©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd Western Slovenia & the Soča Valley Includes ¨ Why Go? Soča Valley ..........111 Rivers don’t come much more scenic than the Soča (pro- Bovec .............. 111 nounced so-cha). This aquamarine-coloured watercourse Kobarid. 114 threads through the Soča Valley (Dolina Soče) from its Nova Gorica ..........117 source in the Julian Alps and gives rise to a smorgasbord of sights like gorges and waterfalls. Loads of activities get Goriška Brda ........ 119 travellers up close to the natural splendour from busy cen- Vipava Valley ........120 tres like Bovec and Kobarid, where tour operators help Central adrenaline- seekers ride river rapids or paraglide from hill- Primorska .......... 121 sides. But it doesn’t have to be all high action: cycling and Idrija ...............122 walking trails get you out among stunning panoramas. Cerkno .............124 As ever in this pocket-sized country, there’s more to ex- plore behind the scenes. There’s rich history to delve into – particularly relating to WWI, when millions of troops fought on the mountainous battlefront here. Tucked away east of the Soča is a Unesco-recognised mercury-mining town, Best Places to and small regions like Goriška Brda and the Vipava Val- Stay ley enchant with idyllic landscapes and long wine-making traditions. ¨ Dobra Vila (p113) ¨ Adrenaline Check Eco Place (p112) When to Go ¨ Bovec Majerija (p120) inches/mm °C/°F Temp Rainfall ¨ Nebesa (p115) 30/86 12/300 ¨ Hotel Kendov Dvorec 20/68 (p124) 8/200 10/50 4/100 Best Places to 0/32 -10/14 0 Eat J FDNOSAJJMAM ¨ Hiša Franko (p116) ¨ Topli Val (p116) Feb–Mar See May–Jun Melt- Sep–Oct The Cerkno’s fascinat- water swells the grape harvest – ¨ Majerija (p120) ing Laufarija Mardi Soča River for the ideal for wine and ¨ Faladur (p121) Gras in the run-up most dramatic food touring in to Lent. white-water Goriška Brda and ¨ Gostilna Pri Lojzetu (p121) rafting. the Vipava Valley. #\ #\ 110 #\Rateče 0 20 km Rosenbach #\ e# 0 10 miles #\ Podkoren #\ Kranjska Gora Mangart #\ AUSTRIA 666(2679m) Go6zd Martuljek 66 #\ R Predil / S Mojstrana Predel Vršič Pass av #\ c c a (1156m) Jalovec R (1611m) Do (2645m) li #\ nk Kanin Rombon a (2587m) Log podJ u R Razor Jesenice (2208m) l i (2601m) #\ R R Mangartom a n A er #\ l p 0¸E61 Riv s Bovec a Trenta R Triglav oč 66#\ 6S 6(2864m) 66 0¸203 #5 Zasip #\ Soča #\ River #\ Soča Triglav Lake Bled Bled National Park #\ Lepena Bohinjska Bela #\ Soča River #1 #\ a Drežnica Lake Srednja k Stara j #\ Bohinj Staro Selo R Krn Vas n Ukanc #\ Fužina#\#\ i #\ (2244m) #\ h 2#\ o 66# Kobarid 66Stud6or B 6 Ribčev Laz #\ a av #\ S Vogel R Bohinjska #\ #\ So (1922m) Western č Bistrica Idrsko a R iv er Tolmin Gorges ITALY #\ #\Tolmin Selš Železniki ka S #\ 666666ora #\ Most na s ##\8 R Porezen s lovenia & the & lovenia Soči (1630m) lovenia & the 0¸ I ŠkofjaLok #\ 103 d a H #\ #\ Cividale r ills i R j c (Cedad) a Cerkno Blegoš C R e #\ #\ i r #\ (1562m) Kanal v kn #7 #\ e o r H #\ il Goriška ls Poljane 6Brda 66666#\ #\ #3 #\ Plave Gorenja P s I o Vas oča dr 0¸102 l i j #\ #\ ja H a s Dobrovo Šmartno ills n s oča k #\ v Žiri #\ a Spodnja #\ alley #\ S Idrija o T r r a v e iv Nova r ##\6 Idrija alley R #\ n ča o #\ So #\ Gorica #\ Slo v Gorizia Šempeter s #\ k #\ Rovte /·H4 pri Gorici i V 0¸444 e G N /·H4 o ia & the Soča Valley Valley Soča the & ia z #4 Vipava Vipavski d #\ Križ Valley #\ #\ Logatec Ajdovščina #\ #\ Ronchi #\ Branik #\ #\Monfalcone #\ Duino #\ Komen #\ Vipava #\ Štanjel h #\ #\ i G hli Western Slovenia & the Soča Valley Highlights #\ #\ 1 4 #\ G Marvel over the exquisite Dine superbly and get followed by a plate of žlikrofi #\ #\ ht green waters of the Soča a lesson in indigenous wine (ravioli-like pasta pockets). R S River (p111) while rafting or varieties in the Vipava Valley. 7 Wonder over the#\ human kayaking on them. (p120). spirit at Cerkno’s Franja 2 Take one of the area’s 5 Push your limits with Partisan Hospital (p125). loveliest short walks to Kozjak activities like canyoning or 8 Stretch your legs and Waterfall (p114) in Kobarid. hydrospeeding from Bovec admire the views at Most na 3 tour the idyllic, under-the- (p111). Soči (p117). radar villages and vineyards of 6 Check out World heritage– Goriška Brda (p119). listed history in Idrija (p122), .