Tolminka Valley - Urban Exploration

“Triglav National Park is Slovenia's only national park. Visitors are only guests in this beautiful and sensitive environment.

During World War I, the Tolminka valley was one of the hinterlands of the Austro-Hungarian army, and its flatter parts were turned into army settlements. The nearby memorial Church of the Holy Spirit in Javorca was built in that period. There are well-preserved bunkers in the valley from the inter-war period, when the border between Italy and Yugoslavia ran through this area.

The Tolminka river bubbles to the surface in an interesting karst spring from beneath of the surrounding mountains. In its short course of just over 10km, the river flows through a glacial mountain valley and then cuts deeply in the limestone bedrock, forming a gorge known as Tolminska korita.

In the past, many mills were set up along its tributaries and the river itself was used to transport timber to Tolmin, Gorica, and further to the sea.
The surrounding mountainous karst areas are dotted with chasms and caves; the best-known are the Poloska jama cave and the underground system of Tolminski Migovec, which, at over 45km, is Slovenia's longest cave.”
(source: Signboards from the area)

This abandoned place was feeling to us very scary because it’s clear that many people lost their life’s during fights here. The tunnel system of those bunkers are reaching deep into the earth. Without proper light it’s difficult to discover, and as well you might get lost as this constructions underground are bigger than you think. There are many leading also into the mountains, some are even blocked because of fallen rocks.

This area here in Slovenia is full of abandoned bunkers and war stations from WW1 and WW2 reaching about 900 kilometers. This frontlines from past times are still a strong reminder to better stay in peace. War leads always into the same direction - distortions, disharmony, mistreatment of nature and lots of times the manipulation of the innocent people losing there lives.

Wish you all the best!

©️ Photographer, Nature kid, Wildlife, Explorer, Cinematography, video making, The Footprint Brand, Follow Us ❤️