recommended route
Čelo Fortress Trail
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A perfect location to view the valleyPhoto: Trever Swelland, Turizem Dolina Soce
A roundtrip track from the center of Bovec leading up to the Čelo fortress on the foothills of the scenic Svinjak mountain. The Čelo fortress played an important role for the Austro-Hungarian army in protection of the Bovec valley from an Italian invasion. Construction was completed in 1915 and much of the fortress is still intact today. Strategically, the fortress was built to cover the entrances to both Vršič pass as well as Perdil pass, therefore it is a great place to view the Bovec basin.
To reach the Čelo fortress walk on the main road in the direction of Mt. Svinjak to Mala vas road, where you will encounter the first sign. The path continues to Kal-Koritnica, up to the fortress and back down through Vodenica campground and into the center of Bovec.
This is a 9 km trail with a total trip time of approximately 2.5 hours, suitable for the whole family.
Author’s recommendation
Track types
Show elevation profileTips and hints
- This track passes by Ravelnik and Čelo, two outdoor World War 1 museums. For more information please follow the link: Ravelnik, Čelo, Pot miru.
- Both outdoor museums are reachable by car as well. Ravelnik is located 1 km north from Bovec. You can get to Čelo if you follow the same road to Kal Koritnica, where you can leave your car. There is a 30 min walk to Čelo.
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
From the information building in the center of Bovec follow the main road in the direction of Mt. Svinjak until you reach Mala vas street. There you will see the first sight indicating the direction of the Čelo fortress trail. Shortly after turning on Mala vas street you will take your first right hand turn. Follow the signs leading out of town and through several pastures. Turn right from a small field to a driveway leading to the main road. Once you reach the main paved road follow it in the direction of Bovec for 50 meters until you see your first building on the left. Behind this building is a sign indicating 250m to the Ravelnik outdoor museum. Once you reach the museum you will see a small sign for Čelo leading down the hill to another paved road. Descend the hill and follow the paved road across the bridge, up the hill and into the town of Kal-Koritnica. In the town turn left at the bus stop and follow the road to the end, where you will find a sign for Čelo fortress on a grass trail at the base of Svinjak. After 5 minutes you will intersect the main trail leading to the summit of Svinjak, follow this path for 10 minutes, turning left at the sign of Čelo fortress.
To return to Bovec, circumnavigate the fortress, descending on the opposite side, where you will come to the other side of Kal-Koritnica. Cross the main road and follow the signs to the campground, up the hill and back to the information center where you started.
Note
Getting there
The starting point of the track is from the center of Bovec, originating at the information center.
To get to Bovec you can come from the North or the South.
- From the North: Via Kranjska Gora through Vršič Pass or through the Italian town of Tarvisio through Predil pass.
- From the South: Follow road number 102 from Tolmin to Kobarid, turning on 203 from Kobarid to Bovec.
Parking
During the summer months, parking can be difficult in Bovec. There are a few larger parking lots that generally have space available. Option number 1: directly across from the Mercator supermarket there is a large parking lot. Option number 2: there is a large parking lot near the school and the church.Coordinates
Book recommendation by the author
For more info about Soča Valley, please follow this link:
Author’s map recommendations
Book recommendations for this region:
Equipment
This is a standard trail, requiring no special equipment. Bring gear according to the weather and the season.Statistics
- 2 Waypoints
- 2 Waypoints
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