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About the Vintgar Gorge

The Vintgar Gorge is a 1600-meter-long and up to 250-meter-deep canyon located on the eastern edge of the Triglav National Park, 4 kilometers northwest of the center of Bled. It was only 130 years ago that three adventurers first entered the mysterious Vintgar Gorge. The local community of Gorje has been protective of Vintgar from its very beginning. They simply knew it had to be preserved.

  • The Vintgar Gorge is the largest natural monument in Slovenia.
  • The first protected natural attraction in Slovenia, which accepts a limited number of visitors.
  • Since its opening in 1893, an organized, guarded path has led through the Vintgar Gorge.
VINTGAR
VINTGAR AND SURROUNDINGS
VINTGAR IN JULIAN ALPS
Through the Vintgar Gorge

Through the Vintgar Gorge

The one-way path through the Vintgar Gorge continues to inspire more than 130 years after its adventurous discovery. From the VINTGAR Entry Center to the Šum Waterfall, the path leads along sturdy wooden bridges anchored in the living rock.

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The River of Trees Trail

Are you interested in the invisible networks of nature, where every smallest creature matters? Then, along the one-way path through the Vintgar Gorge, choose the Path of the River of Trees. During Vintgaring in the Woods, slow down and awaken your senses.

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The King of Triglav Trail

Are you interested in how humans interact with nature in the embrace of the Julian Alps and the Karavanke moutain range? Then, along the one-way path through the Vintgar Gorge, choose the Path of King Triglav. Experience the pulse and life of the villages on Alpine hiking.

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Facts

MORE ABOUT THE ORIGINS AND DISCOVERY

The legendary Vintgar Gorge was sculpted and shaped by glaciers. As they began to melt and retreat, the Bled Lake formed in the valley. At that time, the Radovna River began to carve a new path at the lowest point between the Hom and Boršt hills. After the end of the last ice age, the water persistently continued to carve the Vintgar Gorge. Only at the end of the passage, due to resistant rock, the level in the form of the picturesque Šum waterfall has been preserved to this day.

DISCOVERY OF VINTGAR

The Vintgar Gorge remained unexplored and inaccessible until 1891. That year, there was an unusually low precipitation in winter, causing the water level of the Radovna River to significantly drop and, after a long time, allowing entry into the wild Vintgar. The first to venture into it were the local resident and mayor of Gorje, Jakob Žumer, and the photographer and cartographer Benedikt Lergetporer. Enchanted by its beauty, they introduced the Vintgar Gorge to the world, initiating a story that has lasted for over 130 years.

GREEN WORLD

In the area of the Vintgar Gorge, more than 600 plant species can be found. Due to the unique terrain and distinct microclimates, plants grow here that are not characteristic of the surrounding area. On the riverbed and slopes where there is less sunlight, we see alpine and sub-alpine species, while on sunny slopes, warmth-loving plants thrive.

THROUGH THE VINTGAR GORGE

With the desire to enable passage through the Vintgar Gorge, locals prepared a plan. The funds for construction were contributed by companies, hoteliers, and many locals through dance events. The construction of paths, bridges, and galleries was extremely challenging due to the precipitous walls and wild river. However, despite this, it was ceremoniously opened on August 28, 1893.

GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE

In the Vintgar Gorge, we can observe micritic limestones, thicker limestone layers, and grainy limestones. The pronounced rock layers that we see in the high walls, with their slopes, folding, and shifts, still shape the gorge today.

WHY VINTGAR

The origin of the name of the gorge remains unexplained to this day. It may originate from Celtic times or derive from the German word “Weingarten” – referring to vineyards near Podhom. According to the records of the teacher Janko Žirovnik, at the opening of the new path through the gorge, it was christened as Vintgar – after the hill above  Dead Woman’s Cliff (Ranča peč).

In the area of the Vintgar Gorge, more than 600 plant species can be found. Due to the unique terrain and distinct microclimates, plants grow here that are not characteristic of the surrounding area. On the riverbed and slopes where there is less sunlight, we see alpine and sub-alpine species, while on sunny slopes, warmth-loving plants thrive.

ŠUM WATERFALL

Even before the discovery of the gorge, Vintgar was known to locals and later to visitors from nearby Bled because of the Šum waterfall. Initially, it was admired from the banks of its deep pool, and later also from the height of the hanging bridge built above it in 1878. The picturesque image of the waterfall often inspired painters and photographers and served as a backdrop for festive events in the gorge.

ANIMAL KINGDOM

The clear, pure waters and pristine banks of the Radovna River are home to numerous endangered animal species. Among the rocks at the bottom of the river hides the rare souffia, a fish that defies the strong currents of the wild river with its flat body shape. On its banks, the white-throated dipper nests, the only bird among songbirds that also dives in search of food. In winter, when other rivers freeze, the Vintgar Gorge provides shelter for the rare European otter.

CULTURAL HERITAGE

Where the Radovna River shaped the Vintgar Gorge over millennia, humans in the 20th century built bridges, dams, and tunnels. The largest fully preserved stone railway arch bridge in Slovenia rises 34 meters above the Radovna River. Beneath it lies the intake of the Vintgar hydroelectric power plant, today the oldest operating power plant in Slovenia.

How to reach us

Choose your arrival method

Vintgar shuttle

From the Central Parking Lot VINTGAR LIP and Main bus station Bled, there are regular free shuttles with the VINTGAR Shuttle e-bus to the VINTGAR Visitor Centre. Dogs are welcome, but must be muzzled on the VINTGAR Shuttle. Check your timeline carefully to make sure you are on time for entry, at least a few minutes before your booked entry time.

Let’s preserve nature

7 PRINCIPLES OF RESPONSIBLE VISIT

Let’s book a time together when the Vintgar Gorge will leave an autograph in your heart. The gorge is desired to be visited by so many admirers that we have limited entry for the sake of nature conservation and a more primal experience.

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Simultaneously limiting the number of visitors allows for a more primal experience of nature, relieving it from excessive pressure. Take enough time to visit the Vintgar Gorge, to experience it as the gateway to Triglav National Park. The visit is not time-restricted, so enjoy the views and the beauty of nature, even when you leave the Vintgar Gorge and head towards the Path of King Triglav or the River of Trees Path. On average, independent visitors spend 3 hours, but with slower exploration and breaks, it can be more.

Instead of printing a ticket on paper, we recommend using a digital ticket, which you present upon entry on your smartphone. Purchase digital tickets in advance on our website before visiting the Vintgar Gorge.

Every green decision counts. Your visit to the Vintgar Gorge is more eco-friendly with public transportation, and if you’re staying in nearby Bled, consider walking or cycling to get here.

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Every destination is more enjoyable with a thoughtful journey. Why not organize a green day and travel by train as most visitors did a century ago? You can also choose to arrive by bus, where you’ll be picked up by the free VINTGAR Shuttle e-bus at the Central Bus Station in Bled. The Vintgar Gorge and the Radovna River are most pleased with cyclists, as the sound of bicycle wheels reminds them of the once vibrant mills and sawmills that contributed to the prosperity of our region. If you’re staying in Bled, you can rent a bike and ride it directly to the VINTGAR Visitors Centre.

Such majestic nature deserves our attention for everything we carry with us. Littering is not the style of responsible visitors who understand that nature empowers us if we enable it in the long run.

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VWe take our trash with us or dispose of it in designated bins in front of the VINTGAR Visitors Centre. Trash bins are intentionally not placed along the path through the Vintgar Gorge, so make sure to safely store all items so that nothing falls on the path or into the river. We recommend using a refillable water bottle to reduce single-use plastic. At the VINTGAR Visitors Centre, there is a drinking fountain with clean water and refreshments, and you can also freshen up at the exit point from Vintgar, at the Refreshment Stand above the Šum Waterfall.

The most beautiful conversation during the visit to the Vintgar Gorge is with the locals and the Radovna River. If we walk in peace and with attention, without disturbing others and ourselves, we can observe the flow of life by the river.

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Through careful, nature-conscious walking through the Vintgar Gorge, we discover the incredible diversity of plant and animal life, as various microclimates coexist in Vintgar. It is important to respect their laws and not throw anything into the water or the environment – no loud shouts, no throwing of stones, branches, or other objects. In Vintgar, we learn that orderliness also makes sense in human society, as we can endanger ourselves or others by overtaking or pushing. By calmly following the one-way path and avoiding moving in the opposite direction, we enable all visitors to have an equal and safe experience. Your pets are welcome, but please keep them on a leash during your visit. Please notify us in advance and obtain mandatory consent before using a drone or other recording equipment.

This is a world that nature has built over millennia and has allowed us to enter to visit without changing or interfering with it.

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No matter how breathtaking the scenery of nature and life in the Vintgar Gorge may be, we must do everything to help it remain so for another thousand years. It is important not to disturb or feed wild animals, pick plants, or walk on unmarked paths to jeopardize the natural balance. The life of some plant species is so delicate that just a touch can damage it.

Every stone and every plant must remain exactly where they are. If you want something for a souvenir, browse through our shop, where you can find a collection of carefully selected products from local creators.

Our guidelines have been honed from experience and a protective attitude towards nature. We want to protect you and the Vintgar Gorge, so we urge you to take to heart everything you need to know and adhere to.

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Before visiting, check the weather conditions and ensure appropriate footwear and clothing. Through the Vintgar Gorge (from the Vintgar Entry Center to the exit point at the Šum Waterfall), wearing a safety helmet is mandatory to protect you from rock erosion, which can occur despite protective nets on cliffs as it does throughout the Alpine world. We have ensured high hygiene standards, so you will always receive a fresh head covering under the helmet. During the visit, avoid leaning on safety fences and wandering off the fenced or marked paths. Swimming in the river and at the Šum Waterfall is prohibited. No photograph is worth a life. Therefore, let’s always be most attentive to our safety and the safety of fellow visitors and others.

Our local community of Gorje has lived with the Vintgar Gorge since it discovered it and realized that it must protect it. Locals have always ensured that tourist visits do not endanger the nature of Vintgar.

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The local community has been linked to nature conservation since Professor Albin Belar pioneeringly proposed the protected area of the Triglav Lakes Valley. This was followed by the opening of the Vintgar railway station. Everything else is history. A few years later, we joined forces and staunchly opposed a major project to dam the Vintgar Gorge for the needs of a hydroelectric power plant (1912). Today, there is hardly a resident of Gorje who is not proud of Vintgar Gorge and does not have a family anecdote associated with the first visit. Most of the Vintgar Gorge guides, are younger or older generations of locals who will gladly share the secrets of our places with you.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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If you are coming to Soteska Vintgar by public bus, get off at the Central bus station Bled, near the Bled Rose Hotel. There is a regular free VINTGAR Shuttle e-bus every full hour from the Bled bus station to the VINTGAR Entrance Center (from July 1, 2024).

If you decide to visit Soteska Vintgar by train, we recommend the exit station in Podhom, where you can arrive by train from Jesenice (Jesenica-Nova Gorica line) or Bled jezero (Nova Gorica-Jesenice line). Since the station is near the VINTGAR Visitors Centre, you can simply walk between them.

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The ticket is valid for a single entry to the Vintgar Gorge on the same day. Buy your ticket online in advance and reserve your seat that way.

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From the centre of Bled, it is about 4 km or a 50-minute walk to Soteska Vintgar. Pedestrian markings lead to the VINTGAR Entrance Center. Separate footpaths or lanes for pedestrians and new sidewalks in Gorje and Podhom have already been arranged in some places for a safer route.

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