| jerque1. 12. 2024 22:57:52 |
Godovič could become famous for its underground world, which is man-made, from the period of the 1st World War and the interwar period when it was under Italy. Surely everyone who drove from there towards Črni vrh has experienced it. Namely, right after the sign for the end of the settlement, a 160 m long tunnel starts. It was built during the 1st World War for the needs of the railway line from Logatec towards Črni vrh, which was supposed to supply the hinterland of the Soča front, but the front was breached before they laid the tracks, and then there was no need for the line anyway. As part of this connection, the Naklo embankment and tunnel in Logatec were built, which they dug up a few years ago, I found several conflicting records about the tunnel in Kalce, then this one, which today serves road traffic. I don't have data, but probably the Italians are responsible for the "change of purpose", who certainly wanted a connection through "their" territory from Idrija to Črni vrh, where they had some barracks, and further to Ajdovščina, apparently their thing was also the road from Črni vrh to Cola. Probably they widened the tunnel too, because as far as I remember from cycling on Štrekla, old Pontebbana etc., a single-track tunnel barely squeezes in a bike path, let alone a two-lane road. Of course walking through the tunnel isn't exactly safe, but you can get quite close to both portals. A bit further from the tunnel there's also a 180° bend, where a path branches off along the route of the former "feldbahn" (field railway), also built during the 1st World War, which leads to Idrija or the Idrijca valley somewhere near Divje jezero. In one direction it should take about 2 to 3 hours, if anyone's walked there already, I recommend some tips when the days get a bit longer.
Well, the mentioned tunnel is of course not a reason to visit Godovič. There are some parking options near individual attractions, otherwise it's most convenient to park at the local church of St. Urban. There's also the only information board with some hints for excursions even for those with different preferences. Our path goes along the so-called French road, a bit asphalted, a bit gravel, which runs right above the south portal of the aforementioned tunnel. But even before the tunnel, the first "hook" awaits us: fortification No. 3 of the Alpine Wall. Which is actually very well hidden even in autumn conditions (without leaves) and it's not easy to find it even if we know its coordinates. Actually, you have to step off the road onto a poorly trodden "pathless path" that steeply descends and somehow follow the "trail" through the vegetation. At the end we finally reach a smaller fortification with two underground connected entrances. Probably no need to emphasize that we need a proper flashlight.
When we reach the main road south of the tunnel along the "French road" or some shortcut, we can cut that 180° bend significantly (indeed, because there's no sidewalk, walking there isn't safe), if we carefully cross the road, with the sand pit or whatever it is on the other side, we find a trail that climbs quite steeply upwards. Before the trail approaches the road again, we notice signs of the next fortification No. 1: steel observation dome, water collector, after a few hiding places also entrance to the combat block. The wooden doors have no latches, locks etc., so we can open them, descend the stairs, after a few rooms there's such a low passage that even the smallest will have to duck, then.... probably the main attraction of Godovič.
The Italians built the combat block right at the northern end of yet another WWI AO tunnel, which is even longer (various sources cite lengths between 300 and 400 meters) and never completed. Let's say right away that without proper equipment it's not wise to go into this tunnel at all. First a really good light, where we'll be grateful for every lumen. This isn't a tourist path in Postojna Cave that you could walk in light shoes or sneakers. On the contrary, if we don't watch literally every step, we'll quickly stumble over stones or something else lying on the ground. Here and there we'll have to climb over piles of stones and there the path resembles high mountain ones more, which of course requires proper footwear. And don't just look under your feet, it's worth stopping regularly and looking up too. We'll notice that individual parts of the tunnel remained in different construction phases. Especially in the northern part the tunnel is already vaulted, towards the south it becomes narrower and especially lower passage, hardly taller than an average person, so at least a basic helmet isn't superfluous. Apparently they drilled in two "floors", then broke through the ceiling between them and concreted the vault. During the day light at the end of the tunnel always shows from the south, first as a tiny dot that gradually enlarges. Right at the southern end we notice a "roof window", then we step out of the tunnel into a trench that resembles a ravine. Let's also say that after just a few meters of this "ravine" the tunnel is no longer visible, even though there are no more leaves. The "ravine" takes us to a gravel forest road, which can, if we don't want to go into the tunnel again, take us parallel to it to something smaller than a parking lot by the main road, which is somewhat south of the combat block at the northern end. Nothing else but a signpost to the southern end was noticed at this parking lot. Another gravel road from this parking lot takes us past the sand pit (access to it is prohibited, and thus also to some former barracks buildings  ) to Šebalski bajer or dammed stream, which looks like some picnic spot for locals. In the immediate vicinity there's already a new Alpine Wall fortification, No. 4, which is also the only advertised one and with quite a few visitation signs. The easiest way to find it is to go from the pond along the path at the forest edge. The northern entrance door can't be fully opened, so fuller ones might not be able to pass. No problem, just a bit further south there's another entrance, inside a smaller underground labyrinth, but don't worry, exploring doesn't require deep knowledge of graph theory  . Again we'll need a proper flashlight, there are some possibilities to stumble over drainage ditches or some other junk on the floor, on the stairs watch that we don't bang our head on some low steel crossbeams above them.
Besides these three, there should be two more combat blocks in Godovič. No. 2 is saved for poking around the feldbahn, regarding No. 5 there was no more real will, and also question how accessible, preserved etc. it even is.
 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77
| (+7) |  | |
|
|