Solkan: The Soča, architectural history and regional cuisine

Solkan brings together several themes for trip planning: architectural history, the Soča, outdoor activities and regional cuisine.

Architecture and cultural history

The Solkan Bridge has a stone arch spanning 85 metres—the largest stone arch on a railway line anywhere in the world. It has been protected as a technical monument since 1985. Its span and protected status offer two distinct points of interest: one concerns engineering, the other its designation as a monument.

Today’s St. Stephen’s Church in Solkan was built in 1566 and remodelled in the Baroque style in 1657. The dates mark its construction and later renovation as two separate stages. The ethnological collection “Stara solkanska mizarska delavnica” (Old Solkan Carpentry Workshop) commemorates Solkan’s traditional carpentry. It thus complements the area’s architectural history with a look at local woodworking.

The Soča, outdoor activities and hiking route

The Solkan Kayak Centre on the Soča is Slovenia’s national centre for whitewater kayaking. It offers kayaking courses, rafting, guided tours and equipment rental, and hosts national and international competitions. The different options cater to different interests: you might choose a course, a guided tour, rafting or equipment rental. As individual services may change, check what is currently available before your trip.

Soča Fun Park is on the right bank of the Soča in Solkan and features five courses with 55 different elements. There is an area for children aged five to nine; the central area, at a height of three to twelve metres, is intended for teenagers and adults. The age group and height range describe different aspects of the park. As the course layout may change, check the current arrangement before visiting.

On the left bank of the Soča in Solkan, there is an easily accessible, prepared area where visitors can cool off in summer. Water conditions and access rules may change; check the latest conditions before visiting.

Above Solkan, the hiking route to Sveta Gora passes through tunnels and trenches from the First World War. Here, historical traces shape the trail, while activities on the water take centre stage at the kayak centre. Trail conditions and access may change; check them before setting out.

An operator has been offering bungee jumps from the road bridge in Solkan since 1993. Contact the operator directly for current details.

Goriški radič and regional cuisine

Goriški radič, also called “sukénski régut,” is a local specialty; its cultivation has been preserved, particularly around Solkan. In late autumn, the plants are dug up and brought into warm indoor spaces to develop into heads. This seasonal process adds a specific insight into how it is produced to the local name.

Getting around and amenities

A mobility hub with charging stations for electric cars and bicycles, as well as a smart bench, has been set up at a turning area in Solkan. If you plan to use these amenities, check their current condition in advance, as infrastructure and facilities may change.

Discover more destinations: Nova Gorica, Plave, Pristava, Kostanjevica na Krasu, Vitovlje, Kambreško, Zalošče, Šempeter Pri Gorici.

Go to the main travel overview: Nova Gorica.