ADVENTURE WITH A TASTE AND SCENT OF GORIŠKA BRDA
The program is a combination of challenges for overcoming obstacles at the adventure park Soča Fun Park and a tour to during which you discover the history, culture, wine and gastronomy of the winegrowing region of Goriška brda (locally also called just »Brda«). Brda, a land of hills nestles halfway between the Alps and the Adriatic, maintains and develops its tradition, protects its beauty and bestows beneficial effects that can be recognized and felt by everyone who comes to this region. You will be delighted by the excellent local wines and olive oils accompanied by great local gastronomy, as well as by cycling past vineyards, orchards and olive groves.
TO BEGIN, AN ADVENTURE AT THE SOČA FUN PARK
We meet in Solkan, in the courtyard of the Kayak Canoe Centre Solkan, where experienced and qualified instructors of the adventure park greet you. After the presentation of the programme, you cross the emerald Soča River by the cycle & pedestrian bridge. On the right bank of the river, you enter the Soča Fun Park and under the auspices of the instructors, you face a two-hour adventure among the treetops, overcoming the obstacles in the adventure park at a height of 2 to 10 meters above the ground. At last, you face the unforgettable »descent of courage« – you return to the left bank along a 300 meters long zip-line, 40 meters above the ground.
TO THE MAGICAL GORIŠKA BRDA
After the experience at the adventure park, you head towards Goriška brda (locally also called just »Brda«), crossing the Solkan bridge from where a breath-taking view opens over the emerald Soča River and the elegant stone railway bridge with the largest stone arch in the world. The so-called Osimo road, which runs partly on the Italian territory, takes you over the slopes of Sabotin hill to Goriška brda. You drive through the villages of Podsabotin, Hum and Kojsko. The picturesque landscape of the Brda vineyards and orchards accompanies you forward to Šmartno, where a typical local lunch is served.
After lunch, you visit the medieval village of Šmartno, first mentioned in 1317, surrounded by walls and fortified with five towers, which stand by three entrances. When entering the Šmartno fortification and walking around the narrow streets among the old and newer houses, the feeling of being in a medieval labyrinth crosses your mind. Here you can see a typical house of Brda, a house with »spahnjenca« (open fireplace on the exterior part of the house) and the House of culture. The church of St. Martin painted by Tone Kralj, gives a beautiful image to the village. In the past, its campanile was one of the defensive towers.
After the visit, you pick up the bike and the cycling equipment and take a guided bike tour in the surroundings.
The first stop on the bike tour is Gradno, a small village full of interesting details. Its name probably derives from »graden« (sessile oak), an oak species that was once the most common tree in Brda. Here stands the picturesque Church of St. George where Stations of the Cross were painted partly by the world-renowned painter Zoran Mušič and partly by the painter and graphic artist Lojze Spacal. In the village you can also see two nice examples of renovated dry-stone walls made of local sandstone. This kind of walls are a true rarity nowadays in Brda. Above one of these walls, the oldest olive grove in Brda stands in the sun. From the olive grove, you continue you journey to the centre of Brda, Dobrovo. The path leads you past the largest Slovenian wine cellar Klet Brda and the Renaissance castle of Dobrovo. You continue through Medana to a typical Brda homestead, where you visit the wine cellar. The winemaker invites you to taste different samples of the typical local wines and olive oil. After the tasting, in the afternoon hours, you say goodbye to Goriška brda and return to Solkan passing over the Italian part of Brda (Collio).