Zakriž combines tangible traces of its history with natural features and two ways of finding your way: the Stations of the Cross lead through the village, while cycling route No. 2 offers views of named landscapes. Other notable features include military installations, a richly decorated church and traditional fruit-drying buildings.

Part of the Alpine Wall

The Italian military fortifications in Zakriž were part of the 1,850-kilometre-long defensive Alpine Wall between Genoa and Rijeka. The installations include two caverns for housing soldiers and two so-called “opere” bunkers, where machine guns were intended to be installed. The length of the wall gives the fortifications a broader regional historical context; the structures mentioned also locate this heritage in Zakriž.

Church and Stations of the Cross

The Church of St Andrew stands in the centre of Zakriž. The first documented mention of a church in the village dates from 1515; the present-day church was built around 1767. Its statues and other furnishings are gilded. The dates thus distinguish the early mention of a church from the later construction of the present building.

The Stations of the Cross begin at the chapel below Zakriž, pass through the village and end at the final station at St Andrew’s. The walk is said to take approximately two hours. The duration depends on the route option chosen and walking speed, so allow for this approximate time span rather than a fixed walking time.

Fruit drying, water supply and village history

There are four traditional fruit-drying buildings in Zakriž, known as “pajštve”. A fruit-drying building on the Pri Zalazarju farmstead has been fully restored. The surviving troughs of the oldest water-supply system in the Cerkljansko area are also among the local features; they can be visited. Julijina House is more than 300 years old. Together, these details represent different aspects of village history: fruit processing, water supply and a historic dwelling.

Jezero Meadow and protected wildlife

After rain, numerous small pools form in Jezero Meadow in Zakriž. This landscape feature is explicitly dependent on rainfall. Another nature-related aspect is the protection of the Jersey tiger: the butterfly Callimorpha quadripunctaria is protected in the Zakriž area under Natura 2000. The meadow and the protected species offer different points of interest for anyone interested in the local landscape and nature.

Getting around on foot and by bike

The Bevk Trail passes through Zakriž to the village centre. There it turns right at a junction with a wooden farm building and the road connecting Gorje and Ravne. Check the local trail signs before setting out. On cycling route No. 2, cyclists turn right into the centre after the town sign. After about 500 metres, they turn right again towards Cerkno; this is followed by an approximately two-kilometre descent to the starting point.

The cycling route offers views of the Baška ridge, the Idrijca Valley and the Šebrelje Plateau, with the Church of St Ivan in the foreground. Different planning details are useful when choosing between the routes: for the Stations of the Cross, the approximate two-hour duration depends on the route option and pace, while on the cycling route, junctions and approximate distance sections are the main navigational aids.

Discover more destinations: Cerkno, Idrija, Črni Vrh, Lome, Bukovo, Srednja Kanomlja, Vojsko

Back to the main travel overview: Idrija.