Most na Soci
Encyclopedia
Most na Soči is a town in the Municipality of Tolmin
in the Littoral
region of Slovenia
. It was named Sveta Lucija ob Soči until 1952. Other historical names include , and or Maurus Brucke. It is located on a rocky crest above the confluence of Soča
and Idrijca
rivers. In the past these two riverbeds, deeply carved into the rocky slopes, provided the settlement with excellent protection from intruders. Due to the nearby Doblar hydro plant
, the basins of the river were entirely inundated and below the settlement a vast reservoir
was formed, which now attracts both fishermen
and visitors, who can stroll along some well-kept panoramic paths.
sites discovered so far – rank this location among one of the most important prehistoric settlements in Europe
. Rich finds date back in the period from the late Bronze Age
to Roman
period. Most of them originate from an Iron Age
community which was named the Sveta Lucija Culture. The finds are on display at many museums, i.e. in Vienna
, Trieste
, and Tolmin
. Archeologists from the Tolmin Museum
are still discovering stunning finds.
in the settlement is dedicated to Saint Lucy
and belongs to the Diocese of Koper. A second church in the parish is dedicated to Saint Maurus
. The first written record of the church dates from 1192. Another interesting site is a monument to soldiers from World War I
at Postaja.
The birthplace of the writer Ciril Kosmač
is part of the Genius Loci European program, which connects birthplaces of famous artists: Giotto
, Goya
, Lorca
, Novalis
, and Kosmač.
. Although artificial, it is the same unique color as the Soča
. It gives the town an atmosphere of tranquility and softness and offers many opportunities for recreation.
Flat limestone
layers at Pod Ključem are a feature of geological interest.
Tolmin
Tolmin is a small town and municipality in the Littoral region of Slovenia.-Geography:Tolmin, the old town that gave the name to the entire area , is the largest settlement in the Upper Soča Valley , as well as its economic, cultural and administrative centre. It is located on a terrace above the...
in the Littoral
Slovenian Littoral
The Slovenian Littoral is a historical region of Slovenia. Its name recalls the historical Habsburg crown land of the Austrian Littoral, of which the Slovenian Littoral was a part....
region of Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
. It was named Sveta Lucija ob Soči until 1952. Other historical names include , and or Maurus Brucke. It is located on a rocky crest above the confluence of Soča
Soca
The Soča or Isonzo is a 140 km long river that flows through western Slovenia and northeastern Italy. An Alpine river in character, its source lies in the Trenta Valley in the Julian Alps in Slovenia, at an elevation of around 1,100 metres...
and Idrijca
Idrijca
The Idrijca is a river flowing through the Idrija Hills and Cerkno Hills. It is 60 km long. It rises near Vojsko, flows towards northeast and after passing through Idrija turns to the northwest. After passing through Spodnja Idrija and Cerkno it joins the Soča in Most na Soči.The river basin...
rivers. In the past these two riverbeds, deeply carved into the rocky slopes, provided the settlement with excellent protection from intruders. Due to the nearby Doblar hydro plant
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
, the basins of the river were entirely inundated and below the settlement a vast reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
was formed, which now attracts both fishermen
Fisherman
A fisherman or fisher is someone who captures fish and other animals from a body of water, or gathers shellfish. Worldwide, there are about 38 million commercial and subsistence fishermen and fish farmers. The term can also be applied to recreational fishermen and may be used to describe both men...
and visitors, who can stroll along some well-kept panoramic paths.
History
Exceptional archaeological finds – more than 7,000 graveGrave (burial)
A grave is a location where a dead body is buried. Graves are usually located in special areas set aside for the purpose of burial, such as graveyards or cemeteries....
sites discovered so far – rank this location among one of the most important prehistoric settlements in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Rich finds date back in the period from the late Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
to Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
period. Most of them originate from an Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
community which was named the Sveta Lucija Culture. The finds are on display at many museums, i.e. in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
, and Tolmin
Tolmin
Tolmin is a small town and municipality in the Littoral region of Slovenia.-Geography:Tolmin, the old town that gave the name to the entire area , is the largest settlement in the Upper Soča Valley , as well as its economic, cultural and administrative centre. It is located on a terrace above the...
. Archeologists from the Tolmin Museum
Tolmin museum
Tolmin museum is public institution which covers the areas of archaeology, ethnology, general history and history of arts at upper Soča Valley region in Slovenia. It is located in the Coronini mansion in Tolmin.-History:...
are still discovering stunning finds.
Cultural Heritage
The restored and protected remains of a Roman house are located in Most na Soči. The parish churchParish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
in the settlement is dedicated to Saint Lucy
Saint Lucy
Saint Lucy , also known as Saint Lucia, was a wealthy young Christian martyr who is venerated as a saint by Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Orthodox Christians. Her feast day in the West is 13 December; with a name derived from lux, lucis "light", she is the patron saint of those who are...
and belongs to the Diocese of Koper. A second church in the parish is dedicated to Saint Maurus
Saint Maurus
Saint Maurus was the first disciple of St. Benedict of Nursia . He is mentioned in St. Gregory the Great's biography of the latter as the first oblate; offered to the monastery by his noble Roman parents as a young boy to be brought up in the monastic life. Four stories involving Maurus recounted...
. The first written record of the church dates from 1192. Another interesting site is a monument to soldiers from World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
at Postaja.
The birthplace of the writer Ciril Kosmač
Ciril Kosmač
Ciril Kosmač was a Slovenian novelist and screenwriter.- Life :He was born in a Slovene family in the village of Slap ob Idrijci near Sveta Lucija , in what was then the Austro-Hungarian County of Gorizia and Gradisca . He attended high school in Tolmin and Gorizia...
is part of the Genius Loci European program, which connects birthplaces of famous artists: Giotto
Giotto di Bondone
Giotto di Bondone , better known simply as Giotto, was an Italian painter and architect from Florence in the late Middle Ages...
, Goya
Francisco Goya
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker regarded both as the last of the Old Masters and the first of the moderns. Goya was a court painter to the Spanish Crown, and through his works was both a commentator on and chronicler of his era...
, Lorca
Federico García Lorca
Federico del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús García Lorca was a Spanish poet, dramatist and theatre director. García Lorca achieved international recognition as an emblematic member of the Generation of '27. He is believed to be one of thousands who were summarily shot by anti-communist death squads...
, Novalis
Novalis
Novalis was the pseudonym of Georg Philipp Friedrich Freiherr von Hardenberg , an author and philosopher of early German Romanticism.-Biography:...
, and Kosmač.
Natural Heritage
The principal natural feature of Most na Soči is its lakeLake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
. Although artificial, it is the same unique color as the Soča
Soca
The Soča or Isonzo is a 140 km long river that flows through western Slovenia and northeastern Italy. An Alpine river in character, its source lies in the Trenta Valley in the Julian Alps in Slovenia, at an elevation of around 1,100 metres...
. It gives the town an atmosphere of tranquility and softness and offers many opportunities for recreation.
Flat limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
layers at Pod Ključem are a feature of geological interest.