On 23 May 1915 Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary and the day after the declaration immediately opened up a new frontline, which ran from the Swiss border all the way to the Adriatic Sea. Its easternmost section ran along the Soča (Isonzo) River and has thus become known as the Isonzo Front.
The main goals of the Italian Army on the Isonzo Front were the occupation of Trieste/Trst and Gorizia/Gorica, and the advancement of the army towards Ljubljana via the Vipava Valley. In the first year of the fighting, the front line ran along the hills to the west of Gorizia, encircling the northern, western and southern edge of the Doberdò Plateau, stretching all the way to the seashore at Monfalcone/Tržič. Austro-Hungarian Army set up bases in the Vallone/Dol Valley, in the area around Komen in the Karst Region, the village of Renče, and other places deeper in the Vipava Valley. In these areas barrack settlements for the reservist units, warehouses, war hospitals and numerous cemeteries were set up.
In the beginning of August, 1916, during the Sixth Isonzo Battle, the Italian units managed to conquer Gorizia, with all of its defending positions, and the entire Doberdò Plateau. The defending forces were forced to retreat to the reserve defence positions that ran over the Hill of Markov Hrib above Šempeter, the Vrtojba-Bilje hills, crossed the Vipava River at Miren and continued past the Miren Castle up to the top of the Kras Plateau.
In the beginning of November 1916, during the Ninth Isonzo Battle, the Italian Army almost took over the village of Kostanjevica na Krasu. They defeated Fajtji Hrib, and the villages of Špacapani and Merljaki at Renče.
From then on, all the way until the breakthrough of the Isonzo Front at the end of October 1917, Vinišče was the first rear area, just behind the first front line, giving shelter to various commanding units, dressing stations, and units that formed the division reserves for the aforementioned section of the front.
Funds for the creation of the Outdoor Museum Vinišče were ensured through the WALKofPEACE project within the Interreg V-A Italia–Slovenia Programme and the Municipality of Renče–Vogrsko.
In the village of Bukovica follow the signs for Renče and at the roundabout take the third exit. At the church in Renče, turn right and from there continue straight. At the next intersection turn left and stay to the left until you reach a right turn for the village of Temnica. Continue straight ahead until you reach the indication sign for Vrtnarstvo Renče horticulture, where you turn left. At the next intersection, next to the greenhouse, turn right and follow the road to the village of Vinišče. When you get to a fork of two roads with a house in the middle, take the right one and then park your car next to a water trough on the left. From here you continue on foot. Behind the water trough the road turns left and starts to descend. Take the next right and then turn left. From here you follow the dirt road that will shortly bring you to the outdoor ouseum Vinišče.
Center za obiskovalce Pot miru, Pomnik miru Cerje
(The Walk of Peace Visitor Centre, Monument of Peace Cerje)
Lokvica 35
SI–5291 Miren
+386 31 310 800
info@mirenkras.si
https://www.mirenkras.si/en/
Center za obiskovalce Pot miru, Kobarid
(The Walk of Peace Visitor Centre, Kobarid)
Gregorčičeva ulica 8
SI–5222 Kobarid
+386 5 389 0167, +386 31 586 296
turizem@potmiru.si, info@thewalkofpeace.com
www.thewalkofpeace.com
TIC Renče – Vogrsko
Bukovica 43
SI–5293 Volčja Draga
+386 41 490 227
rence-vogrsko@vipavskadolina.si
www.vipavskadolina.si
