Soteska Blejski vintgar
Divja in neukročena Radovna si je svojo pot vrezala med pobočja planot Pokljuka in Mežakla. Nastala je ozka in globoka soteska s strmimi, ponekod navpičnimi in z gozdom poraščenimi bregovi.
Moč narave se zrcali v bučanju razpenjene vode, številnih brzicah in bistrih tolmunih, kjer se Radovna za hip umiri. 1600 metrov dolga soteska Vintgar se konča s slikovitim 16 metrov visokim rečnim slapom Šum, ki je kot naravna znamenitost postala del Triglavskega narodnega parka.
Sotesko v neposredni bližini Gorij, približno 4 km severozahodno od Bleda, sta februarja leta 1891 odkrila Jakob Žumer, gorjanski župan, kartograf in fotograf Benedikt Lergetporer. Odkritje je bilo naključno, in to v času, ko je bil vodostoj Radovne, ki teče skozi Vintgar, izredno nizek. Na svojo raziskovalno pot sta se podala iz Spodnjih Gorij proti Blejski Dobravi. S trudom sta se prebila skozi sicer neprehodno sotesko. Odkrila sta toliko naravnih lepot, da sta se odločila ustanoviti gradbeni odbor. Sotesko so uredili za oglede, predvsem gostov z Bleda. Javna otvoritev je bila 26. avgusta 1893. Soteska Vintgar, dolga 1,6 km, je zarezana med navpičnimi stenami hribov Homa in Boršta, krasi pa jo Radovna s slapovi, tolmuni in brzicami.
Pot vodi preko mostov in t. i. Žumrovih galerij ter se končuje z mostom nad mogočnim 16 m visokim rečnim slapom Šum. Zaradi naravnih lepot je bil Vintgar uvrščen med pomembnejše turistične zanimivosti Slovenije, in število obiskovalcev se iz leta v leto veča. V eni smeri obiska soteske lahko izkoristite možnost “razgledne pešpoti” preko Homa do sv. Katarine (zgodovinska cerkvica in prelep razgled).
The Vintgar gorge Bled
This ravine in the immediate vicinity of Gorje approximately 4 km north-west of Bled, was discovered by Jakob Žumer, the Major of Gorje, and the cartographer and photographer Benedikt Lergetporer in February 1891. The discovery was accidental and took place at a time when the water level of the Radovna river which flows through Vintgar was very low.
They started their exploration in Spodnje Gorje and headed towards Blejska Dobrava. They made it through, the otherwise impassable ravine with great difficulty and discovered so much natural beauty that they decided to establish a construction committee. The gorge was arranged for visits, especially for visitors to Bled. It was opened to the public on 26th August 1893. The 1.6 km long Vintgar gorge carves its way through the vertical rocks of the Hom and Bort hills and is graced by the Radovna with its waterfalls, pools and rapids. The path leads you over bridges and Šumer’s galleries, and ends with a bridge overlooking the mighty 16 m high Šum waterfall.
Due to its natural beauty, Vintgar was classified among the more important tourist sights in Slovenia and the number of visitors increases every year. From the Šum waterfall you can take the opportunity of walking up a picturesque footpath through Hom to St. Catherine-a historical church with a beautiful view. At the entrance, and at the Šum waterfall there are cafes serving refreshments. Access by car and buses is possible as far as the parking area in front of the entrance to the ravine.
