Nadi∞a Breginjski Kot and the Nadiæa River

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IN WESTERNMOST lies the valley of BREGINJSKI The stone houses of the Beneška Slovenia hill KOT (literaly “the Corner of ”). Bounded by country each have their story to tell and mark a the plains of Friuli, the peaks of the point where true harmony between man the natural and the emerald waters of the Soča river, it is an environment has been developed and nurtured. integral part of BENE©KA SLOVENIJA (VENETIAN SLOVENIA). The mystical beauty of the landscape is the valley’s The mountainous terrain, threaded by a network of greatest treasure and worth preserving for future river valleys and caressed by the gentle sea winds generations. from the south, hides the pristine NADIÆA RIVER, ancient villages, limestone ridges and more. 3

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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 3 Before the great 1976 earthquake BREGINJ was a precious, living memorial to the 1 2 Napoleon’s bridge across unique ARCHITECTURE OF BENE≥KA SLOVENIJA. The circular streets and the stone houses The Nadiæa River the River Nadiæa with their roofed galleries (known as »ganki«), connected to their stables and ITS TURQOISE WATERS, TORRENTIAL DURING THE FREQUENT THE STONE BRIDGE crossing the Nadiža gorge dates barns, stood in oval clusters. They were STORMS, originate under the massive STOL range. to around 1812 and stands mute testament to the a witness to the remarkable cultural At the foot of mount MATAJUR it turns south, routes crossing the area since at least the time of landscape and heritage of these parts. crosses the border into and concludes it’s Ancient Rome. The bridge used to form part of the Now, the sole remnant of the original 60 kilometer journey when it joins the river Ter ANCIENT ROUTE from Pradol and Robidišče along the layout is the OLD VILLAGE CENTRE WITH ITS (Torre). The Nadiža has carved out pools and Nadiža river. According to folk memory the current MUSEUM and the St. Nicholas church and gorges, as well as depositing numerous shingle bridge was constructed by a builder from the village rectory; they are classified as national beaches. It is one of the cleanest and warmest of Čenebola in Beneška Slovenija. It was built at the cultural monuments. Alpine rivers, home to the marble trout, rainbow time of the French emperor’s conquests, hence its Two private collections are on display in 3 trout and the local crayfish Austropotamobius name. Its uniqueness and technical accomplishment Breginj: THE ETHNO-MILITARY COLLECTION and pallipes italicus. As such it is a natural PARADISE make it a precious ARCHITECTURAL MONUMENT and a THE STOL MUSEUM COLLECTION. FOR BATHERS and FLY FISHERMEN. According to local memorial to times past. 4 folklore, the waters of the Nadiža also possesses healing properties. 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. 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 2 1 4 western and southwestern Slovenia, Istria and Bela Krajina (White ). 5 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

THE STOL MOUNTAIN 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, 6 even with small children. 6

7 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 , 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 Italian- Slovenian 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 three maintained parking lots by the river bank (in ROBI», PODBELA, and ); a parking fee applies in June, July and August.

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Parking permit sales

Daily parking fees are collected at the designated parking lots. Annual parking permits and additional information:

LTO SotoËje − TIC Kobarid Trg svobode 16, SI−5222 Kobarid t: +386 (0)5 38 00 490 e: [email protected] www.visit-soca.com

Issued: LTO Sotočje, 2014 • Photographs: Srdjan Živulović, Janko Humar, Peter Immich, Tez Sato, Klemen Sovan, Klavdij Rakušček, Jernej Bric, Sebastjan Kostadinovič, Matko Grego, Miha Mlinar Translation: Eurotranslate • Maps: Kartografija d.o.o. • Design: Ivana Kadivec • Printed by: Gorenjski tisk

BIKING TRAIL DEMANDING BIKING TRAIL VIEWPOINT INN, RESTAURANT BIVOUAC

HIKING TRAIL BATHING BEACH CAVE BAR TOURIST FARMHOUSE Important!

ALPINE TRAIL ROCK CLIMBING CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL CASINO MOUNTAIN PASTURE SALES OF CHEESE The following activities are illegal in the river HERITAGE SITE SOBE or on its banks: washing cars and dishes, E-7 EUROPEAN FOOTPATH E7 PARAGLIDING ROOMS DRINKING WATER TAKEOFF SITE MUSEUM shampooing dogs, camping outside camp EASY HIKING TRAIL APT APARTMENT SERVICE STATION grounds, open fires, dumping trash outside PARAGLIDING SMALL MUSEUM COLLECTION DEMANDING HIKING TRAIL LANDING SITE CAMPING SITE CAR PARK bins, as well as any pollution of the river or CHURCH river banks. EASY BIKING TRAIL NATURAL SIGHT MOUNTAIN HUT GROCERY BATTLEFIELD