ENG
Nadi∞a
Breginjski Kot and the Nadiæa River
BOVEC KOBARID TOLMIN
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lies the valley of BREGINJSKI (literaly “the Corner of Breginj”). Bounded by the plains of Friuli, the peaks of the Julian Alps and the emerald waters of the Soča river, it is an integral part of BENE©KA SLOVENIJA (VENETIAN SLOVENIA). The mountainous terrain, threaded by a network of river valleys and caressed by the gentle sea winds from the south, hides the pristine NADIÆA RIVER, ancient villages, limestone ridges and more. IN WESTERNMOST SLOVENIA KOT
The stone houses of the Beneška Slovenia hill country each have their story to tell and mark a point where true harmony between man the natural environment has been developed and nurtured. The mystical beauty of the landscape is the valley’s greatest treasure and worth preserving for future generations.
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Breginj museum collections Above the Nadiža river, between KOBARID and BREGINJ, THIRTEEN VILLAGES
are scattered along the sunny terraces at the foot of mount Stol’s southern face. Today only some 250 villagers remain in Breginj, the largest village of Breginjski Kot and the only to still have a school, post office and community health centre. 2
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The Nadiæa River
Napoleon’s bridge across the River Nadiæa
The circular streets and the stone houses with their roofed galleries (known as »ganki«), connected to their stables and barns, stood in oval clusters. They were a witness to the remarkable cultural landscape and heritage of these parts. Now, the sole remnant of the original layout is the OLD VILLAGE CENTRE WITH ITS MUSEUM and the St. Nicholas church and rectory; they are classified as national cultural monuments.
crossing the Nadiža gorge dates to around 1812 and stands mute testament to the routes crossing the area since at least the time of Ancient Rome. The bridge used to form part of the ANCIENT ROUTE from Pradol and Robidišče along the Nadiža river. According to folk memory the current bridge was constructed by a builder from the village of Čenebola in Beneška Slovenija. It was built at the time of the French emperor’s conquests, hence its name. Its uniqueness and technical accomplishment make it a precious ARCHITECTURAL MONUMENT and a memorial to times past.
ITS TURQOISE WATERS, TORRENTIAL DURING THE FREQUENT
THE STONE BRIDGE
STORMS,
originate under the massive STOL range. At the foot of mount MATAJUR it turns south, crosses the border into Italy and concludes it’s 60 kilometer journey when it joins the river Ter (Torre). The Nadiža has carved out pools and gorges, as well as depositing numerous shingle beaches. It is one of the cleanest and warmest Alpine rivers, home to the marble trout, rainbow trout and the local crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes italicus. As such it is a natural PARADISE FOR BATHERS and FLY FISHERMEN. According to local folklore, the waters of the Nadiža also possesses healing properties.
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Before the great 1976 earthquake BREGINJ was a precious, living memorial to the unique ARCHITECTURE OF BENE≥KA SLOVENIJA.
Two private collections are on display in Breginj: THE ETHNO-MILITARY COLLECTION and THE STOL MUSEUM COLLECTION.
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Robidi≤Ëe Ž a smoke kitchen The westernmost Slovenian village ROBIDI≥∏E lies surrounded by pastures on a remote little plateau 650 metres above sea level. The transition between the Mediterranean and the Subalpine cultural areas is most evident from the appearance of the villages, with their Venetian-Slovenian architectural style.
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Homestead number 14: More than 300 years old, VAN»EVA HI©A (VAN»’S HOUSE) has an almost perfectly preserved interior, a characteristic floor plan and a low hearth kitchen. This type of SMOKE KITCHEN, with a low, freestanding Mediterranean-style hearth and the associated equipment, is today a rarity in Slovenia, although it was once quite common in western and southwestern Slovenia, Istria and Bela Krajina (White Carniola).
Stol (1673 m) This 30-kilometer limestone ridge rising ABOVE BREGINJSKI KOT is a true PARADISE FOR PARAGLIDERS, HANG GLIDERS, HIKERS and CYCLISTS. The Stol mountain stands at the rim of the high Julian Alps and offers a splendid view of the sea. Visitors interested in mountain flora will be excited to find the charming spirea shrub (Spiraea decumbens) which blossoms in the spring and its only habitat in Slovenia is Breginjski Kot. At the foot of the mountain, in the humid forests by the Bela river, visitors can enjoy the alluring fragrance of the cyclamen.
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Sporting activities is a paradise for sports enthusiasts. The perfect thermals above the mountain slopes are excellent for PARAGLIDERS. MOUNTAIN BIKERS can ascend the mountain from the village of Trnovo and travel along the ridge, past the mountain pasture Božca, and then ride down the undulating ridge to Breginjski Kot. THOSE KEEN ON HIKING can begin their ascent in Breginj and continue to VELIKI MUZEC, enjoy the evening panorama of the Friuli plains and spend the night in a bivouac. In the morning, they’ll be delighted by the scenes of untamed nature and its creatures. MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS will certainly enjoy braving the walls above the river Nadiža, below the church of Sveti Volar (St. Hilary). It’s only a half hour walk from the village Robič to the church; a great place for family trips, even with small children. THE STOL MOUNTAIN
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Circular cycle path This is a partially marked cycling track that leads from KOBARID to BREGINJ and ROBIDI≥∏E village. It descends along the Nadiža riverbed, passes the bridge Napoleonov Most and reaches Podbela, where it turns onto a gravel road by the river and continues towards the village of ROBI∏. The whole trip covers 44.5 KILOMETRES and is considered DEMANDING. In case that’s a bit too much, you can shorten the trip and take an occasional swim in the charming pools of the Nadiža.
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Bene≤ka Slovenija (Venetian Slovenia) After border control was abolished on 21 December 2007, BREGINJSKI KOT officially opened towards the NADIÆA AND TER (TORRE) RIVER VALLEYS, thus reuniting the BENE≥KA SLOVENIJA on both sides of the ItalianSlovenian border. The unspoiled and untamed world of these valleys beckons hikers and cyclists to explore it.
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Access to the Nadiæa river To protect the harmony between nature and the numerous visitors in the summertime, the Kobarid municipality has implemented a PARKING REGIME by the river Nadiža. There are four maintained parking lots by the river bank (in ROBI», PODBELA, THE NAPOLEON'S BRIDGE and LOGJE); a parking fee applies in June, July and August.
There is the Hop ON–Hop OFF bus that takes you to the Nadiža river and to the surrounding villages in JULY and AUGUST.
Parking permit sales Daily parking fees are collected at the designated parking lots. Weekly and annual parking permits and additional information: Turizem Dolina SoËe − TIC Kobarid Trg svobode 16, SI−5222 Kobarid t: +386 (0)5 38 00 490 e: info.kobarid@dolina-soce.si www.soca-valley.com Issued: Turizem Dolina Soče, 2018 • Photographs: Srdjan Živulović, Janko Humar, Peter Immich, Tez Sato, Klemen Sovan, Klavdij Rakušček, Jernej Bric, Sebastjan Kostadinovič, Marko Grego, Miha Mlinar, Katarina Rutar Ipavec Translation: Eurotranslate • Maps: Kartografija d.o.o. • Design: Ivana Kadivec • Printed by: Gorenjski tisk
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BIKING TRAIL
DEMANDING BIKING TRAIL
VIEWPOINT
INN, RESTAURANT
BIVOUAC
HIKING TRAIL
BATHING BEACH
CAVE
BAR
TOURIST FARMHOUSE
ALPINE TRAIL
ROCK CLIMBING
CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL HERITAGE SITE
CASINO
MOUNTAIN PASTURE SALES OF CHEESE
EUROPEAN FOOTPATH E7
PARAGLIDING – TAKE-OFF SITE
ROOMS
DRINKING WATER
APARTMENT
SERVICE STATION
CAMPING SITE
CAR PARK
MOUNTAIN HUT
GROCERY
SOBE
MUSEUM APT
EASY HIKING TRAIL DEMANDING HIKING TRAIL
PARAGLIDING – LANDING SITE
SMALL MUSEUM COLLECTION CHURCH
EASY BIKING TRAIL
NATURAL SIGHT WORLD WAR I BATTLEFIELD
Important! The following activities are illegal in the river or on its banks: washing cars and dishes, shampooing dogs, camping outside camp grounds, open fires, dumping trash outside bins, as well as any pollution of the river or river banks.