WATERFALLS AND WW1 BATTLES

The north western part of Slovenia is mountainous – the Julian Alps – with soaring limestone peaks, rivers of green water looking milky over the white rocks, waterfalls emerging from caves in sheer rock faces and Alpine meadows, full of wild flowers, below the forest that covers the lower slopes.

From Bled we drove along narrow winding roads to another lake – Bohinj…

…at one end of which, in the village of Ribčev Laz is a lovely little church with beautiful frescoes painted on the walls.

From the other end of the lake we enjoyed a slightly damp walk up hundreds of steps to the Savica waterfall…

…and the following day we drove to the nearby village of Stara Fužina and walked up through the Mostnica Gorge...

...to the Mostnica waterfall.

Before we left Bohinj we strolled through the woods and meadows beside the campsite to see and photograph the wild flowers.

By then the sun was shining again and we drove to Kobarid where a “Historical Trail” led us on a circular walk from the campsite, taking in another waterfall – the Koziak – as it fell into a large “bowl” almost totally enclosed by the surrounding rock. 

During the First World War this area was a battleground between Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  The Italians built defensive positions into the sides of the Soča Gorge…

(did you spot the interesting footbridge which bounces as you cross it?)

...and these still remain in remarkably good condition. 

Many thousands of Italian soldiers died here and 7014 (of which at least 3000 were un-named) were eventually buried in a mass grave topped by St Anton’s Church.

Alongside the road leading up to the church were erected the “Stations of the Cross” beautifully carved in stone.

Moving on we reached Bovec stopping on the way to scramble round and over huge boulders in an almost dry river bed to see the Boka waterfall. 

We were prevented from getting as close as we would have liked by the river which at that point left no room between the vertical rock sides.