Vintgar Gorge
The River Radovna cut a 1.6 km gorge, called Vintgar, between Hom and Boršt. The Vintgar gorge is surrounded by steep slopes, densely forested with beech and embellished by the waterfalls, pools and rapids of the river.
Although the gorge is very close to Gorje and only 4 km northwest of Bled, it has been long unknown to the people.
It was discovered by accident in 1891 by Jakob Žumer, the then mayor of Gorje and by Benedikt Lergetporer, a map maker and photographer from Bled at a time when the water level of the Radovna was very low.
On their journey through the previously impassable gorge they were so stunned by the beauty and the mystery of nature that they decided to make it permanently accessible to visitors. Construction was extremely hazardous due to the wild nature of the gorge. The official opening of the Vintgar gorge took place on August 26 1893.
Echoes of the swiftly flowing water fill the narrow gorge, which nowadays may be enjoyed by walking one of the paths, the numerous bridges and the Žumer galleries. Every visitor who walks to the end of the gorge is rewarded by the sight of the 16 m high Šum waterfall. The Vintgar gorge has been included in the list of most important Slovenian sights and attracts more and more visitors each year.
