Kostanjevica na Krasu: Nature, Culture and History

Kostanjevica na Krasu brings together nature, local history, and culture as themes for visitors. The walk to Kal Kalič leads to a watering place for animals and also passes traces of the First World War. St. Martin’s Church, Grmača, and Kostanjski pust add sacred architecture, prehistoric history, and local tradition to the picture. This makes it possible to take different interests into account when choosing a place to stay.

Walk to Kal Kalič

Kal Kalič is a small pond east of Kostanjevica na Krasu. A 1 km walk there begins in the village center at Kržada and passes the primary school. This walk is part of the themed trail series “Med kali in štirnami do duše Krasa.” Trail conditions may change; check the current situation before setting out.

The pond serves as a watering place for deer, wild boar, birds, butterflies, bees, and other animals. Kal Kalič is therefore not only the destination of the walk, but also a place with a specific function in nature. Those interested in the landscape will find a distinct connection to nature here: the watering place is used by different groups of animals.

Traces of the First World War

On the walk to Kal Kalič, the trail passes the remains of a military railway from the First World War. The railway was used to supply the front lines. The Austro-Hungarian Army also operated a supply railway as far as Kostanjevica na Krasu. These historic transport routes are concrete links between the village and the wartime period.

The broader context can also be seen in the events of 1916: in November, during the Ninth Battle of the Isonzo, Kostanjevica na Krasu was the easternmost point reached by the Italian army in its advance across the Karst. Italian artillery shells completely destroyed the village during the First World War. The railway remains along the trail and the events of the war offer different ways to explore the history of the village.

Grmača and St. Martin’s Church

The Grmača archaeological site near Kostanjevica na Krasu is a prehistoric hilltop settlement. The summit is surrounded by prehistoric defensive walls with a circumference of about 550 m. With its hilltop settlement and walls, Grmača offers an archaeological connection that dates back long before the traces of the First World War.

St. Martin’s Church, the parish church of St. Martin, stands at the upper edge of Kostanjevica na Krasu and offers a view of the sea. It was built in 1724 and restored in 1926. This place thus combines a described view with a specific building history.

Artists and Local Tradition

Jože Spacal was born in Kostanjevica na Krasu in 1939. He was a painter, mosaic artist, and graphic artist, and worked for more than three decades as a set designer for Slovenian television. His career combined visual art with designing television sets.

Kostanjski pust is also part of local cultural history. The tradition has existed for more than a hundred years. It concludes on Ash Wednesday in Kostanjevica na Krasu with the burning and burial of Tine. The custom is thus defined both by its long tradition and by a specifically named conclusion.

More Activities and Getting There

A cycling route begins at the village square in the center of Kostanjevica na Krasu. Local caving guides offer guided hikes along the Paths of Peace. If you plan to take a guided tour, check booking options in advance, as booking arrangements and availability may change.

Kostanjevica na Krasu can be reached by bus from Nova Gorica six times a day and from Sežana twice a day. As timetables may change, check current connections before travelling. This lets you plan your bus journey as well as a walk, a cycling trip, or a guided hike.

Discover more destinations: Miren, Branik, Vitovlje, Kambreško, Prvačina, Pristava, Šmartno, Zalošče.

Return to the broader travel overview: Nova Gorica.