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Slovenia
Upper Carniola
Kranjska Gora

Russian Chapel on the Vršič Pass

Highlight • Religious Site

Russian Chapel on the Vršič Pass

Recommended by 115 hikers out of 117

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for: Triglavski narodni park

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    Best Hikes to Russian Chapel on the Vršič Pass

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    1. Kranjska Gora – Koča v Krnici Mountain Hut loop from Kranjska Gora

    17.4km

    05:12

    460m

    460m

    Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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    Expert

    4.8

    (105)

    436

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    Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    Intermediate

    Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    Expert

    Tips

    November 1, 2021

    The Russian Chapel is a chapel erected in memory of Russian soldiers who were buried by an avalanche during the construction of a road across the Vršič mountain pass. The chapel is decorated in the Orthodox style, which expresses the faith of the soldiers who died at this place. It was built in 1916. From it is also the grave of these soldiers. The monument on the tomb is in the shape of a pyramid with the inscription in Russian: "Sons of Russia". The exact number of soldiers killed is not known, but it is estimated that between 170 and 300 Russian and 10 to 80 Austrian soldiers died during the construction of the road. On March 8, 1916 alone, 110 Russians and 7 Austro-Hungarian guards died in one landslide. The Russian chapel is entered in the Register of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia as a cultural monument of local significance.

    At the beginning of 1915, Kranjska gora became an important strategic point due to the Isonzo Front, which appeared between Austria-Hungary and Italy on the Soča River. Due to this, the Austro-Hungarian army ordered the urgent construction of a road across the Vršič pass, which would connect the valleys of the Soča and Sava rivers. The road was necessary for the faster passage of Austrian units and military equipment across the pass. Russian prisoners of war were used to build the road. Construction began in May 1915, and about 10,000 Russian prisoners took part in the construction itself. It is estimated that 170 to 300 Russians and 10 to 80 Austro-Hungarian soldiers guarding the prisoners died during the construction of the road itself. The landslide alone on March 8, 1916 claimed 110 casualties between the Russians and 7 Austro-Hungarian guards. Surviving Russian prisoners erected a chapel in 1916 in memory of their fallen comrades.

    The Russian chapel is located in the forest, on the fifth kilometer of the road Kranjska gora - Vršič at an altitude of 1,100 m. The surroundings of the chapel are fenced and arranged with paths and benches. Directly next to the tomb is a small water spring, so that a stream flows through the courtyard in front of the chapel. On the opposite side of the road there is a parking space for visitors to the chapel. Just a few hundred meters in front of the chapel, along the road, is the mountain lodge Mihov dom.

    Translated by Google •

      July 30, 2019

      Very beautiful church in the middle of the mountains.

      Translated by Google •

        January 4, 2020

        Across the street is a parking lot.

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          Elevation 1,130 m

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          Location: Kranjska Gora, Upper Carniola, Slovenia

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