Stage 9 SI

Nova Gorica–Lokvica

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Stage 9 SI of the Walk of Peace from the Alps to the Adriatic trail starts on the common square of the Slovene Nova Gorica and Italian Gorizia/Gorica (Trg Evrope/Piazza della Transalpina) and concludes in the Kras village of Lokvica. You start your journey on a cycle route, through the tunnel under the Franciscan Monastery Kostanjevica and onwards to the town of Šempeter pri Gorici. Cross the main square, past a private collection, titled Šempeter and its Surroundings during the Great War, located in the post office building in the direction of Vrtojba. Immediately after the highway overpass you turn left for the hamlet of Laze. A dirt road brings you to a large parking area, a starting point of a marked trim trail, that also serves as a rest area for motorhomes. Following a forest path, you climb up to the top of St. Ot hill (112 m), with a monument dedicated to the events that happened here in the 20^th century. You can also follow the forest learning trail. The trail then takes you along the ridges and to the village of Bukovica. After you have passed the church and the local administrative building you turn onto a field path that brings you to the banks of the Vipava river. The road crosses the river in the village of Renče, which represented the rear area of the Isonzo Front. There was also a military hospital set up in the village. You can have a look into the military sanitation organisation in the tiny museum Renče 1914–1918, in the old chapel of rest at the cemetery Renče – Lukežiči. There are two other preserved military cemeteries in the vicinity (Renče – Žigoni, Oševljek).  From Renče the Walk of Peace trail starts to climb up to Kras Region. Above the village of Vinišče there is a new outdoor museum that depicts the organisation of the military defences on this part of the front line. The climb up to the Kras Region takes you past the TITO sign on the northern slope of Fajtji hrib Hill (434 m). When you reach the Kras Edge the path leads you to the Monument of Peace Cerje (343 m), where there is also The Walk of Peace Visitor Centre. The Monument of Peace is the entrance point to this part of the Kras Region. After about two kilometres you reach Lokvica, the finishing point of this stage.

Photos: (1, 7) Matevž Lenarčič, Fundacija Poti miru; (2, 3) Jošt Gantar, Turizem Miren – Kostanjevica; (4) David Erik Pipan; (5, 6) Fundacija Poti miru

Guided Tour Programmes:

Park of Peace Cerje – Retracing the Footsteps of a WW1 Soldier

Kras – Underground Secrets of Caves

Monument of Peace Cerje – The Treasury of History and Art

A Guided Hiking Tour along the Walk of Peace