Thursday Doors, 8/10/20: Russian Chapel, Vršič

• Manja Maksimovič

Today’s post is an example of how to build a Thursday Doors photo story around one door from the Julian Alps in Slovenia and get away with it.

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Let’s return to the three days in August which I spent with my parents and Amore in the mountains of Kranjska Gora and around. Even though this was the last time that I was cold, we had a marvellous time and will hold on to our memories forever.

This was our last day. Actually we already left the town below and started to make the many turns, 50 in all, which make the Russian road over the Vršič pass. Hell for cyclists, fun for motorcycles, piece of cake for Amore behind the wheel. We didn’t feel even slightly nauseous.

We chose this twisty road with numbered turns as it was the shortest distance to Piran, and to show amore more Slovenia. The award was the travel itself, but also the magnificent mountain views, the Soča river when we trickled back down on the other side of the mountains and a local trout, the poignant stone pyramids at Turn 17 where the beloved Slovenian alpinist Šrauf last parked his car before going missing and be found dead from an avalanche, and last but not least, the first thing you can visit at Turn 5: The Russian Chapel.

The Orthodox chapel was built in 1917 by 10,000 Russian prisoners of World War I. in memory of their dead comrades who died in other avalanches a year earlier as they were forced to build this road. Imagine that. Up to 300 soldiers and some guards died in several avalanches and from the cold.

I don’t remember ever stopping here before, even though I have done this road more than once. When I saw a photo of this chapel online, I knew we would and we were not sorry. It is an amazing piece of architecture in a wonderful setting. Have a look.

Oh, and if you visit Tonka’s Hut at Turn 16, do ask her about her next marathon. She is 73 but see if she cares.

  • A sort of invisible gate.
  • Follow his nose.
  • There you go. Like in a fairy-tale.
  • Seeing it from near warms the heart.
  • This ground has seen it all.
  • In full beauty.
  • It doesn’t seem that old to me. Almost 100 years!
  • It’s thinner than it seems.
  • I love this little detail.
  • There is a pyramid and the grave of the soldiers.
  • A window for Flavia.
  • All together.
  • “To the Sons of Russia”. The wreath is from the Russian Embassy.
  • As above.
  • So below. Is anybody else reminded of owls?
  • Father is studying details.
  • What a pretty spot. Rest in peace they do.
  • And so on, along the Russian Road, to the top and back down again.

For Norm Frampton’s Thursday Doors challenge

32 thoughts on “Thursday Doors, 8/10/20: Russian Chapel, Vršič”

  6. I can just imagine the peace and quiet and the wonderful smells of the mountain air in the surrounding forest.
    The size of the chapel is exactly what I’d expect to find in a remote mountain location, and the wood siding just adds to the quaint charm.
    Excellent one-door post! Quality or quantity: always 😉

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  12. This is a splendid post. How lovely to climb the stone steps through the trees with you, and stumble upon the beautiful little church, which seemed at first like a castle in the forest. You’re hilarious wishing that it was made of chocolate. The story is so sad, and I’m glad the Russian Embassy takes the time to continue to honor the place and the memory of those who died, and I’m also thinking of the prisoners who built it.

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