Below the village of Soča lies the Great Soča Gorge. Together with smaller gorges, the trail along the river, the military cemetery and local cheese-making, the village offers a range of nature, culture and culinary experiences.

Gorges and river landscape

The Soča River has carved out the Great and Small Soča Gorges, as well as the gorge at Kršovec. The Great Soča Gorge is 750 metres long and 10 to 15 metres deep. The Small Soča Gorges are 100 metres long and six metres deep. Comparing the two gives a sense of their different dimensions. You can view the Small Soča Gorges from a bridge below Turistična kmetija Jelinčič.

Hiking trail and gorge visit

The Soča Trail follows the Soča River from its source to Bovec and is 25 kilometres long in total. Near Soča, it reaches the village on the river’s left bank. Hikers can adjust the direction and distance they cover to suit the time they have available and the purpose of their walk. The 25 kilometres refers to the trail’s total length; you can choose a suitable distance for your own hike.

You can explore sections of the Great Soča Gorge on foot along a marked forest path on the left bank, but the gorge is not fully accessible. Some sections are exposed and can be slippery in wet or cold weather or in winter. So do not plan on a continuous path through the gorge. The entry point for navigating the Soča is at the end of the Great Soča Gorge; for safety reasons, you may not navigate through the gorge itself. Check the applicable rules and conditions before taking part.

Village history and church art

The Austro-Hungarian military cemetery is in the village, behind St. Joseph’s Church and the civilian cemetery. It originated as an Austro-Hungarian wartime hospital cemetery and was later expanded. Today, more than 1,400 soldiers and prisoners of war are buried there.

Another cultural trace can be found in a church in Soča: its walls and ceilings feature distinctive paintings by the Slovenian painter, sculptor and graphic artist Tone Kralj. They depict Slovenian and Slavic saints. One of the depicted faces bears the features of the fascist dictator Mussolini.

Local food and cheese

Turistična kmetija Jelinčič offers local food and homemade sheep’s cheese. Tastings and visits to the cheese dairy are possible; check the arrangements before your visit. Alongside the gorges and village history, this gives you the option of including regional cheese-making in your choice of places to visit.

Getting there and planning your time

You can reach the village of Soča from Bovec or via the Vršič Pass. Check access and seasonal conditions before setting out. Allow 20 minutes to visit the military cemetery; on the Soča Trail, however, you can adjust your direction and distance to suit the time you have available and the purpose of your walk. This gives you two different planning options: a visit with a specific time allowance and a hike whose length you can decide for yourself.

Discover more destinations: Podbrdo, Hudajužna, Most Na Soči, Trnovo ob Soči, Sedlo, Log Pod Mangartom, Srpenica, Trenta

For the overview of the wider area: Tolmin.