the old town, which goes back originally to Roman times, are narrow and irregular, those of the new suburbs wide and handsome. The town was fortified from 1416 down to the beginning of the 19th century. The castle is now used as a prison. Laibach has been a bishop's see since 1461, and has a cathedral, national museum, &c. It is likewise a place of some commercial and industrial importance, having cotton-factories, bell and iron foundries, cloth and woollen goods manufactories, and an imperial tobacco-factory. To the south-west of the town is the Laibach Morass, upwards of 80 sq. m. in extent, three-fourths of which have been brought under cultivation; the remainder affords a supply of turf. Interesting lake-dwellings have been discovered in the morass. Pop. (1890) 30,505. A congress met here in 1821 to regulate the affairs of Italy.