Stage B-KG 2

Trenta–Kranjska Gora

Hiking Researchers
Hard

From the starting point at Dom Trenta (Infocentre of the Julian Alps Crossborder Ecoregion and Trenta Museum) you head towards the main road, cross the Krajcarica/Zadnjica stream and then turn left, towards the Soča river, which you cross. Once again the Trail merges with the Soča Trail, which leads you up along the river, past several natural and cultural points of interest. When the path crosses the Limarica stream, you continue up a steep path along the Soča river to the road that brings you to the hut at the source of the river Soča. After just a few metres, the alpine path will lead you up into the forest in the direction of north. Remain on the alpine path until you reach the road just below the Vršič Pass. On this spot an avalanche from Mt. Prisank buried 110 Russian POWs who were building the road to Vršič in March 1916. Continue on the main road until after a few hundred metres you reach the Vršič PassFrom here you continue off the main road past the Tičarjev dom Hut and up the Old Vršič Pass or Passo Mojstrovka, as the Italians called it. By the road you can see the remains of bunkers from the times of the Rapallo Border – it was over the Vršič Pass that the border between Italy and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia ran. Just a few steps separate you from the Poštarski dom Hut (1,688 m) that stands on the highest point of this stage of the Walk of Peace trail. From here on, the road starts to descend down the so-called Old Vršič Road characterised by its typical hairpin turns, that brings you into the Gorenjska Region. You reach the road to Vršič, whose section from Kranjska Gora to Vršič is officially called the Russian Road, above Stari Tamar where the Triglav National Park Information Point is located. Follow the marked alpine road that leads you to the Russian Chapel, one of the most well-known religious monuments from World War I. It was built in the memory of the Russian POWs who lost their lives in avalanches, while building the road over the mountain pass. The chapel in the Orthodox style was built in 1916. Next to it, stands a smaller tomb with a stone pyramid on top. Every July a memorial service is held by the Russian Chapel, frequently attended by high state officials. From the chapel, continue down the alpine trail which often crosses the main road. Under the Mihov dom Hut, near the Russian Cross, turn from the alpine trail onto a forest road that goes over Suha Pišnica, Planina v Klinu Mountain Pasture all the way to Mali Tamar with a memorial plaque dedicated to climbers. From here, continue on a forest road down the right bank of the Pišnica stream to the main road. Continuing on the main road, you will reach Lake Jasna. Go along the western side of the lake to its northern edge and follow the footpath to the centre of Kranjska Gora where you can conclude your journey with a visit to the Peace Park. In the times of World War I, Kranjska Gora played an important role as the rear supply area of the Isonzo Front.  The Peace Park was built to mark the 100th anniversary of the Russian Chapel under Vršič. The information boards with old photographs in the park tell the whole story of the Vršič (Russian) Road.

Text: Martin Šolar, Kobariški muzej
Photos: (1) Aleš Krivec, Turizem Kranjska Gora; (2, 5) Simon Kovačič, Fundacija Poti miru; (3) Matevž Lenarčič, Fundacija Poti miru; (4) Turizem Kranjska Gora; (6) Boris Pretnar, Turizem Dolina Soče

Suggestions

In Trenta, we recommend you visit the Infocentre of the Julian Alps Crossborder Ecoregion and Trenta Museum with its large collection of ethnological items, and cultural and historical heritage. It presents the way of life in the Trenta Valley during the past.
When the trail reaches the point from where you can see a hamlet Pri Cerkvi just on the other side of the Soča river, you cross the footbridge and head right. A few hundred metres down the road, located just behind the civil cemetery is the Austro-Hungarian military cemetery Trenta with around 200 buried soldiers, who died in a nearby hospital and some Russian war prisoners who died while building the road over the Vršič Pass.
If you turn left at the footbridge instead of right you get to the Alpine Botanical Garden Juliana. Located in the vicinity is also the Mlinarica Gorge and the Monument dedicated to Dr. Julius Kugy. A frequently visited spot is the Source of the river Soča.
Under the viewpoint Šupca, located slightly off the Walk of Peace trail, are the remains of a freight cableway from World War I. Below the Vršič Pass (next to and in the vicinity of Erjavčeva koča Hut) there are two Russian POW’s burial grounds.
Descending down from the Vršič Pass towards Kranjska Gora, one of the most beautiful creations of Mother Nature will follow you with her gaze from the north side of Mt. Prisank/Prisojnik – Heathen Maiden.

Mountain huts along the way:
– Koča pri izviru Soče Hut (open from June to October)
– Tičarjev dom Hut (open from June to October)
– Poštarski dom na Vršiču Hut (open from June to October)
– Tonkina koča Hut (open throughout the year)
– Koča na Gozdu Hut (open throughout the year)
– Mihov dom Hut (open throughout the year)

Access and useful info

Access

Public transport:

Summer bus services:
Most na Soči–Tolmin–Bovec–Predel–Kranjska Gora
Bovec–Trenta–Vršič–Kranjska Gora

Regular bus services:
Tolmin–Kobarid–Bovec

Parking (start and end point of the stage):
Start: parking area at the Infocentre of the Julian Alps Crossborder Ecoregion (Dom Trenta)
End: parking area on Borovška cesta Street, Kranjska Gora

Information

Center za obiskovalce Pot miru, Kobarid
(The Walk of Peace Visitor Centre, Kobarid)
Gregorčičeva ulica 8
SI–5222 Kobarid
+386 5 389 0167, +386 31 586 296
turizem@potmiru.si, info@thewalkofpeace.com
www.thewalkofpeace.com

Info središče čezmejne Ekoregije Julijske Alpe
(Infocentre of the Julian Alps Crossborder Ecoregion)
Na Logu v Trenti
SI–5232 Soča
+386 5 388 93 30
dom-tnp.trenta@tnp.gov.si
https://www.tnp.si

TIC Kranjska Gora
Kolodvorska ulica 1c
SI–4280 Kranjska Gora
+386 4 580 94 40
info@kranjska-gora.eu
www.kranjska-gora.si

Hiking Researchers
Hard

GPS coordinates

Start: 46.380381, 13.752419
End: 46.485180, 13.785291

Length

22.6 km

Ascent

1,090 m

Descent

910 m

Best time of year

April‒November, December‒March*
* In winter time check the conditions on the terrain before your hike!

Equipment

Trekking clothing and footwear, drinks and food from backpack, flashlight, trekking poles
Interreg