Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
right). Behind the church, the stylized cross on the hill marks a
WWI cemetery
—the final
resting place of some 600 Austro-Hungarian soldiers who were killed in action.
For another good example of how the So
č
a River cuts like God's band saw into the land,
stop about two minutes past the church at the small gravel lot (on the left) marked
Velika
Korita So
č
e
(“Grand Canyon of So
č
a”)
.WhiletheentireSo
č
aValleyisdramatic,thishalf-
mile,30-to50-footdeepstretchisconsideredthemostimpressive.Ventureoutontothesus-
pension bridge over the gorge...and bounce if you dare. If the water's high, notice the many
side streams pouring into the churning river in a series of mini-waterfalls. For more views,
cross over the bridge and hike down along the treacherously uneven and narrow, rocky path
downstream to another bridge.
Just beyond the suspension bridge is the turnoff (on the left) to the Lepena Valley, home
of the recommended Pristava Lepena ranch, with accommodations and Lipizzaner horses
(described later, under “Sleeping in Bovec”). If you head up this valley, you'll find a big,
gravel pullout onthe right (marked
Velika Korita
)that lets youcross another springy bridge
over a particularly wide stretch of the river. This is a popular place for those who enjoy hik-
ing up alongside the “Grand Canyon” we passed earlier (about 5 miles round-trip, uneven
terrain).
