Kobarid and Tolmin – In And Out Slovenia

Hello guys,

I am taking you with me in the North-East of Slovenia in Kobarid and Tolmin (->Map).
These 2 cities close to each other are located near the Italian border and are worth visiting.

I went there on a day trip last month with a neighbor from my village.
Since he was born in Tolmin and grew up there, he gently volonteered to show me around.

We took the car and went to visit Kobarid first.
This Slovenian city used be called Caporetto by Italians, when the city was at the border of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
The battle of Caporetto took place in Kobarid between the 24th of october 1917 and the 9th of November 1917.
It was one of the bloodiest battle during WWI on the Soča front.

I started the day in Kobarid, not far from the Soča river.
I wanted to go see “Slap Kozjak“, a very well known waterfall just outside of the city.

**Slap Kozjak**, well known waterfall near Kobarid.

When I arrived near the waterfall, I saw a few people who were already there and taking picture.
It was about 09h30 A.M and there were already 5 or 6 people.
Should you choose to go see this waterfall, I recommed you to go there early to avoid the crowd (before 10h00).

It is not easy to reach to the waterfall but when you finally get there,
you will realize that it was worth the effort.

On my way back to the car, I lingered a bit next to the Soča river.
There is a charming little bridge above the river.
Walk on that bridge and take a good look around to see the mountains, the forrest and the river.

Nice bridge above the Soča river, not very far from the waterfall.

Go in the middle of that bridge and look at the gorgeous emerald color of the Soča river.

Second stop of the day -> Napoleon’s Bridge.
This bridge is about 2 km away from the waterfall Slap Kozjak.
It is called Napoleon bridge because Napoleon’s troops walked accross it on the way the Predil Pass in 1797.
This beautiful stone bridge is a hit with tourists visiting Kobarid.
You will see the Soča river flowing under the bridge and if you come in the summertime,
there is a good chance that you might see people doing some Kayaking or going whitewater Rafting under the bridge.

View of the Soča river and the mountains from the bridge.

Third stop -> Sacrario militare di Caporetto.
This place was inaugurated by Benitto Mussolini (in the flesh) in 1938.
It contains the bones of more than 7014 Italian soldiers killed on the Soča front.
This place is very historical, try no to miss it if you come visit Kobarid.
Walk around this sanctuary and look at the valley downhill and the surrounding mountains.

**Italian charnel House** above **Kobarid**.

Interior of the church at the top of the building.

View of the valley from the building, at the top of the stairs.

Next stop -> Kobarid Museum.
This museum is not very big but I recommend it.
It is devoted to the Soča Front of WWI.
Italians would call it Isonza Front because they don’t call the river Isonza.
Between may 1915 and November 1917, the Soča valley saw 12 battles between Italians soldiers
and soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
If you are in Kobarid, I recommend you to go visit this museum.
You’ll learn a lot about WWI in this part of the globe.
The museum organises guided tours for small group (less than 15 person).
The guided tour for a group cost 20 €.
I went to visit the museum alone and I really wish I had a guide.

One of the room exposing WWI weapons, inside the museum.

After Kobarid, we drove in the direction of Tolmin.
The city in itself is not very interresting but the Soča river flows next to it.
Thanks to the river, Tolmin is also a hit with tourists and locals who love kayak, Rafting, Canyoning etc …
But I did not go to Tolmin for outisde water sports on the Soča river.
I wanted to see a well known church, high up on a mountain, just outside of Tolmin.

This church is called Jarvoca or the Memorial church of the Holy Spirit.
It was dedicated to the soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire who died in the Soča front between 1915 and 1917.
This little church is really fantastic it has a history to tell.
Inside that church is written the name of 2564 soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
The fallen soldiers came from Slovenia, Bosnia, Serbia,Croatia etc …
all those nations where part of the former Austro-Hungarian empire before the end of WWI.
The Austro-hungarian soldiers used the wood of wooden cases (used for grenades transport) to write the name of fallen soldiers on it.

Thousands of names are engraved in the wood, on the walls …inside the church.

This church is really really worth a visit, believe me.
A little drawback though … you have to walk up quite a bit to reach that church.
Only invalid people are allowed to go there by car, all the way to the top untill they reach the church.
If you leave your car downhill and walk up there, I think it should take you at least 30/45 minutes to reach the church.
But let me tell you this -> the reward will be great.
There is a guide inside the church that will tell you everything about the church’s history.
The cost to enter the church is only 4 €.

After seeing the interior of the church, go out and walk around.
The view is simply breathtaking.

View of the mountains, behind the church.

View of the landscape, on the left-hand side of the church.

If you look downward, you’ll see the valley and a few cows in the pasture.
If you look around, you’ll see hills and mountains.
Above you -> mountain peaks, a few clouds, a gorgeous blue sky and the spirits of 2564 brave soldiers.

My tips for Kobarid and Tolmin:

1/ Come early if you want to avoid the crowd at Slap Kozjak.
2/ Go see the Napoleon’s Bridge.
3/ Go see the Military Sanctuary of Caporetto.
4/ Go see the Kobarid Museum.
5/ Go see Javorca.
6/ Go do some Kayaking/Rafting/Canyoning along the Soča river.