Virje Waterfall
| Region | Gorizia Statistical Region |
| Starting point | Village Bovec or Golf court Bovec |
| Route length | from Bovec 5.2 km (3.4 miles) in one directiion, from Golf court it is 1km in one direction |
| route duration | 0.5-1,5 h |
| Best time to visit | summer, spring, early autumn |
| Appropriate for | Baby Carriers , 1-3 years of age , 3-6 years of age , 6+ years of age |
| Level of difficulty | Moderately demanding route |
Route Description
At the end of every family trip, we wonder how it is possible that every single destination is so beautiful. The Virje Waterfall is also one of such examples, although we could say that the Posočje is so beautiful that it is almost unreal :). Slovenia is truly a land of hundreds of lakes and waterfalls.
The Virje Waterfall is located on the Glijun Stream, near the village of Plužna. The Glijun stream is one of the rare karstic springs that never dry up. The spring water, which emerges among many stones of glacial material, reaches up to 7ºC and is very cold. Nevertheless, many are brave enough to plunge into its depths. The rock over which the emerald Virje Waterfall flows divides the stream into 2 parts, and the waterfall itself is about 20 meters (65 feet) high. The best time to visit is in May and June, as the melting snow turns the waterfall into a huge fan. Its emerald green pool just calls for a refreshing dip in the hot summer days; however, it has less waterpower.
You can walk to the waterfall on foot from the village of Bovec or from Golf court Bovec.
From Golf court Bovec it is a short, half an hour walk to the waterfall (starting point is on our map).
From Bovec it took us about an hour and a half to get there (it was quite muddy at times), while individuals without children can manage the trail in an hour. Make sure to wear proper hiking boots. From the center of Bovec drive up towards the church or “Kaninska vas”. Continue along the asphalt road to the village of Plužna. Follow the “Slap Virje” road sign and park in the marked parking lot. However, you have to pay a fee to leave your car there: Virje Waterfall - 5 € for cars and 10 € for other vehicles. The price is valid for 2 hours of parking. Access is not allowed for motorhomes and buses.
The path to the left takes you downhill to Virje Waterfall in just five to ten minutes.
Interesting Facts
Legend of the Holy Trinity Church in the village of Bovec
Many years ago, the mail carriers delivered the post via the main road from Bovec through Predel to the Carinthia statistical region. This was a very dangerous area because bandits waited in the nearby hill to attack and rob any possible caravan. There was a mail carrier named Lojz, who delivered the mail to Villach. One time when he was on the road, he spotted a crowd of people. It turned out to be the policemen who captured a bandit and wanted to hang him. Once the bad man was put under the gallows, they asked for his final wish. The bandit wanted to talk to someone from the village of Bovec. Lojz just happened to be from there and he stepped forward. The bandit then disclosed his crimes to the mail carrier and asked Lojz to unearth his riches and use them to build a church in Bovec. Lojz did just that and while they were building a church, three springs welled up in the middle of the square. This was apparently a sign to dedicate the church to the Holy Trinity. The building was sadly demolished during WWI.
Map
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Nearby Restaurants
Gostilna Pod lipco Inn
Bovec is a tourist paradise and all of the inns are packed with hungry visitors. We recommend that you book in advance to make sure you have somewhere to go and fill your tummy ;). The Pod lipco Inn has very friendly waiters, and you can order quite a few local delicacies. We could not resist the local Bovec doughnuts (“bovški krafi”) and the traditional “čompe” dish (boiled potatoes and cottage cheese). Here is a tip – there is a playground next to the inn and if you have your lunch in the summer terrace, you can supervise your children and rest at the same time.
Ledina 8
5230 Bovec
05 38 96 280
Mila and Staš Recommend
We found the waterfall too cold and that is why we stopped to swim in the Nadiža River! It can reach 20 ° C in summer and is suitable for swimming in certain parts. If you like, you can check out the Napoleon Bridge nearby.
