Vipava River Springs
| Region | Gorizia Statistical Region |
| Starting point | Vipava town house parking lot |
| Route length | 1,4 km (0.70 miles) |
| route duration | 0,5-1 h |
| Best time to visit | All year |
| Appropriate for | Baby Strollers , Baby Carriers , 1-3 years of age , 3-6 years of age , 6+ years of age , Dandy Horses, Bikes |
| Level of difficulty | Easy route |
Route Description
Stroll around the town of Vipava, see its sights and visit the Vipava River springs. The Vipava River has a total of seven permanent springs and all are located right here in the town of Vipava. Its main sources are the Podskala and Podfarovž double springs, located only a few meters from the Main Square, behind Lanthieri's manor. The other sources of the river spring up behind Tabor, Podlipca, Jama and Sleženec. The Vipava River’s springs are unique in Europe due to their delta-like semblance (Source: brda-vipavskadolina-kras.si website). Vipava has an interesting old town with major attractions such as the Castle Vipava, Lanthieri Mansion, St. Stephen’s Church and the Tabor Castle. A real special feature of the town and a natural landmark are the Vipava River springs, which are one of the many abundant permanent karst springs, as they collect groundwater from the karst hinterland of the Postojna Basin and Nanos Plateau.
Interesting Facts
Vipava is an interesting small town located in the upper part of the Vipava Valley, at the transition from Central Slovenia to the Friuli Lowlands. From east to west, the plateaus Nanos, Hrušica and the edge of Trnovski gozd Forest rise above the valley. In the south, the Vipava Valley and the Vipava Town are separated from the Karst Plateau by the Vipava Hills. By the Vipava River, which flows into the Soča River and then into the Adriatic Sea, the influence of the Mediterranean climate spreads into the valley, while the sharp north and warm south create conditions for diversity and uniqueness of plants.
What about the strong “burja” wind (bora wind) that blows here?
According to legend, Theodosius came to pray for help in the battle against western Roman Emperor Eugenius in 394. In the end, Theodosius’s army prevailed in the Battle of Frigidus, fought on the fields of the valley and, as the story goes, it was our very own “burja” (bora wind) that helped him win the throne.
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Nearby Restaurants
Gostilna Podskala Inn
The beautiful park and a large summer garden have a cool shade where you can hide from the summer heat, while the friendly staff serves fresh sea fish, shellfish, crabs and other delicious Mediterranean dishes of Italian and Slovenian cuisine.
Glavni trg 9b
5271 Vipava
+386 (0)41 540 964
Vita, Olja and Juna Recommend
Since the wind always blows around here, do not forget to bring a headband to protect your ears :).
The Burja is a powerful northeastern wind that greatly shapes the life in the valley. Legend has it that at one point it even turned around the wheel of history. Even though its gusts overturn and blow away everything not properly fastened or bolted, burja is a beloved part of this locality as it clears the air and scatters the clouds. The gale force of the burja wind appeals to the thrill-seeking visitors of the Vipava Valley.
A Natural Phenomenon
The Burja occurs over the Vipava Valley when a high pressure cell is present over Central Europe and generally pushes the cold air from the inland toward the hills and into the lowlands. It flows towards the valley down the slopes of Gora, Čaven and Nanos in gusts. When that happens, the hilltops are topped with distinct clouds, hats as they are called, or zastava (meaning “flag”) as the locals like to refer to them. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the valley, the skies are clear. Occasionally, burja will evolve due to a cyclone, in which case it will bring rain. Burja gusts can exceed 200 km/h (124 mph), with the highest unofficial gust speed having been recorded at 235 km/h (146 mph). Generally it occurs during winter months, but it is not unusual in other seasons as well.
