Vršič Pass

The Vršič Pass (; , , ) is a high mountain pass across the Julian Alps in northwestern Slovenia. It is the highest pass in Slovenia, with an elevation of , 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.

Name

The Slovene common noun literally means 'little peak', a diminutive form of the word 'peak'. The name originally referred to Mount Vršič (), located about east of the Vršič Pass. The name 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 (first attested in 1763–87 as ''Muschizach'' or ''Mushizhach''). The Italian name of the pass was ''Moistrocca''.

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 (), for the Russian prisoners of war forced to build it between 1915 and 1917.

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.

Hiking

The Vršič Pass is considered an excellent starting point for excursions to surrounding peaks, including Mala Mojstrovka (), Velika Mojstrovka (), Planja (), Prisojnik (Prisank) (), Razor (), Šitna Glava (), Slemenova Špica (), Sovna Glava (), and Suhi Vrh (), or shorter hikes in the immediate area.

Several mountain lodges are located near the pass: the Erjavec Lodge (; ), the Tičar Lodge (; ), Mike's Lodge (), the Forest Lodge (; ), and the Postman's Lodge (; ).

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 (), refers to the approximately ten to twelve thousand Russian prisoners of war used as laborers in the 1915 construction.

Monuments

Just off the main road, on the north side of the pass, at an elevation of around , 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.

Gallery

Image:Prelaz Vršič.JPG, The Vršič Pass
Image:View_from_the_Vršič_Pass,_Slovenia.JPG, View from the Vršič Pass
File:Road_to_Vršič_pass.jpg, Ascending the road to the Vršič Pass, view of the 23rd switchback at 1,539 m above sea level
File:Prelaz Vršič.jpg, The Russian Road; the switchbacks are paved with setts

See also

* List of highest paved roads in Europe
* List of mountain passes

References

External links

Vršič Road at Google Street View
VR panorama by Google.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vrsic Pass
Mountain passes of Slovenia
Mountain passes of the Julian Alps
Municipality of Bovec
Municipality of Kranjska Gora