Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
Vršič Pass
Mountain pass across the Julian Alps in Slovenia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
The Vršič Pass (pronounced [ʋəɾˈʃitʃ]; Slovene: prelaz Vršič, Italian: passo della Moistrocca, German: Werschetzpass)[1] is a high mountain pass across the Julian Alps in northwestern Slovenia. It is the highest pass in Slovenia, with an elevation of 1,611 metres (5,285 ft), as well as the highest in the Eastern Julian Alps. It connects Upper Carniola with the Trenta Valley in the Slovene Littoral, and it is considered an excellent starting point for excursions to surrounding peaks.
Remove ads
Name
The Slovene common noun vršič literally means 'little peak', a diminutive form of the word vrh 'peak'. The name originally referred to Mount Vršič (1,738 m or 5,702 ft), located about 200 m (660 ft) east of the Vršič Pass. The name Vršič was not applied to the pass until 1911. The name of the peak was first attested in written sources as Werschez in 1763–87. Locally, the pass is known as Na močilu (first attested in 1763–87 as Muschizach or Mushizhach).[2] The Italian name of the pass was Moistrocca.
Remove ads
History
Vršič had formerly been traversed by a rough trail, used for logging and timber transportation. During WWI, the Austo-Hungarian military upgraded the trail into a modern road; it is now known as the Russian Road (Ruska cesta), for the Russian prisoners of war forced to build it between 1915 and 1917.[3][4]
From 1918 to World War II, the Vršič Pass marked the border between Italy and Yugoslavia. After 1945, together with the Upper Isonzo Valley north of Gorizia, both sides of the pass were incorporated into Yugoslavia, and later into Slovenia.
Remove ads
Hiking
The Vršič Pass is considered an excellent starting point for excursions to surrounding peaks, including Mala Mojstrovka (2,332 m or 7,651 ft), Velika Mojstrovka (2,366 m or 7,762 ft), Planja (2,453 m or 8,048 ft), Prisojnik (Prisank) (2,547 m or 8,356 ft), Razor (2,601 m or 8,533 ft), Šitna Glava (2,087 m or 6,847 ft), Slemenova Špica (1,911 m or 6,270 ft), Sovna Glava (1,750 m or 5,740 ft), and Suhi Vrh (2,109 m or 6,919 ft), or shorter hikes in the immediate area.
Several mountain lodges are located near the pass: the Erjavec Lodge (Erjavčeva koča; 1,515 m or 4,970 ft), the Tičar Lodge (Tičarjev dom; 1,620 m or 5,310 ft), Mike's Lodge (Mihov dom), the Forest Lodge (Koča na Gozdu; 1,226 m or 4,022 ft), and the Postman's Lodge (Poštarska koča; 1,725 m or 5,659 ft).
Road
The road through the pass rises from Kranjska Gora, traverses the top of the Vršič Pass, and descends into the Soča Valley, via a series of 50 hairpin bends. The upper elevations of the road are rendered impassable by heavy snowfall during much of winter. The road was greatly improved in late 1915 to supply the Isonzo Front of World War I, and it was originally named after Archduke Eugen of Austria-Hungary. The current name, Russian Road (Ruska cesta), refers to the approximately ten to twelve thousand Russian prisoners of war used as laborers in the 1915 construction.[5]
Remove ads
Monuments
Just off the main road, on the north side of the pass, at an elevation of around 1,200 m (3,900 ft), there is a Russian Orthodox chapel, built by the Russian prisoners of war during World War I.
On the south side of the pass there is a bronze monument in honor of the mountaineer and writer Julius Kugy, work by the architect Boris Kobe and the sculptor Jakob Savinšek. It was erected in 1953.[6]
Remove ads
Gallery
The Vršič Pass
View from the Vršič Pass
Ascending the road to the Vršič Pass, view of the 23rd switchback at 1,539 m above sea level
The Russian Road; the switchbacks are paved with setts
See also
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads