Introducing The Trenta Valley
Located in the heart of the Triglav National Park in northwestern Slovenia near the border with Italy, the Trenta Valley is one of country’s most popular tourist destinations. With its emerald Soca River, narrow gorges, waterfalls and towering peaks of the Julian Alps, the area attracts nature lovers, hikers and adventure seekers from around the world. The valley is home to three settlements dotted with traditional Trenta-style wooden roof houses: Soca, Lepena, and Trenta. The valley has a typical horseshoe shape and it also comprises several side valleys, such as Zadnjica, Vrsnik, Lepena, Mlinarica and others. There is a one and a half hour drive to the Trenta valley from Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana. The drive itself is scenic, crossing the Vrsic pass, the highest paved mountain pass in Slovenia at 1,611 meters (5,285 feet).
Trenta Valley Review
The Trenta Valley is a beautiful alpine valley nestled deep in the heart of the Julian Alps. The valley is an ideal destination for nature lovers as it offers an abundance of natural wonders in an almost pristine environment, including the source of the Soca River (one of the most beautiful rivers not only in Slovenia but in the whole of Europe), the Great Gorge (750 meters long, 15 meters deep and at its narrowest section only 2 meters wide gorge), the Mlinarica Gorge (another masterpiece of nature, which takes the form of massive, overhanging rock faces and an impenetrable ravine, at the head of which is the 8 metre high waterfall), the Zapotok waterfall (the highest waterfall in the Triglav National Park) and the Alpinum Juliana botanical garden (Slovenia’s only Alpine botanical garden in natural surroundings).
When visiting the Trenta valley take time to visit the Kekceva Domacija homestead, named after the legendary Slovenian kids’ character Kekec, the clever shepherd boy — the movie, Good luck Kekec, was filmed here in 1963. Tucked away in perfect rural isolation, this wonderful homestead has four lovely appointed apartments, where you can stay a night or two, and there’s also a good restaurant with authentic Slovenian food on the premises.
Worth visiting while in the Trenta valley is Pristava Lepena, a charming holiday village built in the traditional style of the area, with a series of rustic-looking cabins, a lovely restaurant, a children’s playground, a tennis court, an outdoor swimming pool, a sauna/whirlpool and a pasture with horses.
Other attractions worth seeing in the valley are the Kugy monument, the military cemetery from the First World War in the Soca village and the Triglav National Park information centre at Log, which features a very interesting presentation of Slovenia’s only National Park with an accompanying collection of folk art.
The Trenta valley is an excellent starting point for hiking to the peaks of the Julian Alps.
All in all, visiting the Trenta Valley should definitely be on your ‘to-do’ list whilst in Slovenia. The valley offers plenty of scenery, hikes, attractions and activities. No matter what you choose to do, don’t miss this corner of the world in your travels. And be sure to take your camera with you as you’ll undoubtedly have many good photo opportunities. Oh, and don’t leave the valley without trying some of the really delicious sheep cheese.
Trenta Valley Pictures
View our image gallery with 37 high-resolution photos that prove you absolutely have to visit the Trenta Valley!
19 photos below by Bojan Kolman (thank you so much Bojan for your kindness and for sharing all these incredible Trenta Valley photos with us!)
The Turer farmstead or Turerjeva Domacija as it is called in Slovene is located in the Trenta Valley in the heart of the Triglav National Park. It is a remarkable example of the valley’s architectural heritage.
Another photo of the Turer farmstead. The typical Trenta house is covered by a steep gable roof, which at both ends finishes in two even steeper hip ends. The roof covering is wooden, made of split larch or pine shingle.
Secreted away in perfect rural isolation is the wonderful Kekceva Domacija tourist farm.
The Trenta Valley features some of the last remaining high-altitude farms in Slovenia, where time passes more slowly.
The serenity of the Valley takes you back in time and is so soothing to the eyes that you might just want to sit down to take it all in.
The peace and quiet that accompany you in the valley are impressive and definitely worth your while.
A typical old wooden fence in the valley.
A statue of Julius Kugy stands in the Trenta Valley, overlooking Jalovec, Kugy’s favorite mountain.
The name Trenta is of Friulian origin and means ‘three-tooth’ or ‘divided into three teeth’. This reflects the geography because the valley splits into the Soca and Zadnjica valleys (on the photo), and the latter is soon split again by Beli Potok creek, creating three closely spaced summits.
Another photo of Trenta’s side valley Zadnjica.
Zadnjica is about as unspoilt as it gets.
Sheep pasture in Vrsnik, another of Trenta’s side valleys.
One of the most remarkable spots of the Soca river is the Great Gorge or Velika Korita as it is called in Slovene. In summer, the locals and visitors go straight to the end of the gorge to swim, sunbathe and relax. It is quite a unique sight.
Just before the confluence with the Vrsnica stream, the Soca river has carved out the Small Gorge or Mala Korita as it is called in Slovene. It’s 100 meters long, 6 meters deep and at its narrowest section only 1 meter wide. Sporting activities are prohibited on this part of the Soca river, so people come here to relax, explore and enjoy the surroundings.
Near the Golobar stream, the Soca has carved a 150-metre long and at its narrowest section only 1,5 metre wide gorge named Korita on the Soca at Krsovec (also known as Zmuklica). The gorge is a dangerous section where only kayaking is permitted.
The Soca river near the Soca village is perfect for white water rafting.
Many consider Soca to be one of the most gorgeous and cleanest rivers on the planet.
The Lepenjica stream flowing through Trenta’s side valley Lepena.
Heading up Trenta’s side valley Lepena you come to the Sunikov Vodni Gaj (Vodni Gaj means ‘Watery Paradise’). It’s really beautiful and unspoiled, though there are pathways. You are unlikely to see many tourists here. Total peace and quiet.
Next 18 photos below are from the Media library of I Feel Slovenia
View of the Trenta Valley from the northeast. (Image by Ales Zdesar)
A traditional alpine house in the Trenta valley. (Image by Boris Bajzelj)
The settlement of Pri Cerkvi in the Trenta valley along the Bovec-Vrsic Pass road with traditional old houses and the 17th-century Church of the Virgin Mary of Loreto in the background. (Image by Boris Pretnar)
Countryside landscape with lush green grass and typical old wooden fence. (Image by Boris Pretnar)
A typical Trenta-style house with a wooden roof. (Image by Bogdan Kladnik)
A homesteadt in the Zgornja Trenta valley. (Image by Boris Pretnar)
A shepherd is leading his flock of sheep to pasture. In the past centuries, agriculture was the main source of income for the people of the valley. Barren soil made farmers engage in goat and sheep breading. To the present day, flocks of sheep have remained a typical sight of this fantastic valley, and top quality sheep cheese is still produced on many farmsteads in the valley. (Image by Srdjan Zivulovic)
Don’t leave the Trenta Valley without trying some of the really delicious sheep cheese. (Image by Boris Pretnar)
With its beautiful emerald water, the Soca is considered one of the most remarkable rivers in Europe. (Image by Alen Kosmac)
The crystal-clear Soca river flowing through the valley. (Image by Boris Pretnar)
Another photo of the emerald Soca River flowing through the valley. (Image by Ales Fevzer)
One of the most remarkable spots of the Soca river is the Great Gorge or Velika Korita as it is called in Slovene, located next to the road from Bovec to Trenta immediately before the Soca village. It’s 750 meters long, 15 meters deep and at its narrowest section only two meters wide. (Image by Ales Zdesar)
Another photo of the Great Gorge. (Image by Ales Zdesar)
Rafting through the Great Gorge. (Image by Bogdan Kladnik)
A group of cyclists in action in the Trenta valley. (Image by Ales Fevzer)
The valley is an excellent base for hikes to the nearby peaks of the Julian Alps. (Image by Ales Fevzer)
The statue of Julius Kugy in the Trenta Valley gazes towards Mt. Jalovec, Kugy’s favorite mountain in the Julian Alps. (Image by Boris Pretnar)
Elevated view of the Zgornja Trenta Valley. (Image by Boris Pretnar)
Trenta Valley location on the map
Address: Trenta 31, 5232 Soca, Slovenia
Latitude and Longitude coordinates: 46.380360, 13.75264
GPS coordinates: 46° 22′ 49.296” N 13° 45′ 9.504” E
Traditional region: Slovenian Littoral (Slovene: Primorska)
Statistical region: Gorizia
Municipality: Bovec
Spent over 30 years going to Trenta on holiday ,to old to visit now ,it is so beautiful, Lenti vert restaurant in Bovecis fab,never stop going there even just after the war ,we would be the only tourist for nearly 5 years.Such lovely memories.
We visited Kobarid to experience the cuisine of Ana Ros at Hisa Franko. We lodged in Bovec and saw that Trenta was near to both towns. My cousin, Anthony Trenta, was an accomplished buton box player. His music was beautiful. We decided we had to visit Trenta and then drove to the edge of Vrsic Pass. You are correct, it is a very beautiful place.