World War One Sites - The NETWORLD Database

Memorial Church of Holly Spirit on Javorca, Slovenia

The memorial church of the Holy Spirit is the most beautiful monument left from the period of the First World War. The church was built by 3rd Austro-Hungarian Army between 1916 and 1917. In the years 2007 and 2017 the church received the European Heritage Label.

Slovenia, Tolmin

Type of WWI-heritage

  • War monument
  • Church

Dimensions

200 m2 (20 m x 10 m)

State of repair/preservation

The church is well preserved.

Historical WWI Context

The memorial church of the Holy Spirit stands in an exceptional natural environment of the Julian Alps, above the alp Polog. The construction of the church was closely connected with the events on the Isonzo Front. Namely, between 1916 and 1917, the soldiers of the 3rd Austro-Hungarian Mountain Brigade were building it with their own hands and with the support of donations in memory of their dead comrades. It was erected on the location which was approximately equally distant from the most important fighting positions of the brigade on Mt. Vodil vrh, Mt. Mrzli vrh, the ridge Sleme and Mt. Rdeči rob. The idea of the memorial church is best presented in the oak boards, which open like the pages of a book along the walls of the church. The soldiers burnt in the names of 2565 killed comrades who had lost their lives in the surrounding mountains into this “book of the dead”. Most of these soldiers are buried in the military cemetery at Loče near Tolmin.
Today, it is not only a unique artistic jewel, but it has also preserved the symbolic mission of peace. It reminds visitors of the horrors of the war and at the same time it also calls for reconciliation and for inner and everlasting peace. In the years 2007 and 2017 the church received the European Heritage Label.

 

 

State of legal protection

Cultural monument of national significance.

Owner

Občina Tolmin (Municipality of Tolmin) https://tolmin.e-obcina.si/

Kind of cultural use of WWI

Ustanova «Fundacija Poti miru v Posočju» (The Walk of Peace in the Soča Region Foundation) www.potmiru.si

Zavod za turizem Dolina Soče - TIC Tolmin https://www.soca-valley.com/en/

Opening

18. April - 14. June – Saturday, Sunday, holidays 10.00 - 17.00
14. June - 31. August – every day 10.00 - 19.00
1. September - 20. September – every day 10.00 - 17.00
26. September - 1. November – Saturday, Sunday, holidays 10.00 - 17.00
If you would like to visit the church outside the opening hours you can get the key at TIC Tolmin (Ulica Petra Skalarja 4).

Information regarding cities, villages, other touristic attractions (non-WWI) nearby

Tolmin gorges https://www.soca-valley.com/en/attractions/nature/gorges-and-waterfalls/2017071210105218/tolmin-gorges/

Ecological village Čadrg

the source of the river Tolminka https://issuu.com/slotraveler/docs/javorca-2013-ang-02_ok

Triglav National Park https://www.tnp.si/en/learn/

The confluence of Tolminka and Soča river https://www.soca-valley.com/en/soca-valley/soca-festivalley/

The remains of Tolmin castle on the elevation Kozlov rob http://www.tol-muzej.si/?id=132&lang=en

 

Public Transport

The nearest bus stop is in the center of Tolmin (10 km away), the nearest train station in Most na Soči (18 km away).

Further information sources

The Walk of Peace www.potmiru.si

TIC Tolmin https://www.soca-valley.com/en/

Museums Private Collections

Tolmin Museum, Mestni trg 4, 5220 Tolmin, http://www.tol-muzej.si/

Little Museum of the Isonzo Front "Tolmin Bridgehead"
Peter Kogoj, Most na Soči

Location

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