Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
of an evocative wartime landscape. While not entirely typical of So
č
a Front embattlements
(remember, those were mostly high on the mountaintops and remain challenging to reach),
Ravelnik offers a taste of those times.
Continue following the main road to
Bovec.
This town, which saw some of the most
vicious fighting of the So
č
a Front, was hit hard by earthquakes in 1994 and 1998 (and by
another tremor in 2004). Today, it's been rebuilt and remains the adventure-sports capital of
the So
č
a River Valley—also known as the “Adrenaline Valley,” famous for its whitewater
activities. (Since the water comes from high-mountain runoff, the temperature of the So
č
a
never goes above 68 degrees Fahrenheit.) For a good lunch stop in Bovec, turn right at the
roundabout as you first reach the town; you'll pass Martinov Hram's inviting restaurant ter-
race on the right, and soon after, the Letni Vrt pizzeria (for details on both, see “Eating in
Bovec,” later). But if you're not eating or spending the night in Bovec, you could skip the
town entirely and not miss much (continue along the main road to bypass the town center).
About three miles past Bovec, as you cross the bridge (with the yellow
Boka
sign), look
carefully high up on the rock wall in the gorge to your right to spot the
Boka waterfall,
which carves a deep gouge into the cliff as it tumbles into the valley. (Hardy hikers can
climb upfora better view ofthis fall—the trailhead is just after the bridge onthe right—but
it's an extremely strenuous hike.)
Head south along the river, with water somehow both perfectly clear and spectacularly
turquoise. When you pass the intersection at the humble village of
Žaga,
you're just four
miles fromItaly.Continuing south,you'll passapullout (just before Srpenica) that isapop-
ular put-in point for kayaking trips along the river. Keep an eye out for happy kayakers.
Soon after, on the left, you'll pass the giant TKK factory (which makes caulk and other
building materials).
Soon you'll see signs for
Kobarid,
home to a sleepy main square and some fascinating
WWI sights. Don't blink or you'll miss the Kobarid turnoff on the right—it lets you skirt
into town past the highly recommended Kobarid Museum, which tells the tale of the WWI-
era So
č
a Front. Farther along, you'll reach the tidy main square. Driving up to the Itali-
an mausoleum hovering over the town is a must. (These sights are described later, under
“Sights in Kobarid.”)
Leaving Kobarid, continue south along the So
č
a to
Tolmin.
Before you reach Tolmin,
decide on your preferred route back to civilization...
Finishing the Drive
(See “The Julian Alps & Northwest Slovenia” map,
here
.)
