THE EMERALD TRAIL

4BM[CVSH -JFO[ 1 Source of the Soča River 16 Military Watchtower ½TUFSSFJDI 8JFO The beauteous Soča is one of the most important rivers in . It was written into the 2 Big Soča Gorges 17 Cerje 7*--"$) historical memory of Europeans, particularly Slovenians and Italians, as the scene of major ,-"(&/'635 3 Kluže Fortress 18 Source of the Hubelj River and bloody battles during the First World War, while in the imagination of the modern visitor 5BSWJTJP 4 Boka Waterfall 19 Castra it is primarily a synonym for pristine beauty and liveliness, as a place for a wealth of active *UBMJB ,SBOKTLB(PSB experiences in the embrace of unspoilt nature. 5 Veliki Kozjak Waterfall 20 Manor 5SJHMBWTLJ #MFE #PWFD OBSPEOJ 6 Memorial Church of the 21 Sources of the River The Soča river basin is an expansive and diverse land. It stretches from the Alpine north to 4PŘB QBSL Holy Spirit in Javorca ,3"/+ 22 Goče the lowlands in the lower reaches of the river, and also takes in the and Vipava valleys ,PCBSJE #PIJOKTLB #JTUSJDB 7 Gorges and all the other tributaries. The territory is administratively incorporated into the Northern 5PMNJO 23 Divje jezero Primorska – Gorica statistical region, which today comprises 13 municipalities: , $FSLOP 8 Kolovrat – open-air museum 6%*/& Cividale 24 Antonijev rov Kobarid, Tolmin, Kanal, , Brda, Šempeter - Vrtojba, Miren - Kostanjevica, Renče - 9 Kanal ob Soči ,BOBM 25 Partisan Hospital of Franja Vogrsko, Ajdovščina, Vipava, and Cerkno. One of the key developmental orientations %PCSPWPW#SEJI -+6#-+"/" 10 Šmartno of the region is for tourism to be developed across the entire area, services and attractions *ESJKB 26 Divje Babe Archaeology Park to be linked together and a common destination established. This destination is named the (03*;*" /07"(03*$" ;BHSFC 11 Dobrovo Castle ÀFNQFUFSQSJ(PSJDJ Emerald Trail, after the Soča River – the biggest natural and symbolic feature of the area. "KEPWÝŘJOB .JSFO #VLPWJDB 12 Krčnik natural sight 3PODIJ 7FOF[JB 7JQBWB *TPO[P 10450+/" 13 cultural sight 14 Kostanjevica museum 53*&45& 4MPWFOJKB 15 Trg Evrope tourist information centre ,01&3 3JKFLB NATURE The Emerald Trail offers an exceptionally diverse natural environment. It takes the visitor below precipitous rock faces and Alpine ridges past the green tops of the sub-Alpine foothills and expansive Dinaric plateaux, through the delightful vineyards of Goriška Brda and the . Along the way it conceals countless mysterious caves, enchanting waterfalls, picturesque lakes and crystal-clear rivers. The luxuriant natural wealth is safeguarded in protected areas such as and the Zgornja Idrijca and Trnovski Gozd Regional Park. Visitors can experience these natural wonders as a wayfarer, through active discovery by pursuing sports in the natural environment or simply as a respectful and silent admirer. Bovec

WINE AND CUISINE The Emerald Trail offers connoisseurs and gourmets an inspiring experience. The sunny south is a region brimming with rich wine yields. Those who seek out excellent Kobarid can set off on a wander through the cellars of Vipava, Brda and the . The Vipava wine road leads through a full 30 wine areas that preserve autochthonous varieties such as Pinela and Zelen. The queen of the white Brda wines is the native Rebula, while at its side are Picolit and Friulian Tokay, and the reds are dominated by . The cooler Alpine area offers stronger distilled spirits, and this is also the place where they mature the famous Tolminc cow’s cheese and Bovec sheep’s cheese. In the area between the north and south you can find Idrija žlikrofi stuffed dumplings and the delicacy of Šebrelje stomach. Of course there is no lack of local inns and fine restaurants, where culinary masters serve up classic popular dishes or specialities from the local area.

Tolmin

SPORTS IN THE WILD The Emerald Trail is a paradise for those seeking active exploration of nature. The Soča River offers rafting, kayaking and hydrospeed, while the mountain streams with their wild gorges, waterfalls and pools offer the thrill of canyoning. The fantastic gliding conditions Kanal draw numerous paragliders, hang gliders and gliders. The valleys lure hikers to wander the numerous trails that run past natural and cultural features. The mountain areas offer mountain hikers both highly and less challenging mountain tours, an abundance of mountain biking trails for cyclists and a range of walls for climbing, while alpinists can take their pick of thousand-metre rock face climbs. In winter there are two skiing centres operating – the high mountain Kanin and the Dobrovo ultra-modern Cerkno Centre, while ski touring enthusiasts will find plenty to challenge them on other mountains. The Soča, Nadiža, Bača, Trebuščica, Idrijca and Vipava rivers are first- rate fly-fishing locations that draw anglers from all over the world.

GAMES AND FUN Nova Gorica Gaming, spectacles, concerts, top-class cuisine and excellent entertainments await in Nova Gorica, one of the biggest casino centres in , and every day thousands of visitors are drawn there. Most outstanding in its attractions is definitely the Perla, which offers a wealth of services including a casino, hotel, discotheque, events venue, conference centre, restaurant, café and wellness centre, making it the biggest gaming and amusements centre on the continent. In addition to the gaming centre at the Hotel Perla, in Nova Gorica, Brda, the Vipava Valley and Kobarid you will also find a series of gaming salons offering attractions that are slightly more modest, but for that reason more attuned to the individual guest.

Šempeter pri Gorici HERITAGE The Emerald Trail can boast an exceptional historical, cultural and technical heritage. It was undoubtedly the Soča or Isonzo Front that left the greatest mark on the area’s turbulent past, although we should not forget the Neanderthal whistle from Divje Babe cave, the Iron Age Santa Lucia culture, the Roman battles in the Vipava Valley, the great Tolmin revolt, the resting place of French rulers at Kostanjevica, the fortress system of the Rapallo border, the Partisan hospital of Franja and more. The rich cultural tradition is reflected in the arts and crafts, outstanding among which is Idrija lace, and in the folk traditions, customs, songs, dances, habits and practices. This region has been marked by a multitude of artists in all fields: poets, writers, musicians, painters and architects. High on the list of the Emerald Trail’s technical heritage is the Idrija mercury mine, which for 500 years ranked Idrija among the Miren Bukovica Ajdovščina Vipava Idrija Cerkno technologically most advanced places in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the century-old railway, an extraordinary monument to engineering complete with stone , tunnels and galleries.

Gorenjski tisk Gorenjski by: Printed Modic, Jaka Kadivec, Ivana Design: Fili, Sirk Mateja d.o.o., Kartografija Maps: d.o.o., Amidas Translation:

SITES OF SPECIAL INTEREST Rafting, Soča arhiv HIT, arhiv Bovec, LTO arhiv Žagar, Danijel Živulovič, Srdjan Virant, Franci Trebižan, Samo Silva, Monica Pukšič, Janez

9 Kanal ob Soči is a little medieval town 17 Cerje is a slope above Mirno, from which 25 Partisan Hospital of Franja, named Peternelj, Jani Pertignani, Paolo Naglost, Oton Lenarčič, Matevž Humar, Janko Humar, Gregor Hmeljak, Leon Colja, Andrej

Mirko Bijuklič, Leo Caharija, Caharija, Leo Bijuklič, Mirko Photographs: Humar, Janko Editor: Omejc, Alenka by: Text 2009, pot, Smaragdna RDO with a rich cultural heritage. It straddles a wonderful view opens up of the Karst after the physician Dr. Franja Bojc Bidovec, by: Published 1 Source of the Soča River is one of both banks of the Soča River, and is linked and the Bay of , the plains, functioned during the Second World War the finest karstic springs in Slovenia’s by a twin-arch bridge. The old town centre Vipava Valley and across Gorica and Brda in the Pasica gorge near Cerkno. It is a mountains. The blue-green water wells up comprises the Riko Debenjak Gallery, a to the highest peaks of the . At unique monument to people’s nobility and from a cavern with an underground lake, Gothic house, the 15th century Church of the summit stands a massive, 15-storey humanity. In 2007 it acquired the European then falls 15 m. (info: TIC Bovec) the Assumption, Neptune Fountain and monument to the defenders of Slovenian Heritage sign. (info: TIC Cerkno) the picturesque square of Kontrada with territory. (info: TIC Temnica)

remains of the defensive walls. 25

www.hit.si

(info: TIC Kanal) 18 Hubelj Torrent wells up through www.boveckanin.si

[email protected], [email protected] [email protected], E-mail: [email protected]

1 9 numerous rocky holes in the karstic E-mail:

+386 (0)5 331 13 41 13 331 (0)5 +386 Tel.: +386 (0)5 389 60 03 60 389 (0)5 +386

10 26 Divje Babe Archaeology Park lies close Tel.:

Delpinova 7a, SI - 5000 Nova Gorica Nova 5000 - SI 7a, Delpinova Šmartno is a picturesque medieval underground right above the town ↑ Kluže Fortress Bovec 5230 - SI 43, Dvor

to the village of Šebrelje, in the middle

HIT d.d. HIT 2 Big Soča Gorges, a channel village enclosed by walls and fortified with of Ajdovščina. The spring is especially d.o.o. Bovec Kanin ATC of the Idrijsko-Cerkljansko hills. In the approximately 750 metres long and up to defensive towers. It stands on a panoramic picturesque after heavy rain. Lower down

17 karstic cave archaeologists have found the

15 metres deep with precipitous walls, is slope offering fantastic views of Goriška the stream, the remains of huge iron- : remains of a cave bear, stone and bone Trail Emerald the of partners Main the most imposing sculpture carved out by Brda. Its treasures include the Brda house making furnaces have been restored. th tools and the remains of fireplaces made the Soča along its course. from the 16 century. The village is a (info: TIC Ajdovščina) by Ice Age man. The most famous find is (info: TIC Bovec) favourite of painters, who have a small hall here to use for events and a gallery. 19 Castra is a Roman walled structure a 55,000-year-old bone whistle, thought to be the oldest musical instrument in the

3 Kluže Fortress is one of the most (info: TIC Brda) with 14 towers, and today it is still almost

entirely preserved. At one time it was world. (info: TIC Cerkno) www.emerald-trail.com

[email protected] [email protected]

picturesque fortifications in Slovenia. At an E-mail:

10 11 www.hit.si +386 (0)5 380 04 86 04 380 (0)5 +386

Dobrovo Castle is a Renaissance a fortified military camp incorporated Tel.:

[email protected] exceptional location above the E-mail:

Petra Skalarja 4, SI - 5220 Tolmin 5220 - SI 4, Skalarja Petra

+386 (0)5 336 60 00 60 336 (0)5 +386

gorge, it once served as a defence against manor house with Baroque accents from into the defensive system of the Roman Tel.:

th ↑ Source of the Soča River ↑ Tolmin Castle pot Smaragdna RDO

the Turks and later played an important the beginning of the 17 century. It is Empire’s eastern frontier. Gorici pri Šempeter 5290 - SI 7, Roba Ivana Trg

Hotel Lipa Hotel

part in the French wars. In 1797 it was enhanced by a gallery of prints by the (info: TIC Ajdovščina) INFO: TRAIL EMERALD THE

acclaimed artist Zoran Mušič and by part www.novagorica-turizem.com

burned down and destroyed, then from TRAIL EMERALD THE

[email protected]

1881 to 1882 the ruins were demolished of the collection of the last owner of the E-mail:

+386 (0)5 330 46 00 46 330 (0)5 +386

castle, Count Baguer. Other special features Tel.: and a new fortress built in its place. Today Gorica Nova 5000 - SI 4, trg Bevkov

include the hunters’ room and knights’ hall, it serves as a museum and cultural centre, Gorica Nova TIC

and in summer it is the main venue for the where there are numerous musical and www.cerkno.si/turizem

other events. (info: TIC Brda) www.brda.si

[email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Kluže Festival. (info: TIC Bovec) E-mail:

+386 (0)5 373 46 45 46 373 (0)5 +386 Tel.: 94 95 395 (0)5 +386 Tel.:

Močnikova 2, SI - 5282 Cerkno 5282 - SI 2, Močnikova

2 11 18 26 Brdih v Dobrovo 5212 - SI 10, cesta Grajska

TIC Cerkno TIC Brda TIC

www.tic-kanal.si

↑ Castle www.idrija-turizem.si

[email protected] E-mail: [email protected] E-mail:

+386 (0)5 398 12 13 12 398 (0)5 +386 Tel.: +386 (0)5 374 39 16 39 374 (0)5 +386 Tel.:

Pionirska ulica 2, SI - 5213 Kanal 5213 - SI 2, ulica Pionirska Vodnikova 3, SI - 5280 Idrija 5280 - SI 3, Vodnikova

TIC Kanal TIC TIC Idrija TIC

www.lto-sotocje.si www.vipavska-dolina.si

[email protected] E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] E-mail:

+386 (0)5 380 04 80 04 380 (0)5 +386 Tel.: +386 (0)5 368 70 40 70 368 (0)5 +386 Tel.:

Petra Skalarja 4, SI - 5220 Tolmin 5220 - SI 4, Skalarja Petra Glavni trg 1, SI - 5271 Vipava 5271 - SI 1, trg Glavni

TIC Tolmin TIC TIC Vipava TIC

www.lto-sotocje.si

3 19 www.tic-ajdovscina.si

[email protected] E-mail: [email protected] E-mail:

+386 (0)5 380 04 90 04 380 (0)5 +386 Tel.: +386 (0)5 365 91 40 91 365 (0)5 +386 Tel.: Trg svobode 16, SI - 5222 Kobarid 5222 - SI 16, svobode Trg

4 Boka Waterfall has its source in the 12 Krčnik is the name for the picturesque 20 Zemono Manor is a late Renaissance ↑ Rihemberg Castle ↑ Kobarid Ravine Ajdovščina 5270 - SI 8b, drevored Lokarjev TIC Kobarid TIC

Kanin mountain range and is the biggest gorge of the Kožbanjšček stream. Here the hunting manor, built in the style of Ajdovščina TIC

www.bovec.si

and most imposing Slovenian waterfall. water has formed a natural bridge, which contemporary villas near Venice. It stands www.miren-kostanjevica.si

[email protected] E-mail: [email protected]

The most awe-inspiring view of it is late in together with the pool beneath it conjures on a low hill in the middle of the Vipava E-mail: +386 (0)5 389 64 44 64 389 (0)5 +386 Tel.: +386 (0)5 308 00 40 00 308 (0)5 +386 Tel.:

Trg golobarskih žrtev 22, 23, SI - 5230 Bovec 5230 - SI 23, 22, žrtev golobarskih Trg the spring, when the snowmelt high in the up a real fairy-tale atmosphere. The gorge Valley. The building is surrounded by an Krasu na Kostanjevica 5296 - SI 10, Temnica

TIC Bovec TIC mountains sends up to a hundred cubic itself is only around 40 m long, but further arcade, while the interior is adorned with Temnica TIC metres of water down each second. down the stream boasts three more pools rich frescoes of secular content. (info: TIC Bovec) with crystal clear water that warms up (info: TIC Vipava)

pleasantly in summer. (info: TIC Brda) INFORMATION

4 12 20

5 Veliki Kozjak Waterfall is a staggeringly MUSEUMS beautiful 15-metre column of water that falls at the source of the lower channels of the Kozjak stream. Caught between the walls of Dom is the information centre of Triglav National Park, and has a presentation of a kind of underground chamber, it pours out the natural features of the park and the rich ethnological heritage of the Trenta Valley. It into the wide blue-green pool. A trail leads is an important centre of cultural and other social life in the valley, and is the venue for to the waterfall past remnants of the front various concerts, theatrical performances, exhibitions and other events. (www.tnp.si) line from the First World War. (info: TIC Kobarid) Kobarid Museum outlines to visitors the two and a half years of fighting on the Soča Front 5 during the First World War. The exhibits, the large relief of the surrounding mountains, the rich photographic material and multivision projection sensitively tell the story of the 21 ↑ Tolmin Basin ↓ 6 Sources of the Vipava River are a rare hard and bloody days by the Soča. The Council of Europe declared this the best European Memorial Church of the Holy Spirit feature, since the river rises in the form of a museum of 1993. (www.kobariski-muzej.si) in Javorca is the finest monument to the delta and has as many as nine main springs. First World War in the Soča region. Soldiers The most powerful of these is called Pod Tolmin Museum, housed in the former Coronini Mansion in the middle of Tolmin, of the Third Austro-Hungarian Mountain Skalco, just behind the Renaissance Lanthieri preserves the rich cultural heritage of the Soča region. Brigade built it in 1916 in memory of their 13 Manor in the middle of the town of Vipava. The permanent exhibition Naplavine obsoške fallen comrades. A total of 2,564 names are On display nearby are two ancient Egyptian zgodovine (Flotsam of Soča History) is outstanding scorched into oak panels set like the pages sarcophagi made of red granite and for the extraordinary finds from the ancient Santa 13 Solkan Bridge is the famous railway bridge along the Bohinj line running across the Soča at of a book on the walls of the nave. In 2007 approximately 4,500 years old. Lucia culture at Most na Soči and the presentation of Solkan. It was built in 1906 and ranks as one of the greatest technological attractions of Slovenia. the church acquired the European Cultural (info: TIC Vipava) the Tolmin peasant uprising in 1713. Throughout the year Its stone arch, rising in a span of 85 m, stands as the biggest in the world. Heritage sign. (info: TIC Tolmin) 21 interesting presentations and exhibitions are staged in the (info: TIC Nova Gorica) 22 6 Goče is a fascinatingly huddled village ground floor rooms. (www.tol-muzej.si) with narrow streets and stone houses. The 14 Kostanjevica is an ancient pilgrimage tiny village lies on a ridge with fine views Goriško Regional Museum, with its archaeological, ethnological, 7 Tolmin Gorges is the lowest and centre with a rich history and a wealth of above the Vipava Valley, and is a precious historical and cultural history departments, is based at the castle of Kromberk. It houses southernmost access point to Triglav treasures from the past. The crypt of the monument of Slovenia’s cultural heritage. In a permanent exhibition of precious artworks from the 16th to the 20th century, period National Park and an extraordinary natural church houses the tomb of the last of the the centre of the village stands the Church furniture from the 19th century, and there is also a permanent historical exhibition on the feature. The protected interpretive trail leads Bourbons, the French royal line, while the of St. Andrew from the 17th century, and 20th century. The castle also offers a wedding hall and restaurant. (www.goriskimuzej.si) through the sunken channel to Zadlaška library of the Franciscan monastery houses the two main streets cross in the form of St. (Dante) Cave and back across Hudičev precious printed items dating back to the Andrew’s Cross. Goče is known primarily Museum at Ajdovščina keeps an extensive collection of fossils collected by Stane Bačar, Most (Devil’s Bridge), which stretches 60 m 16th century. (info: TIC Nova Gorica) for its stone altars, vaulted basements and including some very rare specimens. Part of the rich archaeological story of Ajdovščina above the surface of the Tolminka. (info: TIC numerous original wells. (info: TIC Vipava) is showcased in the exhibition Fluvio Frigido – Castra – Flovius – Ajdovščina, which tells of Tolmin) 15 Trg Evrope (Europe Square, or in the settlement of Ajdovščina from prehistoric times to the early Middle Ages. (info: TIC 22 THE EMERALD TRAIL 8 14 Italian Piazza Transalpina) is the common Ajdovščina) square joining Nova Gorica and , ↓ Soča River ↓ Gewerkenegg Castle 8 Kolovrat – open-air museum: between which the two cities built in 2004 at the 23 Divje jezero or is a tiny and Idrija Municipal Museum is housed in the renovated th the Soča and the plains of Friuli rises the site of the former national border to mark mysterious karstic lake that is one of the 16 century Gewerkenegg Castle. It offers an intricate magnificent panoramic ridge of Kolovrat. Slovenia’s entry into the . jewels of Slovenia’s natural wealth. The exhibition of the 500-year history of the mine and town and During the war the area above Tolmin was It is a feature that links the two cities and emerald green surface, caught in the dark also a new lace exhibition entitled Idrija lace, history written occupied by the Italian army, which built a symbol of European integration. The surroundings of a rocky basin, is usually in thread. The picturesque arcaded courtyard is a venue for an extensive defence system, comprising nearby museum tells of the times of the a calm idyll, but after heavy rain huge summer cultural events. The museum boasts the title of the command and observation posts, machine national border between Slovenia and quantities of water spill out of it. Since best European museum of industrial and technical heritage gun and artillery positions, caverns and in the Gorica region. (info: TIC Nova Gorica) 1967 it has been protected as a natural of 1997. (www.muzej-idrija-cerkno.si) monument. (info: TIC Idrija) a network of firing trenches. Today what 16 remains has been arranged as an open-air 15 Military Watchtower at Vrtojba was 23 Cerkno Museum works to preserve and showcase the local museum that forms part of the Walks of erected right on the former Italian-Yugoslav 24 Antonijev rov is a section of the Idrija heritage. In addition to occasional exhibitions, there are ↓ Vipava River Peace. (info: www.potimiruvposocju.si) border in 1948 by the Yugoslav army, and mine, the second oldest and biggest two permanent exhibitions: Cerkno region through the was used to watch the border right up mercury mine in the world. It was centuries and It’s the Pust Carnival’s fault! – The story of the until 1991. Today it has been arranged as a already being excavated in 1500. Today Cerkno waggoners. (www.muzej-idrija-cerkno.si) small memorial museum, showcasing the it is arranged for visitors and offers an events in the border zone from the end of unforgettable experience of the mysterious the Second World War up until Slovenia’s underground world of the miners. accession to the EU. (info: Hotel Lipa) (info: TIC Idrija)

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